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To retain the trophy and, in doing so, achieve a historic three-peat, the young players of the Portuguese club Vitoria Guimarães will have their work cut out for them. On Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24, the Saint-Barth Foot Challenge will once again bring together the cream of the crop in the under-13 category. For the eleventh edition of its biggest event of the year, the Ajoe soccer academy is welcoming distinguished guests. Not all of them will be able to dethrone Vitoria SC, but they’ll certainly give it their best shot!
Two professional Ligue 1 clubs have sent their young representatives: Stade Brestois and FC Lorient. A strong Breton presence, therefore. The Old Continent will also be represented by players from the youth academy of a club hailing from another major league: Italy’s Serie A. These are the under-13s from Como, whose first team finished the Italian league in5th place ahead of… Juventus of Turin.
Another major invited team: the Edmonton Football Club academy from Canada. “It’s an elite squad,” enthuses Alan Dagorn, a coach, head of the Ajoe soccer school, and the main organizer of the Foot Challenge. “They play hard,” he adds. “Plus, their season starts this summer.” ” For the Canadian coaches, the Foot Challenge will therefore be an opportunity to assess their squad. The stakes will be high for the young players coming from the cold.
On the Caribbean side, the tournament welcomes the Martinique team, another from Saint Martin, and a club from Sint Maarten. The Guadeloupe team declined the invitation, as did the Rio de Janeiro team that Alan Dagorn had managed to secure. All with the aim of offering spectators a variety of soccer styles.
Facing all these top-level teams, Ajoe will field two under-13 teams. “The goal is also to let the young people of Saint Barth see what’s happening elsewhere,” explains Alan Dagorn. “It’s a big challenge for them to measure themselves against these strong teams.” ” But the athletic aspect is only part of the Foot Challenge experience for the Ajoe youth. As their coach points out, everyone participated in the fundraising efforts that made it possible to finance the event. “It also lets them see how a project is put together since they worked to make all of this happen,” emphasizes Alan Dagorn. A double reward for the young players, in short: on the field and off it.
The head of Ajoe’s soccer division emphasizes the importance of an event of this scale. “Keeping this tournament going allows for exchanges that we wouldn’t necessarily have by participating in tournaments in France or elsewhere,” he explains. “And what’s really gratifying is that now clubs are calling us to participate. That means the tournament is making a name for itself—it’s sparking a bit of a dream.” ” FC Bastia, FC Porto, and others have reached out to Alan Dagorn to register for the 2026 edition. “The coaches of the Martinique national team tell me that the Foot Challenge is a premier tournament because they get to face top-tier teams,” the coach says with delight.
Further proof of the event’s growing reputation and importance is the increasing interest from sponsors—such as the island’s hotels. “They’re really stepping up to the plate when it comes to accommodations,” says Alan Dagorn. Because it goes without saying that hosting all these young athletes and their staff means being able to house everyone—whether in villas, hotels, the accommodation center, etc.
Two days of matches
The tournament format remains the same. The teams will be divided into two groups of five. On Saturday, following the opening ceremony at the Saint-Jean stadium, matches will follow one after another on the field in a format of two ten-minute halves. It will be a busy day that is not expected to end until around 10:15 p.m.
On Sunday, the final and classification matches will take place, starting at 3 p.m. The grand final will kick off at 7 p.m. For the final phase, matches will be played in two 15-minute halves.
The awards ceremony will take place at 8 p.m.
A patron and a big “show”
This eleventh edition is sponsored by former international goalkeeper Yohann Pelé. A professional for 23 years, he played for Le Mans, Toulouse, Sochaux, and Olympique de Marseille.
To ensure a great show, on Sunday, May 24, before the grand final, the organizers have chosen to spotlight local talent. Jérôme Levine’s “Hip-Hop Team” (Ajoe Danse Pilate) will perform in front of the stadium stands, as will Julie Lédée’s students, who will present anaerial dance performance. As for the Body Control Gwada troupe, they will offer a breakdancing performance.
This Friday at 4 p.m., all the teams and organizers were welcomed at the Territorial Collectivity’s headquarters for an opening reception. The competition, like the festival, is now set to begin. And, as is sure to be the case every year, there will be a wild atmosphere in the stands!
