The curtain rises today on the latest edition of the Pulcino d’Oro International Tournament. Until Sunday 14 June, the pitches of Valsugana – with Levico Terme at its heart – will host an event that focuses not only on sport, but also on personal development, inclusion and a culture of sharing. There will be 88 participating teams from Italy, Europe and South America, with around 1,500 young athletes ready to enjoy four days of sport and camaraderie in the heart of Trentino. This football camp will bring some of the most prestigious clubs on the global football scene to Valsugana. Barcelona, Fluminense, Benfica, Atlético Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, RB Leipzig, Leeds United, Nuremberg, Leicester and KAA Gent, alongside major Italian clubs such as Inter, Juventus, Roma, Atalanta, Fiorentina, Parma and Como.
There will also be a strong focus on women’s football with the Pulcino d’Oro Girls, a tournament that is going from strength to strength and will feature leading clubs such as Sporting Lisbon, Inter, Juventus, Lazio, Roma and Genoa.
A true international showcase for youth football. Levico Terme, as well as Borgo Valsugana, Caldonazzo and Ischia, with the direct involvement of dozens of volunteers, schools and local organisations. Welcoming the participants are some of the most prestigious clubs on the global football scene, including the International Tournament and the Pulcino d’Oro Girls. Alongside them, as is traditional, amateur teams from every corner of Italy, turning the tournament into a footballing workshop where competition and exchange become opportunities for growth, both on and off the pitch. There will be some exceptional guest personalities, such as Alessandro Costacurta, a former footballer who was a key player in AC Milan’s ‘Invincibles’ side; Francesca Dallapé, a former Italian diver and silver medallist at the Rio 2016 Olympics; and Alessandro Degasperi, an Italian triathlete; as well as two rising stars: cyclist Giulio Pellizzari and basketball player Cheickh Niang of Aquila Basket.
One tournament, many values and horizons
For the second year running, Pulcino d’Oro’s Inclusion Project is taking shape through a special mural, created by students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) alongside their classmates at the Tambosi Technical and Economic Institute in Trento. Following last year’s great success, the initiative has been renewed and consolidated, confirming how art and sport can become powerful tools for integration, dialogue and shared growth. The artwork, curated by Trentino-based street artist Mattia Schmidt – who has Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) – centres on a strong and immediate message: diversity as a positive value. The mural depicts a child who, through a megaphone, shouts the word DIVERSITY – deliberately transformed into DIVERTITY – to remind us that being different also means beauty, energy and discovery. In the final image, children from different backgrounds embrace one another around a ball. A simple gesture, yet one that says it all: together we are stronger.
A tried-and-tested format, a real impact
The programme sees the first matches kick off on Thursday 11th, whilst on Friday 12th the action really gets underway with the debut of the star teams and the spectacular opening parade – one of the most eagerly awaited moments – which will see all the teams march through Levico in a colourful procession of flags and smiles. Saturday and Sunday will see the highlight of the competition. On the final day, the eight trophies – Pulcino d’Oro, d’Argento, di Bronzo, Gialloblù and Arcobaleno – will be raised aloft, with a total of 88 teams taking to the pitch. The tournament’s impact extends far beyond the pitch. Every year, the Pulcino d’Oro attracts thousands of visitors, with families, coaches and chaperones travelling to Trentino from all over Europe and beyond.
The Pulcino d’Oro Village
Football, but not just that. In 2026 too, alongside the sporting programme, the Pulcino d’Oro Village will come to life. An open, colourful and interactive space, designed to keep the public entertained throughout the weekend with sport, games, entertainment, opportunities to socialise and activities for all ages. The Skills Arena, Family Zone, Sport360, Food Village and Live Stage will be the heart and soul of an increasingly vibrant and recognisable Village, where the Pulcino d’Oro becomes an experience to be enjoyed off the pitch as well. A place designed to welcome teams, coaches, families and local spectators, promoting the values that have always guided the project: passion, respect, inclusion, participation and teamwork.
The show will also feature acrobatics courtesy of Davide Pisani, freestyle world champion and newly crowned Italian champion, who, together with his Freestyling Team Italia, will put on breathtaking shows and performances to showcase football in a completely new light.
Pulcino d’Oro takes to the field for a better world
In full accordance with Pulcino d’Oro’s three founding values — sport, children and solidarity — the 2026 edition once again reaffirms its strong social commitment. All participants will once again form part of a great, united team, bound together by the desire to turn football into a tangible act of support. A portion of the entry fees will be donated to charitable projects, and the young participants will be directly involved in these charitable initiatives. A simple yet powerful message: from children, for children. In recent years, Pulcino d’Oro has supported UNICEF Italy and Dynamo Camp. Joining them is a new key partner, Make-A-Wish Italy, one of the most internationally recognised non-profit organisations, which has been working since 1980 to fulfil wishes that change the lives of children and young people suffering from serious illnesses.
The main characters
Top Team: Fluminense (Brasile), Barcellona e Atletico Madrid (Spagna), PSV Eindhoven (Olanda), KAA Gent (Belgio), Benfica (Portogallo), RB Lipsia e Norimberga (Germania), Leeds United e Leicester (Inghilterra), Inter, Juventus, Roma, Atalanta, Parma, Fiorentina, Como (Italia)
Top Team Pulcino d’Oro Girls: Inter, Juventus, Roma, Lazio, Genoa (Italia), Sporting Lisbona (Portogallo)
