Borussia Dortmund's youth team has won the 2026 Premier League International Cup and now begins its title defence. The U23/U19 side defeated Real Madrid in the final, with Taycan Etcibasi scoring the only goal after just seven minutes.
How did the road to the 2026 PLIC triumph unfold?
In the group stage, Borussia Dortmund beat Leeds United (3:0), West Ham United (2:1) and AFC Sunderland (3:1), losing only to Manchester United (0:2). Nine points secured top spot ahead of the Red Devils on goal difference. Victories over FC Everton and Real Sociedad San Sebastián, both 2:0, followed before the final win against Real Madrid.
Which English opponents await in Group C?
This season, Dortmund face four English sides in Group C: FC Fulham on August 27, Aston Villa on December 15, Leicester City on December 18 and Nottingham Forest on December 21. The title defence continues against strong Premier League representation.
Who leads the youth project at Borussia Dortmund?
Thomas Broich, 45, head of the youth performance centre, said: “We were in it for the first year – and won straight away. That was extraordinary. Now we want to see how far we can go this time.” Under his leadership, the coaching duo of Daniel Ríos (46) and Felix Hirschnagl (42) guides the team’s development.
What does the current squad for the title defence look like?
The squad blends experience and youth: Silas Ostrzinski (22), Aaron Held (18), Jan-Luca Riedl (17), Luca Reggiani (18), Elias Benkara (19), Jesper Verlaat (30), Kaua Prates (18), Luke Fahrenhorst (17), Ayman Azhil (25), Takato Yamamoto (18), Tim Degener (19), Arne Wessels (20), Fadi Zarqelain (17), Justin Lerma (18), Connor Krempicki (31), Mathis Albert (17) and Diego Ngambia (18). This mix aims to preserve last year’s stability while adding fresh impetus.
Participation in the PLIC gives young players the chance to prove themselves internationally – a step that, according to our stats, often leads to increased involvement in the first squad. The early fixtures against English opposition already show how well the team is prepared for high intensity, as outlined in our fixtures for the coming months.
