RSL Academy is set to head South for the Generation Adidas Cup, one of the largest and most prestigious youth tournaments in the country. The tournament itself will feature 80 professional academies from 10 countries across four continents, including RSL Academy’s U15 and U17 squads led by Head Coaches Andrew May and Jordan Allen, respectively.
Real Salt Lake has been a part of the tournament since its inception in 2007 and won the tournament in its second year, lifting the 2008 trophy after defeating D.C. United in penalty kicks with a roster that featured former RSL defender and current RSL Academy Youth Director Taylor Peay.
The two sides met again in the Generation Adidas Cup final during the 2010 tournament, but this time it was D.C. United who took home the trophy, taking down RSL 5-4 in penalty kicks. The 2010 team featured former RSL Homegrowns Phanuel Kavita and Richard Velasco.
In 2014 RSL fell again in the final, this time to England’s Stoke City. Former Homegrown Sebastian Saucedo opened scoring in the 26th minute, but Stoke City responded moments after the halftime break. Despite a close shot from RSL defender Justen Glad the two sides remained deadlock, forcing the match into penalty kicks to determine the winner. RSL’s squad, including Glad, along with Aaron Herrera and Tate Schmitt were unable to get past Stoke City’s goalkeeper, falling short of lifting its second Generation Adidas Cup trophy.
Almost all Real Salt Lake’s current Homegrown players have previously competed in the Generation Adidas Cup tournament, with Bode Davis, Zack Farnsworth, and Chris Garcia most recently advancing out of the group stage after beating Olympique Lyon 1-0 in the Group Stage.
This year’s tournament is the first since 2019, with 2020 and 2021 being canceled due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. RSL Academy’s 2020 group looked primed to make another run at the final after going underrated during the qualification stage. The U17 group led by Garcia and current Real Monarchs midfielder Christian Nydegger led the group to a plus five goal differential, while Julio Benitez helped the U15 side top their group with a plus four goal differential.
Unfortunately for the Benitez, Garcia, and Nydegger they are no longer age eligible and will miss out on the chance to compete in the tournament. However, current Homegrowns Gavin Beavers, Axel Kei, and Jude Wellings will look for their first opportunity at the tournament as they are all still within the age limitations to compete in Texas.
The U15s will begin their tournament on Saturday, April 9 at 6:00 p.m. MT against FC Dallas, while the U17s will take the pitch for the first time on Sunday, April 10 against CF Montreal at 1:00 p.m. MT.
