Near 9,000 supporters attended the first School Cup event in Toulouse, featuring football, fervor, and a spirit of inclusivity. The victory went to Déodat high school.
The atmosphere was electric at the Stadium in Toulouse on Thursday for the first Toulouse edition of the “School Cup,” the largest high school football tournament in France. Despite unpredictable weather, the thirty-two participating high schools and around 9,000 supporters – students, families, and teachers – showed up to support their teams.
Each school fielded two teams, one male and one female, with each playing one half. In total, 64 teams competed on the Stadium turf in ten-minute matches, played at a fast pace on a field divided into two sections.
Born in Bordeaux and organized by high school students, the School Cup drew ten thousand spectators to the Matmut Atlantique stadium last year.
In Toulouse, despite not breaking Bordeaux’s record, the organizers hailed the success of this inaugural event. “We didn’t beat the Bordeaux record, but it is still a great achievement, especially since the event scheduled for May 10 had to be postponed due to a Ligue 1 match,” explained Arthur, a member of the organization. The event kicked off with a remarkable start, led by Mr. Prof himself, the most Toulouse English teacher.
And in the end, Déodat emerged victorious. Beyond the sports competition, the event successfully brought together students from public and private high schools across the Toulouse city for values such as social inclusivity, teamwork spirit, and gender equality.
Appreciated by players Inès and Gabriel from the Saint-Joseph La Salle team, who look forward to the next edition. Despite differences in skill level, as highlighted by supporters Assia and Cyrine from Déodat-de-Sèverac high school, whose female team includes several TFC players, all participants gave their all on the field.
Yet, in the stands, Charlotte from Sainte-Marie de Nevers high school remains confident. Coming to support her team with four hundred of her classmates, more than half of her schoolmates, she exclaimed, “We are the strongest, and we will win!”
In this same collective enthusiasm, the matches continued until past 7 p.m., ending with Déodat-de-Sèverac high school emerging victorious.
