Generation Adidas Cup


The Generation Adidas Cup is a competition run by Major League Soccer for all U-17 MLS academy teams. As part of the "Home Grown 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, Andy Najar, Bryan Leyva, Juan Agudelo, Bill Hamid, Victor Ulloa, and Ruben Luna.

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 in the 2019 final. The entire tournament was streamed on Twitch.

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

YearWinnersScoreRunner–upHost
2007 D.C. United3–0 Kansas City WizardsDick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colorado
2008 Real Salt Lake1–1
D.C. UnitedDick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colorado
2009 D.C. United1–1
FC DallasDick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colorado
2010 D.C. United0–0
Real Salt LakeRobertson Stadium, Houston, Texas
2011 Los Angeles Galaxy2–0 FC DallasPizza Hut Park, Frisco, Texas
2012 Philadelphia Union2–2
Toronto FCStarfire Sports Complex, Tukwila, Washington
2014 Stoke City1–1
Real Salt LakeToyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
2015 River Plate1–0 Eintracht FrankfurtToyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
2016 River Plate2–0 Universidad de ChileToyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
2017 River Plate2–1 FlamengoToyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
2018 Flamengo1–0 Atlético ParanaenseToyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
2019 Seattle Sounders FC1–0 ValenciaToyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas