Ibn Battuta Cup

At a glance

An international youth football tournament held in Tangier, Morocco, which started in 2021.

In 2027, U15 starts on 29 April, U14 on 6 May, U13 on 27 May and U11 on 3 June, with four days for each category.

Club youth teams from Europe and Africa gather, and Real Betis, Getafe, Sporting CP and Anderlecht, among others, have taken part.

Match schedules, results and standings are available in the dedicated tournament mobile app.

It is held in Tangier, facing the Strait of Gibraltar, so teams can combine matches with exploring the city.

About the tournament

The Ibn Battuta Cup is an international youth football tournament held in Tangier, Morocco, named after the medieval traveler Ibn Battuta, who was born in Tangier. In 2027, four categories, U15, U14, U13 and U11, are each played separately over four days between late April and early June. European club youth teams such as Real Betis, Sporting CP and Anderlecht have taken part alongside leading Moroccan academies.

Details

The Ibn Battuta Cup is an international youth football tournament held in Tangier, Morocco. Started in 2021, it has become a tournament that brings together club youth teams from Europe and Africa, and it is named after the medieval traveler Ibn Battuta, who was born in Tangier. It was founded by a Moroccan international sports event organizer. 📅 Dates · The 2027 tournament is held separately for each age category, over four days each. The overall tournament period covers all four categories; each team takes part only during the four days of its own category. · U15: 29 April to 2 May 2027. · U14: 6 May to 9 May 2027. · U13: 27 May to 30 May 2027. · U11: 3 June to 6 June 2027. 📍 Venue · Matches are played in Tangier, a port city in northern Morocco. · The organizers state that the tournament is played at international-standard venues. · Based on previous information, the last edition used 9 pitches in the city, including the Tangier sports village. ✈️ Airport transfers · The nearest airport is Tangier Ibn Battuta Airport. · Based on previous information, the organizers' accommodation package included transfers from the airport and train station and round trips to the pitches. ⚽ Categories · The 2027 tournament schedule lists four categories: U15, U14, U13 and U11. · The tournament description and registration information also list U11, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18 as categories, so it is advisable to check your category with the organizers before registering. 🏆 Teams · The organizers state that teams come from five continents, but the number of teams for the 2027 edition is not published on the official page. · Based on previous information, the last edition had 94 teams and about 1,800 participants across five age categories. · Participating clubs have included Real Betis and Getafe (Spain), Sporting CP (Portugal), Anderlecht, Beerschot and Union Saint-Gilloise (Belgium), NAC Breda (Netherlands) and AF Saint-Louis (Senegal), and from Morocco, the Mohammed VI Academy, Ittihad Riadi Tanger, Raja Casablanca, Wydad Casablanca, RS Berkane and FUS Rabat, among others. The 2027 information also mentions Real Cádiz and UD Almería (Spain). ⏱ Match format · Based on previous information, in each category 16 teams were split into 4 groups for the group stage, with the top two in each group advancing to the final rounds; at least 3 matches were guaranteed, and both artificial and natural grass pitches were used. 🏟 Organization · A dedicated tournament mobile app is available on the App Store and Google Play, where you can check results, schedules, team lists, standings and notifications. · The organizers present accommodation and water park activities as part of the tournament program. · Based on previous information, accommodation was only available through the organizers' designated 3-star and 4-star hotel packages, and teams could not use their own accommodation; the packages included a guide, all meals, and entry to the opening ceremony and finals. 🌊 About the area · Tangier faces Europe across the Strait of Gibraltar and is often called a meeting point of East and West. · It is known for its lively medina (old town), beaches on both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, and the view of the strait from Cape Spartel.

How to enter

To register for the Ibn Battuta Cup, send a request with your team details following the registration information on the official website. The organizers state that they send a confirmation reply within 48 hours of receiving a request. 1. Check the registration information in the Registrations section of the official website ibnbattutacup.com. 2. Prepare the team's official name and logo (if any). 3. Decide on the age category. According to the organizers, the available categories are U11, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18. 4. Prepare the name and email address of the team manager or representative. 5. Prepare a team list including the date of birth and position of every player. 6. Send a participation request with the above details to the organizers and wait for the confirmation reply within 48 hours. 📌 Registration summary · Decide category → Prepare team details and roster → Send participation request → Confirmation reply within 48 hours · The entry fee and accommodation costs for the 2027 edition are not published on the official website, so please check directly with the organizers. Based on previous information, the team registration fee was 250 euros and non-refundable; the deadline for registration and payment of accommodation and meals was 15 days before the tournament; and cancellations within 7 days of the tournament incurred a penalty of 80% of accommodation and meal costs. Accommodation was 650 euros per person in a double room at a 4-star hotel and 450 euros per person in a double room at a 3-star hotel (4 nights, all meals included). · Enquiries can be made by phone or WhatsApp at +212 630 029 666. No official email address is published on the website.

At a glance

Venue

About the tournament

Details

How to enter

Photos

Video

Contact