The Generation Adidas Cup (previously known as the SUM U-17 Cup) is a competition run by
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men's professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport's highest level in the United States. The league comprises 29 teams—26 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada ...
for all U-17 MLS academy teams. As part of the Homegrown Initiative, the Generation Adidas Cup focused on player development while providing elite competition for those involved. From 2014 onwards international club sides have been invited to the competition to test MLS academies against foreign opposition,
Stoke City
Stoke City Football Club is a professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, which competes in the . Founded as Stoke Ramblers in 1863, it changed its name to Stoke in 1878 and then to Stoke City in 1925 after Stoke ...
of England became the first international winners of the tournament in the same year.
The tournament served as a springboard into the professional game for some top prospects, such as
Tristan Bowen
Tristan Bowen (born January 30, 1991) is an American professional soccer player. Bowen was the first ever homegrown player in MLS history.
Career
Youth
Bowen, who was homeschooled, forwent college although he was offered a scholarship to UCLA, ...
(
Los Angeles Galaxy),
Andy Najar (
D.C. United),
Bryan Leyva
Bryan Leyva (born February 8, 1992 in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico) is a Mexican former footballer. He last played as an attacking midfielder for Dallas City FC (DCFC) of the National Premier Soccer League.
Youth career
Leyva joined the FC Da ...
(
FC Dallas),
Juan Agudelo
Juan Sebastián Agudelo (born November 23, 1992) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a striker for USL Championship club Birmingham Legion.
After moving from Colombia to New Jersey at an early age Agudelo began his career ...
(
New York Red Bulls),
Bill Hamid (D.C. United),
Victor Ulloa (FC Dallas), and
Ruben Luna (FC Dallas).
Competition
The tournament initially consisted of four groups made up of four teams from foundation to 2012, with the top team from each group advancing to the single-game knockout stages. For the 2013-2014 season a new format was introduced, early in the season a qualifying tournament for domestic teams was held with the top nine sides plus three invitational foreign sides qualifying for the finals of the tournament in 2014.
The 2014 finals was contested with three groups of four teams with one foreign side in each group, with the group winners and the best runner up advancing to the knock out stage. A second "domestic" division is contested for MLS clubs with did not qualify for the finals proper.
For 2015 the "International Division" was renamed as the "Champions Division". As before there were three groups of four teams, however the number of foreign teams per group was increased to two meaning only the top six MLS academy teams qualified. The secondary domestic division was renamed as the "Premier Division" and one foreign team was invited to compete in each group.
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders Football Club is an American professional men's soccer club based in Seattle. The Sounders compete as a member of the Western Conference of Major League Soccer (MLS). The club was established on November 13, 2007, and began ...
became the first MLS team to win the new Champions Division, defeating
Valencia CF in the 2019 final. The entire tournament was streamed on
Twitch.
Match format
Games consist of two 35 minute halves. In the group stages, when there is a draw, a penalty shoot out is held to award an extra point. Draws after normal time in the knockout stages are settled with a penalty shoot out with no extra time played.
Finals
References
External links
*
{{Major League Soccer academies
Soccer cup competitions in the United States
Recurring sporting events established in 2007