More than a thousand people thrilled throughout the day in El Hornillo (Telde) with an event that combined football, Canarian identity, coexistence and emotion, around the young promises of the Archipelago.
PHOTO ALBUM IN THIS LINK - Photos: Marcos de Rada
Grassroots football in the Canary Islands now has a new major event circled in blue on its calendar. The " Benjamin Football Tournament – Canaluz Cup – City of Telde 2026 " concluded its inaugural edition on Canary Islands Day , exceeding all sporting, organizational, and social expectations. The Pablo Hernández Morales Stadium in El Hornillo , Telde, a large stadium specially themed for the occasion like those used for major international football events, became the epicenter of grassroots football in the archipelago throughout the day.
From the early hours of the morning, hundreds of families began to fill the stands and surroundings of the Telde venue in a spectacular atmosphere of camaraderie, excitement and celebration, where football served as a meeting point between generations, clubs and fans who came from different parts of the Canary Islands.
The participation of teams from Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura further reinforced the inclusive and regional character of a competition that was born with the aim of uniting the islands through sport, on a date as symbolic as Canary Islands Day.
The organization, led by UD Telde together with Canaluz , with the close collaboration of the Interinsular Football Federation of Las Palmas and the Telde City Council from its Department of Sports , received unanimous recognition from families, technicians and institutional representatives present throughout the day, especially highlighting the punctuality of the tournament, the attention to detail, the spectacular theming of the stadium in Canaluz Cup mode and the constant attention offered to participants and attendees.
One of the tournament's biggest draws was the use of the Adidas Trionda , the official ball of the 2026 FIFA World Cup , which allowed the young footballers to have a unique experience and feel like they were part of a real elite competition. Many of the participating boys and girls remarked at the end of the matches that "it felt like a professional tournament," while their families highlighted the excitement and atmosphere throughout the day.
From a purely sporting perspective, the competition featured incredibly close matches and moments of high-quality football among some of the most prominent clubs in provincial youth football. Unión Sur Yaiza and CD Puerto del Carmen represented Lanzarote , while CD La Oliva traveled from Fuerteventura . These teams journeyed to Telde to take part in an intense day of sport marked by camaraderie, fellowship, and the spirit that unites us all on Canary Islands Day.
Alongside them, clubs from Gran Canaria also competed , such as the champion of the category in the current 2025-2026 League, UD Las Palmas, along with UD Telde, Unión Viera, Tamaraceite , Arucas B or Las Longueras.
Thus in the group stage, UD Las Palmas achieved the lead with 12 points, followed by Unión Viera with 9, UD Telde with 6, Arucas with 3 and Unión Sur Yaiza closing the table with zero points.
Meanwhile, in Group 2, UD Tamaraceite took the lead with 12 points, followed by La Oliva with 9, while UD Telde finished third with 6 points. Puerto del Carmen and CD Las Longueras brought up the rear in this group with 1 point each.
In the Gold Phase , the semi-final matches played in the early afternoon saw UD Tamaraceite face Unión Viera , and UD Las Palmas take on La Oliva . As a result , UD Las Palmas and Unión Viera advanced to the decisive Final Phase.
UD Las Palmas, first champion of the Canaluz Cup
The grand final pitted these two great teams against each other, both of whom proved themselves worthy of the praise and constant support of the enthusiastic fans in attendance. Ultimately, UD Las Palmas claimed the title after a hard-fought match, becoming the first-ever Canaluz Cup Champions.
Meanwhile, in the Silver Phase , Arucas CF was proclaimed champion after overcoming the semi-final tie against CD Unión Puerto del Carmen, and the final against CD Las Longueras.
Beyond the results, the day once again highlighted the enormous potential of grassroots football in the Canary Islands and the excellent level of training currently offered by the various clubs in the province. Furthermore, all matches were officiated by official referees thanks to the involvement of the Las Palmas Inter-Island Football Federation in this tournament.
During the awards ceremony, held at the end of the finals on the pitch of the Pablo Hernández Morales Stadium , representatives of the organization, the Interinsular Football Federation of Las Palmas , the Telde City Council and Canaluz agreed to highlight the enormous success in participation and follow-up achieved by this first edition.
Manuel Hernández, the head of CSR at FIFLP and president of the Futsal Committee of the Inter-Island Football Federation of Las Palmas, pointed out that “events like the Canaluz Cup represent exactly the path that grassroots football in the Canary Islands should follow: organization, coexistence, training and an unforgettable experience for boys and girls.”
From the Telde City Council, its Councilor for Sports, Cristhian Santana , especially valued "the tournament's ability to project the city as a benchmark for grassroots sport in the Canary Islands on such an important date for all Canary Islanders."
For his part, the Director of Communication and Marketing at Canaluz, Héctor Pérez Quevedo, wanted to publicly thank “all the clubs, families, institutions and organizers who made possible a day that is now part of grassroots football in the Canary Islands.”
The Canary Islands energy company also took advantage of the tournament to continue promoting its special campaign to its member families, thanks to its agreement with the Las Palmas Inter-Island Football Federation . Through this campaign, players and their families in Canary Islands football can access significant discounts and benefits on their electricity supply, with the possibility of saving up to 30% on their electricity bill for a year.
Similarly, representatives from Canaluz distributed numerous football-related gifts to participants and spectators, under the common motto: “ We are the Canarian energy of our football .” Likewise, every single detail, from the plaques and trophies to the cups, reflected the distinctive Canaluz brand style , with its own typography and striking blue and white corporate colors. This helped transform the entire atmosphere into a true celebration of Canarian grassroots football, in true Canaluz style —the Canarian way of energy.
Indeed, one of the details that surprised the audience, mostly families and parents of the children participating in this magnificent tournament, was the surprise Canaluz had in store for them all in the locker room. Each participating child received a sleeveless sports shirt (similar to a bib) featuring the colors and crest of their club, with the inscription "Canaluz Cup " across the chest. It was a truly exceptional gift that the company wanted to give—a lasting memento—to its most promising young participants.
Finally, the remarkable social and sporting reception of this first edition already opens the door to future editions of the Canaluz Cup , which clearly aspires to establish itself as one of the great benchmarks of grassroots football in the Canary Islands, and even serve as a model for the development of new competitions in other categories.
Because if anything was clear this Canary Islands Day in Telde, it's that the Canaluz Cup wasn't just born as a football tournament. It was born as a collective experience, a celebration of sport, and a demonstration that grassroots football continues to be one of the great spaces for unity, hope, and a future for all of the Canary Islands.
## HIGHLIGHTED SUMMARIES
* * The family atmosphere, the impeccable organization and the sporting level make the first edition of the Canaluz Cup a resounding success.
* * Teams from Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura starred in a historic day for Canarian youth football.
* * The use of the official ball of the 2026 World Cup was one of the great attractions of a competition that left images to remember.
* * Institutions, clubs and families agree that the Canaluz Cup “is here to stay.”
The shower of gifts from Canaluz , both among the participants and the large audience, surprised everyone and also set the bar very high for future editions
