The 2nd LALIGA Hope Cup has successfully concluded in Kunming, a unique edition in which, after a thrilling final Real Betis defeated Valencia CF with a score of 3-2, securing the championship title. RCD Espanyol and Cádiz CF claimed third and fourth places respectively. The event’s Best Player award was presented to Aaron Soriano, a striker from Espanyol, while Javi Martin from Real Betis was named the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament.
This final concludes 5 days of intense competition in which 6 LALIGA teams, RCD Espanyol, Real Betis, Cádiz CF, Valencia CF, CA Osasuna, and RC Celta have competed against 6 Chinese teams, namely Henan Football Club, Hubei Football Association ISTAR Football Academy, Kunming Football Association, Shenzhen Football Association, Chongqing Football Association and Yunnan Football Association Yibu Sports. Notably, RCD Espanyol and Valencia CF made their second appearance in the LALIGA Hope Cup, with the latter participating in 2 consecutive finals in the tournament’s history.
The awarding ceremony, attended by over 500 spectators, was graced by distinguished guests, including Yu Hongying, Vice Director of Yunnan Sports Bureau; Sun Hongkun, Representative of Kunming Education and Sports Bureau; Tang Jing, Vice Director of the Kunming Culture and Tourism Bureau; Sergi Torrents, Managing Director of LALIGA China, Wang Jianguang, Chairmen of China Sports Futurity Investment (Beijing) Co., LTD., etc.
The success of the 2nd LALIGA Hope Cup was made possible by the strong support from the Kunming Municipal People’s Government with LALIGA’s partner CSFI as organizer. The five-day competition not only enhanced the football exchange between LALIGA clubs and local Chinese counterparts but also served as an educational platform for young players to deepen their cross-cultural understanding.
During their stay, the Spanish players embarked on a special cultural journey, visiting the Nationalities Village in Yunnan and experiencing the charm of Kunming’s Nanping Street. This cultural immersion highlighted the significance of the LALIGA Hope Cup as an integral component of the 50th-anniversary celebration of diplomatic relations between China and Spain.
In recent years, LALIGA has been committed to promoting the development of Chinese football, forging close partnerships with various levels of Chinese government, football authorities, and associations. LALIGA’s goal is to promote the sport globally and foster the growth of Chinese football across all levels. The hosting of the LALIGA Hope Cup, along with the establishment of the LALIGA Kunming International Football School, will further facilitate the progress and development of youth football in Yunnan Province, contributing to the cultivation of high-level football talent in China.
