Leioa, a municipality in Eskuinaldea, will once again become a hub for intercultural coexistence through sport this summer with the celebration of the XXV Mundialito. This edition will feature 24 male and female teams, representing different countries, cultures, and communities. In total, nearly 500 people, including players and technical staff, will participate in the tournament, bringing color, diversity, and coexistence to the municipal fields of Sarriena.
The competition will commence on June 27th with an opening ceremony and will unfold over six matchdays until the finals, scheduled for August 1st. Throughout these weeks, dozens of matches will be played across various categories, solidifying the Mundialito as one of the most significant sporting and social events of the summer in Leioa.
“"The Mundialito is much more than a football tournament. It is a meeting space where people from different backgrounds, cultures, and paths share experiences, build connections, and demonstrate that diversity is one of our municipality's greatest strengths."
Iban Rodríguez, the mayor of Leioa, highlights that “the Mundialito is much more than a football tournament”. The mayor points out that it is “a meeting space where people from different backgrounds, cultures, and paths share experiences, build connections, and demonstrate that diversity is one of our municipality's greatest strengths”. He also wishes to emphasize the initiative's trajectory, reaching its twenty-fifth edition this year. “Reaching 25 editions is the best proof of the success of a project that has managed to grow while keeping its values intact”.
The Mundialito represents “a way of understanding sport as a tool for integration, respect, and social cohesion, and that is why we will continue to support it from the City Council”, indicates the mayor. In this regard, the organization anticipates an average attendance of around 1,500 spectators for each of the six scheduled matchdays, a figure that reflects the event's deep roots among the citizenry and its capacity to gather hundreds of families and fans around sport each summer.
It is worth recalling that in the previous edition, after seven weekends of matches between 18 teams, Egba Crea emerged victorious in the finals, being crowned champions after defeating Honduras. In the women's category, Paraguay were the champions, having won against Erein.
Finally, with the new edition about to begin, the Leioa City Council encourages residents to come to Sarriena to enjoy an event that transcends sport and, once again, turns football into a meeting point to celebrate the coexistence, inclusion, and cultural richness that characterizes Leioaztarra society.
