IberCup Estoril

The IberCup Estoril is the leading summer edition of the prestigious IberCup youth football tournament series.

Taking place near Lisbon, Portugal, it promises to host an array of elite teams who will compete for first place across a range of age categories.

The IberCup is currently one of the most important youth football tournaments worldwide. 2023 will mark the 12th anniversary of this event which brings together players and teams from 50 different countries, as well as around 500 referees from 40 different nations. A week of competition, fantastic experiences and extraordinary opportunities in a competition that sees the participation of some of the TOP professional teams in the world.

Famous teams like FC Porto, SL Benfica, Sporting Lisbon, FC Zenit, Liverpool FC, Atletico de Madrid, PSG, Ol. Lyon, Ol. Marseille, Sevilla FC and Chivas Guadalajara have competed over the years.

For the first time in 2023 an elite girls tournament will also be organized within the main Ibercup event, with professional female teams from all around Europe.

Arrival day is Monday 03 Jul 2023 and departure day is evening of Sunday 09 Jul 2023 or Monday 10 Jul 2023.

Transfers to and from fields can include using Uber. This is done by each referee and then reimbursed after the tournament so please bear this in mind in terms of downloading the Uber app and linking a payment card to it.

By attending this tournament, included in the participation fee, you’ll receive:

– Accommodation for the entire tournament in Residence-style lodging with communal bathrooms;
– Full board across the week;
– Local public transport to and from games;
– Referee Abroad merchandise;
– Observers from across Europe and beyond who will give you feedback on how to improve your refereeing;
– Games with assistants and fourth officials, and possibility of using communication headsets;
– Finals in stadiums / possibility of appearing on live TV;
– A fantastic week of refereeing, friends, and fun!  

All referees over the age of 16 are welcome to apply for the Ibercup Experience.

Please note – if you are under the age of 18 you will need to travel with a responsible adult or have a full waiver signed by your parents/guardians sent to us before you travel.

The Ibercup Estoril is a development tournament which aims at supporting up-and-coming referees from all around the world in becoming better match officials. In order to do so we welcome to the tournament referee observers (assessors) interested in aiding these match officials offering them feedback.

Every year we require around fifteen referee observers, as an observer you’ll be entitled to:

– Free accommodation from the day before the tournament starts, to the day after the finals. 

– Free breakfast, lunch and dinner starting with dinner on the day of arrival, finishing with breakfast on the day of departure. 

– Free public transport to/from the hotel and pitches, as well as the airport. 

Read more and apply on our dedicated observers page. 

Referees are accommodated in residence-style accommodation in the vicinity of the fields.

The details and exact name of the establishment will be available in due course.

Estoril is a small beach town in Portugal in the greater Lisbon area. A former residence of the royal family and pioneer of tourism in Portugal, it is a very charming village. It is also the town that hosts Europe’s biggest casino.

Dominated by the bay and the imposing Cidadela fort, the historic centre is brimming with architectural treasures of a religious, military and civil nature. Likewise, the museums of the Sea, Casa das Histórias de Paula Rego, and the Municipal Museum Condes de Castro Guimarães are also must-see attractions.

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, lies only minutes away and offers all the delights you’d expect of Portugal’s star attraction, yet with half the fuss of other European capitals. Gothic cathedrals, majestic monasteries and quaint museums are all part of the colourful cityscape, but the real delights of discovery lie in wandering the narrow lanes of Lisbon’s lovely backstreets.

The nearest international airport is Lisbon Airport (LIS).

It is the main air hub for TAP Portugal, a Star Alliance member airline that covers an extensive network throughout Europe, Africa and the Americas. There are also several other airlines flying into Lisbon from both European and non-European destinations.

The airport is a short metro+train ride away from where the tournament takes place or, in alternative, only about 20 minutes by car. Referees will be provided with a metro / train ticket or equivalent refund in order to reach Cascais.