Donosti Cup 2025 - The basics

 
 

Tournament and Location

San Sebastian is a beautiful seaside city located on Spain's northern coast. The city is situated between the mountains of the Basque country and fantastic sandy beaches. San Sebastian is one of Spain's most attractive cities and is well known for it's fine shopping, nightlife and gastronomy. You'll find the Basque people are friendly and welcoming.

The Donosti Cup will be played for the 33rd time in 2025. About 1000 teams comes to the tournament each year, from about 30 different countries.

Games are played on grass and 3G pitches. Group games are played at several venues in and around San Sebastian, including Real Sociedad's excellent training facility at Zubieta. The 38,000 capacity Anoeta Stadium is the venue for many of the finals.

 

Dates

  • Monday 7th July:

    • Meet at London Stansted Airport at 10:30am

    • Departure time 13:15, Ryan Air (FR 372)

    • Arrive Biarritz at 16:10

    • Transport via bus to Anoeta Stadium for Donosti Cup registration (Parents on the airport bus can either wait for the kids or take a taxi from Anoeta to their accomodation)

    • Dinner at Anoeta Stadium

    • Transport via bus to accommodation

  • Tuesday 8th July:

    • Breakfast at residence

    • Lunch: Anoeta Stadium (12:00 PM to 4:30 PM)

    • Match: 17:20 in Stadium Gal (Transport by bus - 30 min)

    • Dinner: 19:45 – 20:15 - Location: Stands of Reale Arena (Access: Gate 14)

    • Procedure: Show your dinner voucher to receive 22 picnics + 1 for the team leader. Eat in the stands and then go to the South Parking to line up for the parade.

    • Parade formation: 20:30 – 21:00 (Access: South Parking (Reale Arena))

    • Opening Ceremony starts – 21:30 (Reale Arena); parade of teams, music, dance and a firework finale.
      BUY TICKETS (Parents and family)

  • Wednesday 9th July:

    • Breakfast at residence

    • Match: 10:00 in Berio (Transport by bus - 5 min)

    • Lunch: Anoeta Stadium (12:00 PM to 4:30 PM)

    • Dinner: Anoeta Stadium (7:00 PM to 10:30 PM)

  • Thursday 10th July: 

    • Breakfast at residence

    • Lunch: Anoeta Stadium (12:00 PM to 4:30 PM)

    • Match: 15:30 in Mintxeta (Transport by bus - 15 min)

    • Dinner: Anoeta Stadium (7:00 PM to 10:30 PM)

  • Friday 11th July:

    • Breakfast at residence

    • 1-2 Knockout stage games - Time TBD (Transport by bus)

      • 1st & 2nd place from each of the 22 groups advance to the Champions League bracket (44 teams)

      • 3rd & 4th place go to the Europa League bracket (44 teams)

      • All knockout games are single-elimination, with no extra time, and tied games decided by a 3-shot penalty shoot-out

    • Lunch: Anoeta Stadium (12:00 PM to 4:30 PM)

    • Dinner: Anoeta Stadium (7:00 PM to 10:30 PM)

  • Saturday 12th July:

    • Breakfast at residence

    • 1-2 Knockout stage games - Time TBD (Transport by bus)

    • Lunch: Anoeta Stadium (12:00 PM to 4:30 PM)

    • Dinner: Anoeta Stadium (7:00 PM to 10:30 PM)

    • Optional: Donosti Cup Party (20:00-01:00)

  • Sunday 13th July: Finals followed by trophy presentations. (U13 finals in the morning.) Donosti Cup Closing Ceremony. Departure of teams

    • Breakfast at residence

    • Watch/Play U13 finals?

    • Lunch TBD

    • Head to airport

    • Departure Time 16:30, RyanAir (FR 371)

    • Arrive London Stansted at 17:25

    • Pickup from London Stansted

 

Accommodation

Players: Olarain Residence

The players will all stay with the coaches. All the rooms in the accommodation are doubles. We will deal with roommate selection at a later date.

Parents: Wherever you want! You will see some suggested hotels that are close to the boys in the map below. You will also see Reale Area listed. This is where the boys will be having lunch and dinner and maybe playing some matches.

 

Travel arrangements

Monday, 07 July 2024

Ryan Air (FR 372)

London Stansted to Biarritz

Departure Time: 13:15

Arrival Time: 16:10

Sunday, 13 July 2025

Ryan Air (FR 371)

Biarritz to London Stansted

Departure Time: 16:30

Arrival Time: 17:25

Parents will be responsible for getting their child to Stansted on the 7th and picking up on the 13th.

 

Transport in San Sebastian

The tournament has more than 60 venues located throughout the territory of Gipuzkoa, the games could be up to an hour away from the accommodation. We will be renting a 55-seater bus. Parents are welcome to join the boys on the bus to travel to the matches. We will communicate what time you need to meet at the residence to travel on the bus.

 

Cost

The biggest factors in the cost are the hotel, flights and transport fees while we are there. We are looking for the best value for money on all of these but a lot is still up in the air. It is looking like the final cost will be between £1800-£2200 per player. (For those making their way to San Sebastian on their own, cost will not include the flights.)

We will be asking for an immediate deposit of £700, to cover the cost of the flights and the deposit on the accommodation. The rest will be due closer to the tournament when we have finalised all of our costs.

 

What is included?

  • Pre-tournament training sessions

  • Tournament kit

  • Tournament entry fee

  • Flights to and from San Sebastian

  • Transport to and from destination airport

  • All travel throughout the week

  • 3 meals a day, starting with dinner on the 7th and ending with breakfast on the 13th

  • Hotel accommodation for 6 nights (July 7-July 13)

  • 4-8 matches, depending on results

  • Access to the Opening ceremony, the finals and the Farewell party

  • The “Donosti Super card” with discounts for sightseeing activities

  • Coaches fees, flights and accomodation (Tarik and Terry)

  • Sports-related travel insurance (we will also likely need additional insurance, details to come)

 

Not included

  • Transport to and from London airport

  • Snacks

  • Unplanned excursions

  • Costs of food, transport or accommodation of other family members (If travelling with the team, transport can be provided if there is room)

 

Parents and Family

  • Parents and other family members are very welcome, but not expected. The coaches will be in charge of the boys for the week.

  • We will be looking into accommodation options nearby the team hotel. Details to follow.

  • If you want to be on the same flight as the team, we will give you the flight details and you will need to book on your own.