October 21, (THEWILL) — Team Nigeria claimed their third FC Bayern Youth Cup title after defeating Team Rwanda in the World Finals held between October 16 and 17 at the Adi-Dassler-Sportplatz in Herzogenaurach. The team had previously won the tournament in 2022 and 2023, reflecting the sustained quality of work by the players and the VOE Foundation.
Eight teams competed in this year’s World Finals, representing Argentina, Canada, China, Rwanda, Japan, Germany, Nigeria and the USA. Club scouts stationed at the FC Bayern Campus assessed players throughout the tournament and presented individual honours. Ryuto Ono from Japan received the MVP award and earned selection for the 2026 World Squad, whilst Rwanda’s Alfa Nsengumureyi was recognised as the best goalkeeper and Japan’s Hiro Yokoyama finished as top scorer with five goals.
The competition forms a central pillar of the FC Bayern Pathway and continues to establish itself among Europe’s leading youth tournaments. It provides young footballers from different continents with a stage to demonstrate their abilities whilst fostering cultural exchange on and off the pitch. All participating players underwent evaluation and will be added to an international player pool. This database enables FC Bayern to track their development and potentially involve them in further Pathway projects.
Following the conclusion of the tournament, participants attended the Bundesliga match between Bayern and Borussia Dortmund at the Allianz Arena. The World Finals also marked the first occasion that live coverage was broadcast via the FC Bayern Pathway Instagram channel, offering followers detailed insight into the tournament proceedings.
The 2025 edition reaffirmed the World Finals as a vital element of international youth football. Young talent from across the globe gains exposure through the event, which remains integral to FC Bayern’s global youth development strategy and commitment to identifying promising players at grassroots level.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
