The Elite Players Group (EPG) has revealed plans for the inaugural Over-35s EPG Cup, set to take place in England this summer. This prestigious tournament will feature eight teams, each comprised of legendary players from past FIFA World Cup champions.
Scheduled to unfold over a week in early June, the competition is expected to showcase some of football’s greatest icons, with England, Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Uruguay participating. While the exact venue is yet to be finalized, discussions have been held with prominent northern Premier League clubs.
Organized by the EPG, a coalition of top-tier former footballers and sports business professionals, the tournament will exclusively feature players aged 35 or over, who have earned national team caps or made 100 top-flight appearances.
The EPG Cup captains, who also happen to be the founders of the Elite Players Group, include Steve McManaman (England), Esteban Cambiasso (Argentina), Emerson (Brazil), Christian Karembeu (France), Kevin Kuranyi (Germany), Marco Materazzi (Italy), Michel Salgado (Spain), and Diego Lugano (Uruguay).
Provisional squads circulating in the media include five former Ballon d’Or winners: Michael Owen (England), Kaka, Ronaldinho, and Rivaldo (Brazil), and Fabio Cannavaro (Italy). England’s squad reportedly includes Ashley Cole, Joe Cole, Rio Ferdinand, David James, Frank Lampard, and Robbie Fowler.
Additional star-studded lineups are said to feature Cafu and Roberto Carlos (Brazil), Thierry Henry and Marcel Desailly (France), Hernan Crespo and Pablo Zabaleta (Argentina), Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira (Germany), David Villa and Carlos Puyol (Spain), Francesco Totti (Italy), and Diego Forlan (Uruguay).
Football enthusiasts can eagerly anticipate witnessing these iconic players battle it out in what promises to be a thrilling competition, celebrating the enduring talent of football legends on the global stage.
