XVII Algarve Women's Football Cup

It is a great pleasure to welcome all of those who, from the 24th of February to the 3rd of March, will be in Portugal and Algarve to participate in the XVII Algarve Women's Football Cup/Mundialito Futebol Feminino.

Being a priveleged moment of divulgation of teh Women's Football, this event has counted with the presence of some of the most prestigious women's teams in the world, providing a fundamental space of preparation to the sports competitions in which they participate.

This year and facing the qualifying round for the Women's World Cup Germany 2011, which will take palce until August 2010, we start this great event knowing that here, all national teams will have a great competitive moment, essential to their aspirations.

The possibility of having, once more, FIFA's co operation on the referees and assistant referees nominations its an assurance of the importance and projection that the Algarve Cup has been obtaining on an international level.

It is of course a privilege to receive again some of the most reputed judges that, on the already usual workshop ministered by the maximum organ of world football, will enjoy this Cup to potentiate thier knowledge and acquire new experiences in matches of great level.

I leave a word of acknowledgement to the co-organizing Nordic associations - Sweden, Norway and Denmark -, to the Region Football Association of Algarve, to the municipalities and entities involved whose contribution to the success of this competition has been remarkable. I'm sure that with the commitment and the effort of everyone we will succeed in maintaining the level of quality that we've been providing throughout these 17 years.

I also leave the most sincere wishes of success to all the participants and may they enjoy the opportunity to, once again, have fun while perfecting their skills on this true moment of celebration to the Women's Football Family.

Gilberto Madail
President of the Portuguese Football Association