MLS Kicks Youth Soccer Up a Notch with 2025 Generation adidas Cup
The biggest youth soccer tournament in MLS history is coming to Florida this April, featuring teams from around the world and the first-ever girls division.
TL;DR:
Major League Soccer announced today that the 2025 Generation adidas Cup will be bigger and better than ever before. The tournament will bring together 80 youth soccer teams from around the world to compete at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida from April 12-20.
Global Stars of Tomorrow
The tournament will feature teams from 14 different countries across four continents. Big-name international clubs like FC Bayern, Inter Milan, and Palmeiras will test their skills against MLS academy teams.
Teams will compete in two age groups – U18 and U16 – with 40 teams in each division. For the first time ever, four non-MLS academies qualified for the tournament based on their performance at MLS NEXT Fest in December 2024.
Breaking New Ground for Girls Soccer
In a historic first, the 2025 tournament will include a Girls Division. This exciting addition will feature:
- Two All-Star teams of top Girls Academy prospects from across America
- International powerhouses FC Bayern Munich and Manchester City FC
- A championship match on Sunday, April 20
“Generation adidas Cup showcases MLS’ successful player development pathway on the global stage as MLS academies compete against the world’s best,” said MLS Senior Vice President of Sporting Development Ali Curtis.
Launching Pad for Future Stars
The Generation adidas Cup has helped launch the careers of many soccer stars. Players like Ricardo Pepi, Gio Reyna, and Cavan Sullivan showed their skills in past tournaments before making an impact on national teams.
International stars who competed in previous tournaments include World Cup winners Julián Álvarez and Enzo Fernández, along with young talents like Kobbie Mainoo and Bradley Barcola.
Tournament Details
Each team will play at least seven 60-minute matches. The top teams will advance to a single-elimination championship bracket. Championship matches will be extended to 70 minutes.
Youth soccer fans can watch 28 matches, including the championship games for both age groups, streaming live on MLS’ YouTube page.
The tournament will also showcase new technology from the MLS Innovation Lab, with four companies testing their sports tech products during the event.
Star Players to be Recognized
After the tournament ends, special awards will be given out in both age groups. These include the:
- Most Valuable Player
- Top Scorer
- Best Goalkeeper
The tournament will also name a Best XI presented by adidas, highlighting the top players at each position.
Written By: Beau Bridges
Beau is the founder of SoccerNovo, dedicated to helping players and parents navigate the youth soccer landscape. As a former youth coach and soccer parent, he shares insights on player development, recruiting, and the ever-evolving soccer scene in the U.S.
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