The 2026 edition of the Pulcino d’Oro International Tournament concluded with a double triumph worthy of the front page, one that is set to go down in the history of the event. Against the stunning backdrop of the Valsugana, on Sunday 14 June, Atlético Madrid claimed their first-ever men’s title, whilst Sporting Lisbon wrote a memorable chapter in the women’s tournament, lifting the Pulcino d’Oro Girls trophy for the first time and ending the Italian dominance previously held by Inter and Milan. An event that has once again confirmed its extraordinary strength. It attracted no fewer than 88 teams from Italy, Europe and South America. The pitches in Levico Terme, Borgo Valsugana, Caldonazzo and Ischia were transformed into a vibrant international stage, offering four unforgettable days during which 1,500 boys and girls celebrated talent and the purest spirit of teamwork.

A morning full of twists and turns

The decisive day began with a thrilling morning in Levico Terme, which saw the four final groups decided following a series of matches of the highest technical calibre. The groups in the race for the main trophy proved to be incredibly closely contested. In the first group, Atlético Madrid and Inter secured their places in the final. The Nerazzurri finished level on points with Fiorentina, but once again it was their victory in the shoot-out during their head-to-head clash that proved decisive. In the second group, meanwhile, Como and PSV Eindhoven managed to pull clear of Atalanta and Nuremberg, progressing to the next round.

The Colchoneros’ success

In the afternoon, Atlético Madrid’s ‘Colchoneros’ completed their triumphant run by claiming the tournament title. The final against Inter – a club with no fewer than four titles to its name – ended in victory for the Spanish side, who were applauded by all the participating teams. This triumph extends the foreign dominance in Trentino. For the fifth consecutive time, the most coveted trophy has crossed national borders, continuing the run that began with River Plate’s hat-trick of titles and PSV Eindhoven’s victory. In the final Gold group, behind the two powerhouses, an excellent Como side finished third, with the Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in fourth place. There was no shortage of excitement in the other final groups either, which were full of surprises and dramatic turnarounds. The Silver Pulcino went to a superb Parma side, who managed to finish ahead of clubs of the calibre of Fluminense, KAA Gent and Roma. The Pulcino di Bronzo, meanwhile, was lifted by the English side Leeds United, who emerged victorious from a gruelling group featuring RB Leipzig, Benfica and the tournament’s real revelation, Accademia Calcio Roma, who had sensationally beaten and knocked out Barcelona earlier in the day. In the Pulcino Gialloblù category, Montebelluna wrote a fairytale story, lifting the trophy after even beating the illustrious English side Leicester, whilst the four Pulcino Arcobaleno categories saw celebrations and smiles from San Luigi Trieste, Giovani Fucecchio, MolvenoSpor and Voran Leifers.

Sporting Lisbon triumph in the Pulcino d’Oro Girls tournament

Meanwhile, the girls’ tournament proved to be an epic edition. A splendid Sporting Lisbon, having beaten Juventus and Genoa in the final group stage, earned its place in the Pulcino d’Oro Girls’ roll of honour. Now in its fourth edition, the girls’ competition thus witnessed the first historic victory by a foreign team. Inter, already winners of two previous editions, claimed the Pulcino d’Argento ahead of Roma and Hellas Verona A. Padova B also put in an excellent performance, winning the Pulcino di Bronzo ahead of Hellas Verona B and Lazio, in a tournament that saw fine displays and applause also for Frosinone B, Pro Vercelli, La Rocca Monselice B, Riozzese and Brescia.

A statement from President Sandro Beretta

At the end of the day, fatigue gave way to emotion and pride in the words of Sandro Beretta, president of the Organising Committee. “It was an extraordinary event. On the eve of the tournament, it seemed difficult to do better than last year’s edition – the tenth – but I believe that, given the calibre of the teams and the spectacle on the pitches, we have surpassed ourselves. The credit goes to those who believe in this project and to all the teams that made it all the way to Trentino. The Pulcino d’Oro seems set to grow even further, thanks in part to the valuable contacts we’ve established with prestigious clubs keen to take this format abroad. As the Organising Committee, our aim is to give as much back as possible to the local area, the schools, the institutions and the businesses that are supporting us on this journey of growth. Allow me to extend my heartfelt thanks to the nearly 600 volunteers who give their all to this event, and to the whole team that supports me in organising it throughout the year.