THOUSANDS of young football players and their families from all over the globe have descended on Liverpool this week.

They are taking part in the Liverpool Knowsley International Youth Soccer Tournament – the biggest international youth tournament in the country.

More than 3,000 young players aged between seven and 18 launched the event with a Football Fiesta at Carnatic Hall in Mossley Hill.

The launch party, supported by Liverpool 08, saw arts, theatre and dance performed by players and representatives from Scandinavia to South Africa at Liverpool University’s Carnatic halls of residence.

The tournament itself is being held at the university sports ground in Allerton with the final taking place on Sunday.

Everton manager David Moyes has backed the tournament as has Wayne Rooney who played in the championship as a child.

The England star said: “This tournament is a great week of football played at a very high level and it gives local teams the opportunity to play against players from all over the world.

“Personally, I have fond memories of the tournament having won the golden boot on the way to winning the Under-12 Championship when I played for Pye FC in 1998.”

Matches begin at 10am each day and the last games start at 6pm.

During the week, the young players will be treated to Liverpool FC and Everton FC stadium tours and other visits.

Since the tournament kicked off in 1996, it has attracted more than 5,000 residential visitors to Merseyside, including 35,000 bed nights, and resulted in an estimated £1.6m being spent in the region.

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