The ninth edition of the Pulcino d’Oro had the best start ever. The curtain has risen on the 2024 International Tournament which, from today until Sunday 16 June, will see over 1,200 young footballers compete in Levico Terme, Valsugana. The first day of the tournament was full of excitement and surprises, with the first 36 teams competing on the pitches of Borgo Valsugana and Caldonazzo, each of which hosted six groups of three teams.
According to the rules of the event, the winners of each group will form the four new groups of three teams that will take to the field in Viale Lido in Levico Terme on Friday morning from 8.30 a.m. The first classified team will be the leader of the series for the second phase of the tournament, together with the other twelve top clubs. It will also be the start of the Pulcino d’Oro Girls, with all 12 women’s teams taking part.
Inter, Juventus, Milan, Roma – both men’s and women’s teams – and Atalanta will be present, along with Atletico Madrid from Spain, Benfica from Portugal, Leeds United and Sunderland from England, PSV Eindhoven and AZ Alkmaar from the Netherlands and Pulcino d’Oro holders River Plate from Argentina.
Four days of football have begun in the name of an event that manages to combine the world of professional football with the amateur movement in an ideal way. Young footballers aged 9, 10 and 11 will be taking part in more than 300 matches. Professional clubs of the calibre of Trento, Vis Pesaro and Alcione Milano will be present from the first day of the competition.
Campania’s Real Sito got off to a flying start, ahead of Verona’s Alba Borgo Roma and Audace, home team of the competition. Paraiso, Roma’s Vigor Perconti and Nuova Tor Tre Teste made their debut on the pitch and all finished top of their respective groups.
The Apulians of Levante Azzurro took the lead ahead of the Sicilians of Vivi Don Bosco and the Junior Jesina Scuola Calcio Roberto Mancini of the Marche. Franco Selvaggi’s team finished third, ahead of Villa Cortese from Milan and Comano Terme Fiavé from Trentino. There was plenty of fun, games and spectators, but also surprises in Borgo Valsugana. Palombina Vecchia leaded its group ahead of Borgo and Cavolano Calcio. Trento overcame San Luigi Trieste to win its group. Liventina Opitergina beat Vis Pesaro – winners of the Emilia-Romagna regional stage – and ViPo Trento. Dolomiti Bellunesi took first place in a neck-and-neck race with Voran Leifers, while Alcione Milano and Montebelluna beat Maia Alta and Lavis respectively.
Tomorrow afternoon at 4.45pm, one of the most emotional and colourful moments of the event will take place: the Opening Ceremony, in the centre of Levico Terme, starting from the Terme, followed by the official presentation of the teams in the amphitheatre of the Parco Asburgico. On Saturday and Sunday all the 60 teams will be back on the pitch for the next stages. Up to the eight final rounds, the Pulcino d’Oro, Pulcino d’Argento, Pulcino di Bronzo, Pulcino Gialloblù and Pulcino Arcobaleno (red, white, blue and green) will be up for grabs. There are also great expectations for the 12 teams in the Pulcino d’Oro Girls, with Inter, Juventus, Milan, Roma, Rhodense, Real Sala Bolognese, Accademia Calcio Vittuone, Lady Maerne, Treviso Women, Cittadella Women and Pro Vercelli.