Premier League, La Liga and Ligue 1 outfits to grace 2019 Weifang Cup

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Soccer fans in the eastern Chinese city of Weifang have cause for celebration this summer, as the brand new Weifang Cup, which debuts in 2006, will be unveiled from July 28 to August 3 in thrilling fashion.

As one of the most prestigious youth soccer tournament, Weifang Cup has hosted elite clubs from all around the world fielding teams in the under-18 grade. It has witnessed the emergence of some raw talents that later went on to play professionally in some of the world's biggest leagues.

Sitting seventh in the Premier League, Wolverhampton Wanderers have been one of the most successful top-flight teams this season. /VCG Photo

This year's edition will for the first time feature outfits from the English Premier League and the French Ligue 1, with Wolverhampton Wanderers and OGC Nice among the 12 teams slugging it out in the event.

Other big-name clubs that made the cut include the youth teams of Sporting Lisbon, RCD Espanyol, Boca Juniors, Desportivo Brasil, Santos Laguna and Kashima Antlers.

For homegrown Chinese talents, who will play for China national under-19 team, Shandong Luneng, Shanghai Shenhua and Hebei China Fortune during this week-long event, the Weifang Cup represents a great opportunity to test and improve themselves against many of the best players in the world.

China national under-19 team clash with Argentine's River Plate at the Weifang Cup on August 1, 2015. /VCG Photo

The organizers of the tournament will also hold seminars on youth development, as part of initiatives to improve the Chinese soccer, which still lags far behind other major powerhouses. National youth coaches and experts from the Asian Football Confederation and the Union of European Football Associations will be in attendance.