Ahead of the 2025 Generation adidas Cup that kicks off this weekend, Philadelphia Union Academy forward Malik Jakupovic has be selected for the Rising XI.
The 2025 Generation adidas Cup will take place from April 12-20 at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, pitting MLS Academies and MLS Elite Academies against clubs from around the world.
Past iterations of GA Cup have seen MLS academy talents announce themselves on a high-level stage. In recent years, current first-team players like Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union), Stuart Hawkins (Seattle Sounders FC), Stefan Chirila (FC Cincinnati), Taha Habroune (Columbus Crew) and Julian Hall (New York Red Bulls) have made waves.
The Union Academy have won the prestigeous event four times and just last year became the first MLS side to win back-to-back GA Cup Championships at the U-17 level and will compete in the U-18 and U-16 levels. The premier international youth tournament will feature 80 teams, representing 14 countries and four continents. International powerhouses FC Bayern, Inter Milan and Palmeiras will be among the clubs competing against MLS academies at IMG Academy.
The two-time defending champions under the direction of Head Coach Peter McDonnell will see their group stage consist of Nashville SC, St. Louis CITY SC and Club Necaxa from Mexico. Philadelphia Union's U-16 team will also have a Liga MX opponent with Pedro Cavalcanti's side taking on Club America, Real Salt Lake and Tampa Bay United.
2025 Generation adidas Cup Rising XI
GK Thomas Burchfield (Austin FC); D August Nystrom (Portland Timbers), D Jeremiah Alexander-Munoz (Charlotte FC), D Clovis Archange (Orlando City SC); M Robert Turdean (Chicago Fire FC), M Nathan Tchoumba (Colorado Rapids), M Matthew Arana (Houston Dynamo FC), M Kaedren Spivey (San Jose Earthquakes); F Jamil Danjaji (Columbus Crew), F Malik Jakupovic (Philadelphia Union), F Tyler Brown (Vancouver Whitecaps FC).
