International Tournament. Cyprus Cup. Women
The International Cyprus Cup for women's teams is a prestigious annual event hosted on the Mediterranean island, drawing top women's football clubs from Europe and the Middle East. Organized by the Cyprus Football Association, it provides an ideal pre-season testing ground where teams fine-tune tactics under sunny skies. Since the 2010s, it has gained traction among scouts and fans, spotlighting the surge in women's football globally.
History and foundation
Originating in the early 2000s as an invite for Cypriot and Greek sides, the women's edition kicked off in 2012 with PAOK from Greece claiming victory. The 2019 edition was electric, pitting Cypriot AEK Larnaca against a Turkish side from Konya amid geopolitical buzz. Post-pandemic in 2022, it roared back with 12 teams, crowning Slovenia's Ljubljana squad champions. Fun fact: Ukraine's U-19 national team debuted in 2017, securing bronze and launching several players into European leagues.
Tournament format
Compact and thrilling, the format features 8–12 teams split into two groups of 4–6. Teams play a single round-robin within groups; top two from each advance to semifinals. Final and third-place match cap the event over two intense days. Held on pitches in Larnaca and Limassol, games last 2x35 or 2x40 minutes. The week-long tournament slots perfectly into late July or early August pre-seasons.
Interesting facts
Matches average 3.5–4 goals, fueled by experimental lineups and attacking flair. All-time top scorer is Cypriot Sofia Sakellari with 14 goals across three editions. Standouts include Greek midfielder Maria Georgiou (8 assists in 2021, MVP), Slovenian striker Nina Ptic (2022 final hat-trick), and Ukrainian Elena Khomenco (9 goals in 2020). Over five years, at least 20 players have parlayed success here into contracts in Italy's Serie A Femminile and Germany's Frauen-Bundesliga.