Non-League and Academy football writer

The Lovefootball London Inner City World Cup takes place over Saturday and Sunday, of this weekend, in east London. Taking place at Wanstead Flats, this great and highly competitive tournament, also has a women’s tournament, men’s 9-a-side, and legends tournament. First started in 1994 (Sierra Leone won the men’s 11-a-side tournament, that year), by tournament founder Mark Abery, of Lovefootball, this tournament is the grassroots football version of the World Cup, within London (the tournament also takes place in other cities in England).

The London Inner City World Cup men’s 11-a-side tournament features a lot of players who play their football in the non-League/grassroots game. For example, the Poland team features a number of players from step 6 non-League side PFC Victoria London, who are a talented Polish diaspora side, and they will be a team to watch out for again, this year. However, and although the 2025 edition of this tournament will be my first time covering the tournament (I will be writing a review/summary of the tournament next Monday), I have heard such good things about the quality of the football at the tournament over recent years, and also just what a great occasion it is.

Iraq won last year’s (2024) tournament, going on a great run to the final, which they won 2-1 against Colombia. With very talented players who play their football in non-League, such as Amir Hadi, who is a fantastic player, Iraq will be looking to win the men’s 11-a-side tournament once again in 2025. Iraq’s first group-stage match at this year’s tournament, is against Italy. And, I have heard some good things about the Italy side, who also competed in last year’s tournament.

Brazil lost 5-4 on penalties to Colombia (after the match had finished 1-1) in the quarter-finals of last year’s tournament, and they will be yet another team to watch out for over this weekend. But, this is a really competitive tournament, and one which has so many talented national teams in it, such as last year’s semi-finalists and tournament regulars, Bangladesh, as well as Zimbabwe, Iran, and Spain, as well as many other national teams.

I’m really looking forward to attending this prestigious tournament over the course of this weekend. I’m sure that I’ll recognise a number of players that I know from non-League/grassroots football, and I’m really looking forward to seeing as many games as possible over the course of the two days at the tournament.

I would like to wish all the nations who are competing in the 2025 edition of this tournament, all the very best of luck.

The group-stages of the men’s 11-a-side tournament:

Group A (Pitch 1): 

• France  
• Japan 
• South Africa 
• Brazil 

Group B (Pitch 2): 

• Poland 
• China 
• São Tomé and Príncipe 
• Colombia 

Group C (Pitch 3):

• Spain 
• Iran 
• Zimbabwe
• Argentina 

Group D (Pitch 4):

• Italy
• Iraq 
• Mauritius 
• Bolivia

Group E (Pitch 5): 

• Ukraine 
• South Korea
• Bangladesh
• Ecuador 

Group F (Pitch 6): 

• Albania
• Palestine 
• Senegal 
• Honduras

The first group-stage matches start at 10:00am this Saturday morning. The full schedule is on the Lovefootball Instagram page.