Dubai Open Football Academies Tournament Concludes With 12,890 Players

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The 10th Dubai Open Football Academies Tournament closed the 2025-26 season in Dubai. Organisers said 12,890 players took part, from more than 90 nationalities. Across the campaign, 612 teams played 5,299 matches. Games took place at ISD Dubai Sports City and other sites around the emirate.

Dubai Sports Council staged the tournament with the UAE Football Association. Delta Aid Sport partnered the event. The council said the work aimed to support youth development through organised competition. The tournament involved 139 clubs and football academies. Matches were spread across more than 17 sports facilities.

Ahmed Salem Al Muhairi, Director of the Sports Talent Department, connected the event to wider government plans. Al Muhairi said the focus on academy players matched efforts to attract talent. These efforts sit within integrated programmes. They come under the Dubai Sports Sector Strategic Plan 2033.

"The tournament is in line with Dubai’s vision to develop the sports sector and support initiatives to identify and develop talent," Al Muhairi said, adding that 293 football talents across age categories were honoured during the season.

Organisers gave individual prizes across several categories. These included best player by the technical committee and by the public. Best goalkeeper and best coach were also awarded per age group. Listed winners included Anthony El Hage (MAK) and Mark Debs (MAK Academy) in under-7.

Further recipients included Younes Jalali (AC Milan) and Daniel Zubekhin (BARCA) in under-8. In under-15 girls, winners named were Mira Berg (DXB State Centre) and Sibelle Farran (PSG). Organisers said these awards formed part of the season’s recognition programme.

Dubai Open Football Academies Tournament sits within Dubai Open events calendar

Al Muhairi said Dubai Sports Council runs Dubai Open tournaments each year with sports federations. The list includes basketball, swimming, gymnastics, and karate. It also covers table tennis, tennis, and padel tennis. Badminton is part of the programme as well, under the Strategic Plan 2033.

The season-ending tournament combined high participation with a wide spread of venues. Dubai Sports Council said the format supported structured youth competition. The council also linked the event to the Dubai Sports Sector Strategic Plan 2033. Organisers recorded thousands of matches and recognised hundreds of players across age categories.