The Pulcino d’Oro is racing towards its international edition in June in Trentino. It is gathering pace and expanding with no fewer than twenty qualifying rounds, six of which have already taken place. In recent years, the event has become more than just a tournament. It has established itself as a key fixture in international youth football, successfully combining technical quality, organisation and vision. The success of the first edition in Germany, hosted by RB Leipzig, a team in the top German league – alongside stages in Portugal at Benfica (in the second edition), in Campania and Puglia – marked a key milestone, confirming the event’s European and national scope. A clear achievement that reinforces a path built over time and which is now increasingly solid.
In Italy, the regional rounds held in Rome (with the Lazio regional round also taking place in mid-May) and in Umbria, at Castiglione del Lago in the province of Perugia, over the past weekend have painted a clear picture. The standard is rising significantly and the game is evolving. Forty teams took part over two days, from Saturday 28 to Sunday 29 March, with hundreds of Under-11 players and a clear common denominator — intensity and a rising technical standard.
In Rome, at the Nuova Tor Tre Teste ground, the tournament showcased pace and organisation. Accademia Calcio Roma won the Pulcino d’Oro ahead of Delfino Academy and the hosts. Trastevere took the Pulcino d’Argento, RTS Queens the Bronze, and Ottavia the Pulcino Gialloblù. A high-profile competitive setting, in which every match had structure, identity and significant technical content.
In Umbria, at Castiglione del Lago, it’s the same old story. Intense, fair play and matches that go down to the wire. Foligno clinched the Pulcino d’Oro at the end of a tight group stage, decided by head-to-head matches against San Sisto. Behind them, a tight-knit and competitive group confirms the quality of the tournament. Nuova Fulginium (Pulcino d’Argento), Chiusi (Pulcino di Bronzo) and Castiglione del Lago (Pulcino Gialloblù) stand out in their respective categories, in a context where the result is always a true reflection of the game.
The Pulcino d’Oro continues its journey with new international fixtures in April, in England and the Netherlands, and with an expanding domestic schedule. The main event remains the Levico Terme International Tournament, scheduled for 11–14 June. Set in the heart of the Valsugana valley, the tournament will bring together some of the finest youth football clubs, including Juventus, Inter, Como, Atalanta, Barcelona, Benfica, PSV and many more, in a setting that increasingly combines competitiveness with a strong sense of identity.
