Manchester City to compete in inaugural Messi Cup in December alongside Chelsea | OneFootball

Chelsea and Manchester City will be among the teams competing in the inaugural Messi Cup this December, eyeing success in a brand new youth tournament.

City’s academy setup will have another chance to showcase its next generation of stars on the international stage later this year, as the club continues to prioritise youth development under the City Football Group model.

The Etihad club’s pathway from academy to first team has become one of Europe’s most admired production lines, having produced talents such as Phil Foden, Rico Lewis, and Oscar Bobb in recent seasons.

The Messi Cup now provides Manchester City’s Under-16s with a new global platform to compete against elite opposition from different footballing cultures, marking another moment of crossover between world football’s most iconic names and the next wave of young prospects seeking to follow in their footsteps.

For City, participation aligns perfectly with their growing commitment to high-level youth tournaments – similar to their involvement in the UEFA Youth League and the CFG-wide player development strategy.

As detailed by journalist Ben Jacobs on social media this week, Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester City will both compete in the inaugural Messi Cup between December 9 and 14 later this year.

The brand new youth football tournament will be held in the United States at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium and their training ground, and will see eight clubs send their respective Under-16 teams to the competition.

Alongside the Premier League giants, it is revealed that all of Inter Miami, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Inter, River Plate and Newell’s Old Boys will also be participating in the tournament.

Hosted in Miami, the Messi Cup will combine football with wider cultural and business themes, setting it apart from a traditional youth competition. Lionel Messi himself is expected to attend the event, which will also include an industry summit bringing together leaders in business, design, and creativity.

The summit, hosted at the Faena Forum, aims to explore the intersections between football, innovation, and global community building.

The announcement was made earlier this week by Messi himself, who shared the news via his official Instagram page. “Thrilled to finally share this with you,” he wrote. “This December, Miami will host a very special youth football tournament featuring some of the top clubs from around the world.

“The future of the game will be on full display, and it’s more than just matches – we’ve got an incredible few days planned with lots of other exciting activities. This is about the next generation. Hope you like it!”

Messi’s media venture, 525 Rosario, is promoting the event and described it as “an opportunity to celebrate talent, culture, and community, while creating legacies and bonds that will endure well beyond the pitch.”

For Manchester City, the tournament also serves as a valuable scouting and networking opportunity. The club’s coaches and academy staff may use the competition to benchmark their youth development progress against other world-renowned academies, including those of Barcelona and River Plate – two clubs with a long history of producing world-class players.