AC CUP 2026: record participation and international consolidation

Tradition, respect, sportsmanship and plenty of football. AC CUP was born on these four pillars and the 2026 version has taken them further than ever. With 6,500 players, 477 teams and 188 participating clubs, the tournament has staged its largest edition to date, consolidating a steady growth that keeps breaking records year after year.
 

For the first time, the competition required two weekends to accommodate every team. During those days, San Mamés and Lezama became a great meeting point for youth football, welcoming thousands of children who had the chance to enjoy a unique experience: playing on the very pitches that have seen some of Athletic's greatest legends grow up, and feeling, for a few days, part of a club with more than 125 of history years behind it.

The tournament's greatest value lies in the people it brings together. More than 4,000 participating players came from outside Bizkaia, representing a total of 36 provinces, 16 autonomous communities and six countries —France, Ukraine, Greece, the United Kingdom, Belgium and, the big newcomer in this edition, the United States— to share an experience with the more than 2,500 players from Bizkaia who acted as hosts.

A blend of origins, cultures and ages that turns AC CUP into much more than a tournament and makes every edition a unique and unforgettable experience.

That experience also carried over onto the pitch, with more than 1,500 matches played across 17 venues spread throughout Bizkaia, with San Mamés and Lezama as the tournament's great landmarks. The new schedule reserved the first week for under 6, under 9 and under 11 levels, while the second was for under 15s and under 18s, ensuring every team had the chance to compete in unique settings like Lezama or San Mamés.

The entire organisation —fixtures, results and standings— was channelled through the official app, one of the most downloaded in its category during the tournament, keeping families, coaches and participants connected in real time.

The opening ceremony was once again one of AC Cup's most special moments, with close to 15,000 people coming to San Mamés and enjoying a celebration that combined a parade with all the participating teams, live music and a light show, while Irene Oguiza and Gorka Guruzeta welcomed the participants from the videoscoreboard.

IMQ, the Athletic Club's official medical insurer for more than 25 years and the competition's main sponsor, handed out official balls among the crowd and guaranteed medical coverage throughout the event.

Beyond football, AC CUP has once again become a social and economic driver for Bizkaia. Close to 20,000 visitors energised the province's hospitality and retail sectors over these two weeks, confirming the impact of an event that keeps growing without giving up its essence. Because AC CUP is much more than a competition: it is a meeting point for thousands of young people, families and clubs who find a common language in football and a unique setting in which to talk it at Athletic Club.