Here are five reasons not to miss it…
Five reasons to watch Palace U21s v Anderlecht on Wednesday (19:00 BST)
Crystal Palace Under-21s return to Premier League International Cup action on Wednesday evening to take on Belgian giants RSC Anderlecht at Sutton United’s 360 Engage Stadium (14th October, KO: 19:00 BST), with plenty to look forward to whether you’re joining us at Sutton or watching live on Palace TV+!
1. Witness Anderlecht’s renowned Academy
Romelu Lukaku, Jérémy Doku and Vincent Kompany are just a handful of the big names to have emerged from Anderlecht’s renowned academy, which has also produced Belgian greats Paul Van Himst and Jef Mermans.
On Wednesday, Palace – and indeed supporters – get a closer look at the talent following in their footsteps…
The Young Eagles face RSCA Futures, Anderlecht’s reserve side, who compete in Belgium’s Challenger Pro League – the country’s second tier of domestic football – against senior professional and other reserve teams.
French youth international Enzo Sternal, an attacking midfielder attracting interest from a host of clubs across Europe, and imposing Senegalese forward Pape Aliya N’dao, who impressed in 2025/26 and during pre-season, are among those to watch.
Experienced full-back Thomas Foket, meanwhile, could also feature after winning 10 caps for Belgium across his career.
With such a pedigree behind them, Anderlecht certainly offer a compelling test for Darren Powell’s side – and a chance to spot their next breakout talent!
2. Watch future stars for just £1
It’s not every day you get the chance to watch a European heavyweight in South London, but you can do exactly that on Wednesday – and it’ll cost as little as £1.
So whether you’re a regular Academy supporter or have never been to a U21s game before, there’s never been a better time to give it a go.
Can’t make it to Sutton? You can watch the game LIVE on Palace TV+.
3. Get a glimpse of Palace’s next generation
Palace’s Academy pathway is producing players already making the step into senior football, and Wednesday offers a chance to see some of the next generation in action.
Amaari Sealey, Chuks Okoli and Adler Nascimento all made their non-competitive senior debuts against Bristol City during the September-October international break, joining a growing group of Young Eagles to have caught the first team’s attention.
Last season, Joel Drakes-Thomas became Palace’s youngest-ever Premier League player, while George King, Dean Benamar and Benji Casey made their senior debuts against KuPS in the UEFA Conference League.
King went on to win U21 Player of the Season, with Casey named Scholar of the Year after scoring 19 goals in 18 appearances.
There are exciting new arrivals to discover, too. Taha Majni joined from Moroccan side Union Touarga in September after making 17 senior appearances, including 15 in the 2025/26 season, and helping Morocco win the Under-20 World Cup.
The versatile defender, who can play at centre-back or right-back, became the first player to move directly from Morocco’s top division to a Premier League club.
And then there’s Nat Kalembo, who has already made his competitive U18s and U21s debuts and earned a place on the first-team bench at just 15. Sealey is another to watch after registering 47 goal contributions for AFC Wimbledon’s Academy last season, helping their U18s complete an unprecedented national quadruple.
With last season’s U18 Player of the Season Okoli and several members of the cup-winning U18 squad also in contention, the Young Eagles have plenty of talent to get your teeth into.
4. Relive the Young Eagles’ European adventures
The Premier League International Cup has already produced some memorable nights for the Young Eagles – and Palace will be hoping there are more to come.
The first taste of a final came in 22/23, when Palace reached the showpiece at Selhurst Park, only to suffer a 3-1 defeat to Jong PSV.
A year later, they had their chance for revenge. Franco Umeh’s deflected second-half strike secured a 1-0 victory over the Dutch side, sending Palace to the trophy for the first time.
After an early group-stage exit in 24/25, the Young Eagles bounced back last season, topping their group with wins over Juventus, FC Nordsjælland and Borussia Mönchengladbach. Their run eventually came to an end in the quarter-finals, where they narrowly lost to Real Sociedad.
Having beaten PSG already, RSC Anderlecht, Jong PSV, and FC Porto await in Group D this season!
5. Help Palace build on their PSG statement
Palace began their International Cup campaign with a 2-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain, courtesy of superb strikes from Adler Nascimento and Seb Williams. The Young Eagles subsequently collected three valuable points to move level with arch-rivals Brighton & Hove Albion at the top of Group D.
After a three-week international break, Darren Powell’s side return looking to build on that result and strengthen their bid for the quarter-finals.
The competition features 32 teams split into four groups of eight, each comprising four English sides and four overseas opponents, with the top two in each group advancing to the last eight.
Having already beaten PSG, the Young Eagles can take another significant step towards the knockout stages with victory over Anderlecht on Wednesday.
Tickets are available for as little as £1, while you can enjoy all the action live on Palace TV+!
Match ticket prices:
- Adults (21-64): £5
- Young Adults (17-21): £1
- Seniors (65+): £1
- Juniors (2-16): £1
- Academy Founder Members: Free
- Adult Gold, Junior Gold & Season Ticket+ Holders: Free
Tickets are available here and will be issued as PDF print-at-home tickets at the point of sale.
Please note: One free ticket per Membership/Season Ticket+ Holder.
Match Details
Palace U21s v RSC Anderlecht U21s
- Wednesday, 14th October
- KO: 19:00 BST
- The 360 Engage Stadium
- Premier League International Cup
- LIVE on Palace TV+!
- Buy tickets here!