Everything You Need To Know For The Best of Cup

Get ready to witness the pinnacle of youth soccer talent as the highly anticipated Best Of Cup kicks off tomorrow! This event, born from the rivalries of MLS Next, ECNL, and NAL, promises a showcase of skills and competition like never before.

Event Highlights:

• Who: U15-U19 age groups, featuring top MLS Next, ECNL, and NAL teams.

• What: The Best Of Cup, where the best youth soccer players in America come together to compete.

• Where: WSFS Bank Sportsplex in Chester, PA (Hosted by Philadelphia Union Youth Academy) for U17 & U19 brackets and Uncommitted Games. Chase Fieldhouse fields in Wilmington, DE (Home of Sporting Athletic Club) for U15 & U16 brackets.

Uncommitted Games: The spotlight will shine on the Uncommitted Games, a platform for the top players to showcase their talents in front of hundreds of College Coaches. This is not just a game; it's an opportunity for these young athletes to shape their future.

Key Locations:

WSFS Bank Sportsplex (Chester, PA): Host to U17 & U19 brackets and Uncommitted Games.

Chase Fieldhouse (Wilmington, DE): Home of U15 & U16 brackets.

Follow Along with the Action: Whether you're a passionate soccer fan, a dedicated player, or a coach looking for emerging talent, the Best Of Cup is an event you won't want to miss. Be sure to subscribe to the Footy Access Newsletter and follow on social media to stay up to date on scores, highlights, interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and more.

Save the Dates:

• Start Date: February 9th, 2024

• Location: WSFS Bank Sportsplex (U17 & U19) and Chase Fieldhouse (U15 & U16)

How Do You Prepare Mentally For A Game?

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is widely known for his brash confidence throughout his wildly successful professional football career, but did you know he actually tricks his mind to elevate extreme levels of confidence and focus in his game? Take a look at this fascinating interview with Zlatan and see if some of these methods can elevate your game:

In order to improve your performance on the pitch, you need to understand your behavioral baselines in great depth and implement mental strength exercises which drive you to optimal confidence levels. Similar to physical and skill elements of the game, you need to measure your abilities and then build a development plan for optional performance. A mental strength assessment is the best means to establish your baselines and then grow into the beast of a player you know you can be...

MLS Introduces MLS NEXT Development Grant To Support Elite Academies

"The initiative has already disbursed over $100,000 to eight distinct MLS NEXT Elite academies for players retrospectively deemed eligible for the Development Grant," elucidated MLS.

The rationale behind this endeavor is to furnish players trained within MLS NEXT Elite academies with opportunities to transition to MLS academies, eventually paving the way to the first team. This initiative acknowledges the contributions of non-MLS academies in the initial phases of players' training and development, while concurrently furnishing a more streamlined path to professionalism nationwide.

Pre-season In the Coachella Valley Unfolds with Optimism for Young Talents

Numerous MLS teams are currently engaged in pre-season activities in the Coachella Valley, with hopes of furthering player development and assessing how academy prospects adapt to the professional.

Charlotte FC's recent 3-0 triumph over LA Galaxy, Nimfasha Berchimas featured for 45 minutes in the second half. The promising talent, born in 2008, exhibited stellar form, with expectations mounting for potential MLS appearances this season, alongside opportunities in MLS Next Pro.

Other players partaking in pre-season preparations with their respective clubs include Julian Hall and Aidan Stokes with New York Red Bulls, and Zidane Yañez and Máximo Carrizo with New York City FC.