Some of Europe’s biggest football academies will be in La Laguna this weekend for the first edition of the Royal Élite Cup, bringing 16 under-11 teams to Tenerife for three days of youth football.
The tournament runs from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 September at the Ciudad Deportiva Javier Pérez and is being organised by the Pedro Rodríguez Foundation.
And the good news for football fans is that you don’t necessarily need to get yourself to La Laguna to see the best of the action.
Where to watch the Royal Élite Cup
Televisión Canaria will broadcast the knockout stages live, including the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
The coverage will be available through Canarias Play, the RTVC website and the Televisión Canaria Deportes YouTube channel.
The quarter-finals take place on Saturday 5 September, followed by the semi-finals and final on Sunday 6 September.
Coverage is expected to run between approximately 09:00 and 19:00, depending on the match schedule.
Commentary will be provided by Berto Mata, with Bea García reporting from the pitch and professionals from Sports and Management providing additional commentary.
Some serious academies involved
There are 16 teams from six European countries, with a total of 43 matches being played across the three days.
The lineup includes some very familiar names from European football:
- FC Barcelona
- Atlético de Madrid
- Athletic Club
- PSV Eindhoven
- Villarreal
- Dinamo Zagreb
- Real Betis
- SS Lazio
- Sporting Portugal
- RCD Espanyol
- Girona FC
- Chelsea
The Canary Islands will be represented by CD Tenerife and UD Las Palmas, alongside two additional teams created specifically for the tournament featuring selected local alevín players.
For a tournament aimed at under-11 players, that’s quite a collection of football academies.
Free entry in La Laguna
The matches are free to attend, giving local supporters the chance to watch some of Europe’s most promising young players without having to spend anything.
The tournament is also intended to become a regular fixture, with organisers hoping to build on this first edition and bring the event back to Tenerife in future years.
For the Pedro Rodríguez Foundation, it’s an opportunity to put youth football in the spotlight while giving young players from Tenerife the chance to compete against some of Europe’s leading academies.
Pedro Rodríguez and David Silva planning a legends match
The Royal Élite Cup will also be used to present details of another football event planned for Tenerife.
A Legends Game is being planned for mid-2027 at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium, involving former teammates and friends of Tenerife footballers Pedro Rodríguez and David Silva.
Both players were members of the Spain team that won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, so there should be a few familiar names involved when that one eventually rolls around.
More details are expected to be announced during the opening day of the Royal Élite Cup on Friday 4 September.
Royal Élite Cup 2026
Dates: 4 to 6 September 2026
Venue: Ciudad Deportiva Javier Pérez, La Laguna
Category: Under-11
Teams: 16 from six European countries
Matches: 43
Entry: Free
Live coverage: Canarias Play, RTVC website and Televisión Canaria Deportes YouTube