CORNELLÀ LEARN THEIR OPPONENTS FOR THE MESSI CUP 2026
The U16 A team will face Manchester City, Boca Juniors and Flamengo in Group D of the international tournament, which will take place in Miami from October 25 to November 1.
UE Cornellà now know which teams they will have to overcome in the group stage of the Messi Cup 2026. The U16 A team, which will represent the club in the tournament’s second edition, have been drawn in Group D alongside Manchester City, Boca Juniors and Flamengo. It is a highly challenging group that will put the Green and Whites to the test against three leading names in international youth football.
The draw presents a major sporting challenge and an intriguing contrast between different footballing cultures. Manchester City are renowned for their possession-based style of play and technical quality; Boca Juniors embody the competitive tradition of Argentine football, while Flamengo are one of the biggest names in Brazilian football, with an extensive youth development structure and a well-established ability to produce talented players.
For Cornellà, these three fixtures will provide an opportunity to compete against internationally renowned academies, test the team’s level and continue to develop in a high-calibre setting. Beyond the results, the tournament will allow the Green and Whites to discover different approaches to the game and gain valuable experience for their sporting and personal development.
An international tournament featuring 16 clubs
UE Cornellà will take part in the second edition of the Messi Cup, which will be held in Miami from October 25 to November 1, 2026. The tournament will bring together 16 top-level international clubs, twice as many as in the inaugural edition, and feature some of the world’s most renowned youth academies.
Alongside their Group D opponents, the competition will feature clubs such as FC Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal, Ajax, Inter Milan, Benfica and Inter Miami, among others. The line-up establishes the Messi Cup as a major event on the international youth football calendar.
The U16 A team’s participation represents a significant opportunity for UE Cornellà and its players, who will be able to share the experience with some of the most prominent youth development programmes in world football.
The announcement of the club’s participation had already generated considerable engagement on social media. The Instagram post in which UE Cornellà revealed the news surpassed 100,000 views, making it one of the club’s most widely viewed posts.
Adrián Herrera: “Our main objective is to represent UE Cornellà as it deserves”
The excitement surrounding the tournament is also palpable in the dressing room. Adrián Herrera, head coach of UE Cornellà’s U16 A team, highlights the significance of the news for both the players and the club.
“When we were told that we would be taking part in the Messi Cup, it was very special news. It’s a great opportunity for the players and for the club,” the coach explains.
Herrera says the team welcomed the announcement with great enthusiasm and excitement. “It’s an experience they will remember for many years. They’re really excited,” he says. The coaching staff aim to channel that enthusiasm into an opportunity for growth, while ensuring the players also enjoy an experience of this calibre.
“We want to compete and perform well, but the most important thing is for the players to enjoy themselves and continue to grow, both on and off the pitch,” the coach points out.
With the ambition to compete at the highest level and the responsibility of representing the club’s green colours on the international stage, Herrera is clear about the team’s main objective: “The aim is to represent UE Cornellà as it deserves.”
The Messi Cup 2026 will therefore be both a major sporting challenge and a valuable developmental experience for the players. Cornellà now know the challenge that awaits them in the group stage and are preparing to represent the club on the international stage, eager to compete, learn and continue to grow.