Academy

What you need to know about the Generation adidas Cup

GA Cup U-17

Philadelphia Union Academy wraps up the qualifying round of the Generation adidas Cup starting this weekend when both the U-17s and U-15s travel to Atlanta, Georgia.


One of the premier competitive youth soccer tournaments in North America, the tournament features 21 MLS U-17s teams in action with all players born on or after January 1, 2002.


The 2018-19 qualifying round is the 12th edition of the tournament, teams split into regional qualifiers across three different groups. Qualifying matches in each group began last Columbus Day weekend and conclude during President's Day weekend.


The points earned are distributed as the following: Three points for a win, two points for a penalty kick victory, one point for a loss in penalty kicks and no points for a loss.


The top two teams from each group, plus two wildcards, will advance to play in the Champions Division in the 2019 Generation adidas Cup Finals at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The remaining teams will compete in the Premier Division.


This season the tournament expanded to add an Under-15 age group. Just like the U-17s, 21 teams will go through regional qualifying with the top qualifier in each group advancing to the finals.