MLS announced today that its Generation adidas Cup, taking place at the Toyota Soccer Center at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas from April 13-20, will feature U-15 and U-17 academy teams from 14 different nations.
The competition includes 36 U-17 squads, organized in two separate divisions pitting top MLS academy sides against 15 international clubs, as well as a U-15 tournament with a quartet of MLS teams against four Liga MX counterparts.
The tournament has featured up-and-coming young players including Djordje Mihailović (a Chicago Fire academy player finding his way into the Fire first team lineup as well as the U.S. Men’s National Team), Paxton Pomykal (an FC Dallas academy player who just scored his first goals for the tournament hosts this past weekend), and Efrain Álvarez (an LA Galaxy academy player who premiered in style in an MLS match earlier this month). Weston McKennie, another FC Dallas Academy player now with Bundesliga side Schalke 04, also appeared in the youth tournament.
The U-17 Champions Division is organized into four four-team groups:
Group A
FC Dallas, New York Red Bulls, West Ham United, Club America
Group B
LA Galaxy, Toronto FC, CA Peñarol, Dinamo Zagreb
Group C
NYCFC, Real Salt Lake, Olympique Lyonnais, River Plate
Group D
Montreal Impact, Seattle Sounders FC, Flamengo, Valencia CF
The U-17 Premier Division is organized into four five-team groups:
Group A
Atlanta United, Chicago Fire, D.C. United, San Jose Earthquakes, Club Tijuana
Group B
Houston Dynamo, Orlando City SC, Portland Timbers, FC Midtylland, Ulsan Hyundai FC
Group C
Columbus Crew SC, Sporting KC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, CF Monterrey, UMF Fjölnir
Group D
Colorado Rapids, New England Revolution, Philadelphia Union, Mount Pleasant FA, Toluca
The U-15 tournament pits the four MLS teams (LAFC, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union, and Toronto FC) against each of four Liga MX teams (Club Leon, Cruz Azul, CD Guadalajara, and CD Monterrey).
Complete information is available on the MLS site’s Generation adidas Cup section.