Major League Soccer announced today the details for the 2020 Generation adidas Cup, an elite youth tournament featuring top clubs from North America and across the globe. The Sporting Kansas City Academy is among the 40 elite professional academies, spanning 11 countries, that will participate in U-17 and U-15 competitions at the Toyota Soccer Center in Frisco, Texas, from April 4-11.
The future stars of the sport will be on display as Sporting joins 24 other MLS Academy teams to participate in an expanded U-17 competition that includes 15 premier international clubs, the largest field in the 13-year history of the tournament. Top international clubs from Argentina (Boca Juniors, River Plate), Brazil (São Paulo), England (Southampton), Greece (Olympiacos), Mexico (Chivas de Guadalajara), Serbia (Red Star Belgrade) and Spain (Real Betis), among others will headline U-17 division play.
Intense rivalries will also play out in this year’s Generation adidas Cup with play between MLS and Liga MX clubs in U-17 and U-15 tournaments. The continued partnership between the two leagues will see top Mexican clubs in Atlas FC, Club Tijuana, Monterrey and a fourth yet to be determined team play in both age groups. For the second consecutive year, the U-15 International Challenge will feature Liga MX vs. MLS, with the top four clubs from each league qualifying through on-field performance. The league that captures the most victories between the two will win the International Challenge, while a secondary title will be on the line when the top MLS club and top Liga MX side face off in a winner-take-all finale.
The Sporting KC U-17s are guaranteed to compete in one of three divisions at the Generation adidas Cup in April. In order for the Sporting KC U-15s to punch their ticket to Frisco, they must finish atop Group B in Generation adidas Cup qualifying, which will conclude this weekend with matches on Friday, Saturday and Monday in Carson, California.
The 25 participating MLS clubs compete in Generation adidas Cup qualifiers to determine their opponents in April – beginning in October and culminating in final qualifiers from Feb. 14-17. The top two MLS clubs in each U-17 group will advance to face top international clubs in Division 1 play, while third and fourth place teams will play Liga MX opponents in Division 2. The remaining clubs will play in Division 3. For the U-15 qualifiers, only the top MLS club in each group will advance to participate in the MLS-Liga MX International Challenge in Frisco.
As part of the MLS Youth Affiliate Network launched in September 2019, five MLS Youth Affiliate clubs, including Sporting KC affiliate Sporting St. Louis, will participate in the inaugural Generation adidas Cup Affiliate Challenge. These affiliate clubs work with their respective MLS sides to improve talent identification and player development, as Generation adidas Cup serves as an important benchmark in the professional path for youth players.
Additional Generation adidas Cup info including match schedules, broadcast details and ancillary events will be announced in the weeks preceding the tournament.
