Better known as Sporting Lisbon, a Verde e Brancos (the Green and Whites) are one of Portugal’s ‘Três Grandes’ (Big Three) alongside Benfica and Porto. Their rivals have competed at Al Kass before (twice in the case of Benfica), but this is Sporting’s tournament debut.

Sporting may have won fewer titles than their illustrious compatriots, but when it comes to youth development their success rate is unparalleled. Ballon D’Or winners Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo both came through the ranks at Sporting and – astonishingly – 8 out of the 11 Portuguese starters in the Euro 2016 final (which they won 1-0 against France) were academy products.

The words ‘Effort, Dedication, Devotion, Glory’ are emblazoned on the wall at the entrance to Sporting Clube de Portugal academy, and this year’s talented crop of U16s will be going all out to experience glory on behalf of their fans back home in Lisbon.

1 Diogo Pinto
2 Óscar Garcia
3 David Monteiro
4 Ricardo Piedade
5 João Pereira
6 Rui Carreira
7 David Moreira
8 Tiago Octávio
9 Rafael Carvalho
10 Samuel Justo
11 Mateus Fernandes
12 Rafael Besugo
13 Luís Gomes
14 Isnaba Mané
15 Youssef Chermitti
16 Diogo Travassos
17 Martim Marques
18 Diego Silva