The 12rd McDonald's Ayia Napa Youth Soccer Festival kicked off today, Saturday, April 2025, 23, with impressive participation and a special pulse, transforming the Ayia Napa Sports Center into a colorful sea of children's smiles, enthusiasm and football energy.
From early in the morning, a crowd of people – parents, fans and visitors – flooded the sports facilities of the Municipality of Ayia Napa, to see firsthand the start of the top sports event for children and young people from Cyprus and abroad.
It is noted that this year's event surpassed all previous ones, with more than 5.000 children participating, coming from 426 age groups of teams from Cyprus and abroad, including 81 football teams from foreign countries.
On 16 specially designed pitches, boys and girls from the Grassroots categories up to 12 years old, as well as young people aged 13 to 17, will offer spectacle, excitement and promising football moments.
The festival will last until Maundy Thursday, April 17, 2025, giving young and old the opportunity to live unique experiences through sports, noble competition and team spirit.
In his statements during the official opening, the Mayor of Ayia Napa, Mr. Christos Zannetou, expressed his joy and emotion that the city is hosting such a great event again this year.
"Ayia Napa," he said, "for another year proves that it can lead not only in tourism but also in sports, hosting the largest children's football tournament in Cyprus and one of the most important in Europe. It is our honor to see thousands of children filling our facilities with vitality and hope. The future of sports is here and we as a Municipality support such efforts in every way."
He also added that "the tournament is not just a sporting event, it is a celebration of culture, friendship and interaction between children from different countries."
"We welcome all our participants and visitors to Ayia Napa and wish them every success and many beautiful memories," concluded the Mayor of Ayia Napa.
