Albion U21s to make Premier League International Cup debut

Albion’s PL2 team will compete in the Premier League International Cup for the very first time during the 2025/26 campaign.

The young Baggies will be up against some stellar European opposition for their maiden appearance in the tournament having been drawn in the same group as Juventus (Italy), Valencia (Spain), Borussia Monchengladbach (Germany) and FC Nordsjaelland (Denmark). 

Fellow English outfits Crystal Palace, Fulham and Leicester City make up the rest of Group B, with Academy Manager Richard Stevens insisting the opportunity for Albion’s youngsters to test themselves against clubs from different countries was a “no-brainer”, and one which will “add a different dimension” to the 21s’ games programme.

He said: “When the Premier League offered this chance, it was a no-brainer really for us to play four international teams. 

“We're going to play against some top sides who we wouldn’t usually face in our normal games programme. 

“Every team in this tournament will provide a really good challenge and I'm sure Albion fans will take an interest in it as well. 

“These four games will be different to anything we've experienced before and I think, for us, everything we try and do here is all about having a variety and this will add a different dimension to our games programme.

“It won't be easy, but I think it will give the players something else to test themselves against and it’s a great opportunity for us as a football club.”

Premier League International Cup format

The top 16 sides in the Premier League 2 standings are invited to compete in the PLIC for the following season. But owing to other teams not taking up the option to compete, the young Baggies (who finished 18th last term) are set to make their debut appearance in the tournament. 

The club’s academy hopefuls will be one of 32 sides taking part in the competition, involving 16 PL2 teams and 16 invited clubs from across Europe. 

Teams will be split into four groups of eight, with four PL2 and four international sides occupying each group. Each club will play four group-stage games, with all clashes to be between PL2 and international sides only. 

The top two teams from each group will proceed to the knockout stages, with all participating English clubs to host the group-stage clashes at either their main stadium or an approved alternative venue. 

The PLIC then proceeds to the quarter-final rounds contested by the eight clubs who progressed through the group stages, followed by a semi-final and then a final. 

The knockout-stage matches are one-off games, with extra-time and then penalties required if the match is level after 90 minutes. The semi-finals and final are to be hosted in the host club’s main stadium.

Fixtures

Dates for Albion’s PLIC group games can be found below.