Benfica International Projects Dubai Tournament

Jointly organized by Sport Lisboa e Benfica and Al Nasr SC, an international tournament was held in Dubai, bringing together several Benfica international projects in the Under-16 and Under-18 categories. The competition took place at the facilities of the United Arab Emirates club, which has been Benfica's partner since 2023.

Entitled Al Nasr International Cup 2025, the tournament featured the host teams of Al Nasr SC, as well as several others integrated into the Club's international expansion network. Benfica Campus Ivory Coast, FocuSport FC a club from Burkina Faso with which SL Benfica has a partnership), and Benfica Football School from Lithuania, were present, in addition to other local clubs and academies.

This tournament represented an important moment of contact, exchange of experiences, and competition between SL Benfica's different international projects, which, although coming from different geographical areas, apply the same training methodology as the Club.

The presence of all project managers, as well as Miguel Reis (SL Benfica's global expansion coordinator) and Davide Gomes (SL Benfica's international project manager), also allowed for a detailed assessment of the implementation of SL Benfica's methodology in each context, reinforcing the direct monitoring of the Club's central structure.

In addition to the sports and educational aspects, this tournament also served to reinforce the local presence and visibility of the SL Benfica brand, in an initiative aligned with the Club's international growth strategy.

STATEMENTS

Davide Gomes (SL Benfica International Project Manager): "This tournament is an important milestone and a first step in the international strategy we are developing, as it allows us to assess the technical work carried out in our international projects. Putting our different teams from various countries in direct competition gives us excellent indicators of the methodological application of our teams. Observing such different players, with identical principles and characteristics similar to our model, which we call Formar à Benfica (Train the Benfica way) is a source of enormous satisfaction and pride for all SL Benfica coaches around the world. We cannot fail to express our appreciation for all the work they do on a daily basis. We are already preparing for the next meeting, in which we will expand to more teams and more age groups, providing another opportunity for cross-border youth football interaction, always respecting the principles and values that guide our work."

Miguel Reis (SL Benfica Global Expansion Coordinator): "SL Benfica's first international partner tournament was a significant milestone, reflecting the ongoing commitment of the Club and its international partners to promoting talent and the development of football. The participation of teams from Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Lithuania, and Dubai, all with strong ties to SL Benfica's training program, provided our athletes a unique and enriching experience. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Al Nasr, our partner in Dubai, for the magnificent organization of the tournament. The event was an excellent example of collaboration, demonstrating the dedication and professionalism involved in its realization. Furthermore, it is important to note that the teams from different countries, despite having only started their operations this year, already showed an exceptional level of quality among their athletes. This demonstrates not only the potential of each player, but also the positive impact of the training initiatives promoted by SL Benfica. We are certain that this will be a tradition to be repeated annually, and we are planning to launch a second annual event. With this, we aim not only to further strengthen ties with our international partners, but also to continue to promote the growth of SL Benfica on the global stage."