50 teams in fray for UNITY CUP 2025

MUSCAT, OCT 8

The conference hall at the Hormuz Grand Hotel in Muscat hosted a press conference yesterday morning announcing the details of the Muscat International Unity Cup 2025, which is considered the largest international football tournament for academies in the Sultanate of Oman. The event will feature 50 teams from six countries: Oman, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Morocco, and Lebanon.

The conference was attended by Chuck Martini — CEO, Director of Premier League Football Academy Group and the MIUC; , Yasser al Rawahi - Staff Member of the OFA and organiser at MIUC; and Mundhir al Shidhani - Head Technical Organiser of the MIUC..

During the press conference, the organising committee highlighted the main goals and themes of the tournament, emphasising that it aims to foster competitive spirit and connection among young football talents in the region, while providing an ideal sporting environment that combines performance with community engagement. The official identity of the championship was unveiled, along with its technical and organisational details, which aim to deliver an exceptional edition in terms of both the number of participants and the quality of the competing academies.

The tournament will take place from October 16 to 18, across two venues the Royal Guards of Oman Stadium and Royal Flight School with matches distributed across five age categories: under-10, under-12, under-14, under-16, and under-18, allowing broad participation from emerging and promising talents at various levels.

In his remarks, Chuck Martini described the upcoming edition as “the largest ever”, noting that it will feature more than 50 teams and 11 international academies. He said matches will be held across two venues over three days, from Thursday noon to Saturday noon. The tournament has become one of the most anticipated and fastest-growing sporting events in the region. Martini also highlighted the historic significance of the tournament, saying many players who took part in past editions are now professionals, including Arsenal star Myles Lewis-Skelly. This proves that such competitions pave the way for young talents toward professional careers.

For his part, Yasser al Rawahi welcomed the participating teams from within and outside the Sultanate of Oman, confirming that the organising committee is fully prepared to host all delegations. He said we are honoured to welcome all Omani and international academies. All preparations have been completed to ensure a sporting and organisational experience worthy of Oman’s reputation. Through the conference, the draw and official app were released, with Mundhir al Shidhani announcing, "This year, we will be using Turneo as our official IT partner, providing us with real-time statistics for all matches, fixtures, schedules and more

Meanwhile, Sultan al Harrasi emphasised that the tournament serves as an important platform for developing young players, noting that several current professional stars have previously competed in it, such as Omani player Mohammed al Numani, now with CD Leganés (Spain), and Dutch player Mees Ebbek, who was born in Oman and currently represents the Netherlands U-20 team.

Al Harrasi added that the championship offers young athletes valuable opportunities to interact with peers from diverse cultural and football backgrounds, helping them refine their skills and prepare for future professional challenges. He stated that when a player starts competing at the age of 10 or 12 against opponents from different football schools, he gains priceless experience which is what truly shapes the Omani player’s development. He noted that the event’s focus extends beyond the technical aspects, aiming also to build players’ character and self-confidence, explaining that the goal is not only to win but to learn from the experience itself.