CEE Cup Football Tournament Returns to Prague After More than 1000 Days

The CEE Cup for under-19 footballers will see the return to Prague of the Brazilians of Palmeiras and, for the first time, the English of Aston Villa

After a three-year stop due to Covid, one of the most important youth football tournament in the country, the CEE Cup, is returning. The matches between six elite U19 teams will take place at Sparta’s training grounds in Strahov, on Admira in Kobylisy and the final, as per tradition, will take place in Vršovice’s Ďolíček, from the 22 to the 26 of July.

“We are thrilled to finally be able to host the tenth edition in all its glory, with many thanks to all the partners who have supported us,” says tournament director, Roberto De Blasio.

In Group A, Sparta will play defending champions, Palmeiras from Brazil, and the Tigres from Mexico. In Group B, Slavia will face England’s Aston Villa and Ukraine’s Dynamo Kyiv. The group matches will be played from Friday to Sunday, the first at 3 p.m. and the second 5 p.m., followed by the ranking matches and the final on Tuesday.

“We are happy that we can return to Prague after three years since the last tournament, which we managed to win. It is a great opportunity to confront players from other continents, in addition to a different culture of life. The technical level will definitely rise again at the tournament,” says Joao Paulo Sampaio, SE Palmeiras’ youth general manager.

The tournament has a complete set of perfect facilities, not to mention a promising group of international referees from Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Hungary. Matches will be broadcast live on video stream and final on Czech National TV.

The official tournament ball will be adidas’s Al-Rihla, the same one that will be used in the World Cup in Qatar. The final program at the Bohemians 1905 stadium will include a number of interesting activities with Tomáš Jun, the former elite scorer of Sparta. 

The proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the purchase of equipment for a hospital in Kharkiv, Ukraine. “It is a great honor and opportunity for us to be part of this tournament, where the academies of leading clubs from all over the world will be present. More so at a time when our country is suffering from war and the stadiums are being shelled by Russian rockets; this is how we can support football in Ukraine, to give young footballers the opportunity to grow even in such a difficult time,” says Serhij Mochnyk, Deputy General Director of Dynamo Kyiv.

CEE Cup 2022 Program

Group A – Strahov

• 22. 7. 15.00 AC Sparta Prague – Tigres
• 23. 7. 15.00 Palmeiras SE – Tigres
• 24. 7. 15.00 AC Sparta Prague – Palmeiras SE

Group B – Strahov

• 22/7/17.30 SK Slavia Prague – Aston Villa
• 23/7/17.30 Dynamo Kyiv – Aston Villa
• 24/7/17.30 SK Slavia Prague – Dynamo Kyiv

Ranking Games

• 26/7/9.00 Admira: for 5th place
• 26/7/11:15 Admira: for 3rd place
• 26/7/18.00 Bohemians 1905: Final