At a time when our Austrian national team is breaking records and taking major steps toward its first World Cup appearance this century, we look at all those who are just beginning their football careers. What's happening with the youngsters from the Red Bull Football Academy? How are our young hopefuls doing? Let's take a look!

Our U18 academy players are determined to show that failing to win the title last season was only a blip. The team, coached by Danny Galm, roared back from a 0-1 half-time deficit against their WAC counterparts last week to celebrate their fifth consecutive win. A big battle at the summit now awaits next Saturday as they aim to consolidate their lead at home against the equally unbeaten Sturm U18 team.

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Will they pull off another coup?

Our U16 team is currently in the midst of preparing for the Istria Youth Cup 2025, which will take place from 16 October. The young Salzburg players go into the tournament with confidence, having earned 16 out of 18 possible youth league points. Of course, the young hopefuls want to follow in the footsteps of Sammy Baidoo, Dijon Kameri and others who lifted the Istria Youth Cup title in 2019 on the largest peninsula in the Adriatic region.

The U15 team round off the positive news, winning three times in a row recently and fighting their way into the middle reaches of the ÖFB Youth League after a shaky start.

Next Future League run

They are not messing around! In the Women's Future League – where the U20 teams of all ADMIRAL Women's Bundesliga clubs are represented – our young hopefuls are marching from victory to victory. They top the table with seven wins from eight matches, making defending their title a real possibility. The next clash tomorrow comes against Neulengbach Juniors, their closest rivals.

After two 9-0 wins, as well as 8-0, 7-0 and 6-1 – those aren't results from Austria's ice hockey league, but rather those of our U16 girls. The may have all been in friendly matches, technically, but they offer a glimpse of just how much promise the future holds.

Youth update: battles at the summit and trips to the Adriatic