Por Ismael Buendia 
San Pedro Alcántara will once again host the ‘Marbella Cup Soccer’ tournament, a consolidated youth soccer event that this summer reaches its twentieth edition and will bring together more than 1,300 young footballers from 72 teams, with a significant impact on sports, tourism, and the economy of the municipality. The event will take place over two weekends, from June 20 to 23 for the male category and from 26 to 29 for the female category, at the municipal facilities of the Antonio Naranjo stadium and the annex football field 7. The deputy mayor of San Pedro, Javier García, highlighted the importance of this competition during the presentation, «not only for its history, but also for its impact on the city, with the arrival of more than 2,200 people, including participants and companions.» The councilor also valued «the commitment of the organizers and their permanent collaboration with the Council’s Office and the Sports department,» especially thanking the person in charge of the event, Ramón Gómez.
In this sense, he emphasized that «this type of initiative reinforces the city’s connection with the tourism and sports binomial, generating a significant economic return in high season.» He also encouraged fans to attend the matches, whose entrance will be free, and reaffirmed institutional support for future editions. For his part, Gómez explained that the competition is divided this year for logistical reasons, due to the renovation of several facilities. In total, between 850 and 950 players will participate in the male category and between 375 and 475 in the female category, «in a format that prioritizes quality over quantity,» he pointed out.
Gómez highlighted that the tournament is affiliated with the ‘Somos RFEF’ program of the Spanish Football Federation and UEFA and has federated referees and advanced medical services at all venues. Likewise, he praised the involvement of the organizing team, the careful health care, and the balance between competition and enjoyment of the local tourist environment. «The goal is for the teams to compete, but also to enjoy Marbella, its beach, and its leisure offer,» he said, noting that the estimated economic return is between 850,000 and 1,200,000 euros per edition. He thanked the City Council for its support and detailed that the event will feature teams from different parts of Spain, including regions such as Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, or Andalusia, and also local representation through invitations to clubs such as Marbella FC, UD San Pedro, or Atlético Marbellí.