Football players from Wenzhou Ouyan Football Club and Hunan Zhuzhou Wolf Totem FC pose for a photo. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

Over 30 young football players from Wenzhou Ouyan Football Club and Hunan Zhuzhou Wolf Totem FC set off on their journey to Milan, Italy on March 26. They are set to represent China in the 12th edition of the Universal Youth Cup (UYC) International Tournament Apuane.

The UYC is renowned as the most prestigious international youth football competition for the U11 age group, often dubbed the "Little World Cup". It boasts participation from top clubs such as Juventus, Liverpool, Ajax, and Inter Milan.

This tournament, taking place in Marcello Lippi's hometown in Tuscany, Italy, from March 29 to April 1, will feature 64 teams from 14 countries and regions, with over 1,200 young players. Wenzhou's young footballers are no strangers to the event, having competed in the previous edition.

In the tournament's group stage, the Wenzhou Ouyan Team finds itself in Group E alongside Ajax from the Netherlands and two local Italian teams. Meanwhile, Zhuzhou Wolf Totem FC is competing in Group P with Italian seed team Fiorentina.

Beyond the matches, cultural exchange activities await the young footballers in Italy. They will return to China on April 4, after the tournament concludes.