The countdown has officially begun for the tenth edition of the Pulcino d’Oro International Tournament, scheduled from 12 to 15 June on the pitches of Valsugana, with Levico Terme at the heart of the event. Four days of sport, excitement and inclusion that will transform Trentino into the beating heart of Under-11 youth football, Pulcini category.
The press conference, held on Monday 26 May at the Trentino Marketing headquarters, was attended by numerous representatives of institutions and the local area, demonstrating the strong network of collaboration that has made the Pulcino d’Oro a unique event for ten years. Sandro Beretta, president of the Organising Committee, proudly recalled the constant growth of the tournament: “From the very first edition, it was clear that the Pulcino d’Oro would become something special. Today, we are talking about an international event, with stages throughout Italy and abroad. This year, we are celebrating with some big news. The debut of Barcelona, teams from Africa and the United Arab Emirates, and the involvement of 14 schools. The Pulcino d’Oro is first and foremost a tournament of values, among which inclusion stands out.”
This tenth anniversary promises to be historic, with 80 teams participating, including some of the most prestigious clubs in world football: Barcelona, River Plate, PSV Eindhoven, Benfica, Sporting Lisbon, Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig, along with Italian teams Juventus, Milan, Inter, Roma, Atalanta, Parma, Genoa and Bologna. Among the international newcomers are Dinamo Batumi (Georgia), Academia Amizada (Guinea Bissau) and Al Wahda (United Arab Emirates).
Roberto Failoni, Provincial Councillor for Tourism, emphasised the value of the event as a driver for the local economy: “The Pulcino d’Oro is a perfect example of how a simple idea can be transformed into a major tourism and sports project. It generates revenue, visibility and loyalty. Today’s children will be tomorrow’s tourists.‘ Claudio Soini, President of the Autonomous Provincial Council of Trento, shares this opinion: ’In addition to the football and sporting aspects, I would like to emphasise the values that this event conveys. It is a tournament that creates and generates resources for our Trentino region.”
The Pulcino d’Oro is also a virtuous model of collaboration between sport, schools and the community. Fourteen school-work alternation projects, a network of hundreds of volunteers, the involvement of children with special educational needs, and no fewer than sixteen women’s teams competing in the Pulcino d’Oro Girls tournament. Paola Mora, president of CONI Trento, recalled: “Context, care and attention are needed to convey true values through sport. The Pulcino d’Oro does this. As Don Bosco said: to make a child happy, all you need is a ball. The Pulcino d’Oro is that ball”.
This enthusiasm is shared by the whole of Valsugana. Gianni Beretta, mayor of Levico Terme, added: ‘The Pulcino d’Oro is eagerly awaited by the whole community. It is not just a sporting event, but a moment of collective identity. Full hotels, families involved, active volunteers: Levico lives it with its heart.’ Michele Oriente, Director of APT Valsugana: “The tournament is our “Giro d’Italia”. Families find a wide range of activities that are consistent with the territory. From lakes to mountains, passing through culture and wellness.”
Stefano Grassi, president of FIGC Trentino, added: ‘Playing against teams like Barcelona is a unique thrill for our young athletes. The FIGC is proud to support an event that is good for football and for the growth of young people.’
The Pulcino d’Oro is more than a tournament: it is a celebration of authentic sport, a laboratory of human experiences, a bridge between territories and cultures. It is an event where the real winners are the children and the community, who return home enriched by the experience. From 12 to 15 June, the future of football will be playing in Valsugana.