The Generation Adidas Cup (previously known as the SUM U-17 Cup) is a competition run by
Major League Soccer 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 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 (
Los Angeles Galaxy
LA Galaxy, also known as the Los Angeles Galaxy, are an American professional soccer club based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Galaxy competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), as a member of the Western Conference. The club began pla ...
),
Andy Najar
Andy Ariel Najar Rodríguez ( ; ; born 16 March 1993) is a Honduran professional footballer who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club D.C. United and the Honduras national team.
Early life
Najar moved with his family from Hond ...
(
D.C. United
D.C. United is a professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. that competes in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer, the top tier of American soccer. Domestically, the club has won four MLS Cups (league championships), four Supp ...
),
Bryan Leyva (
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The club competes as a member of the Western Conference in Major League Soccer (MLS). The franchise began play in 1996 as a charter club of the le ...
),
Juan Agudelo (
New York Red Bulls
The New York Red Bulls are an American professional soccer club based in the New York metropolitan area. The Red Bulls compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. The club was established in October 1994 and be ...
),
Bill Hamid
Abdul Bilal "Bill" Hamid ( ; born November 25, 1990) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for D.C. United in Major League Soccer.
Born in Annandale, Virginia, Hamid was the first D.C. United Academy player to s ...
(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 became the first MLS team to win the new Champions Division, defeating
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol (, ca-valencia, València Club de Futbol ), commonly referred to as Valencia CF (or simply Valencia) is a professional football club based in Valencia, Spain, that currently plays in La Liga, the top flight of the Spa ...
in the 2019 final. The entire tournament was streamed on
Twitch
Twitch may refer to:
Biology
* Muscle contraction
** Convulsion, rapid and repeated muscle contraction and relaxation
** Fasciculation, a small, local, involuntary muscle contraction
** Myoclonic twitch, a jerk usually caused by sudden muscle co ...
.
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