New Era, New Talent: The 2025 GA Cup Is Here

The top prospects in the world’s game are headed to Florida to compete in the 2025 Generation Adidas Cup.

Elite academies from the U.S. and across the globe will compete at the prestigious tournament, including Manchester City FC, Bayern Munich, New York City FC and Inter Milan.

The Generation Adidas Cup provides the perfect stage for high-level youth soccer players eager to showcase their skills and make a name for themselves. In past editions, the tournament saw Weston McKennie, Giovanni Reyna, Ricardi Pepi, and most recently, Cavan Sullivan take part in the competition.

Shaping the Future of Soccer in the States

The Generation Adidas Cup has undoubtedly played a critical role in developing youth players into professional players. But on top of that, it has also given footballers the tools to succeed at some of the world’s biggest clubs. 

Borussia Dortmund’s Reyna took part in the 2017 and 2018 editions with New York City FC. He led his U16 side to the Premier Division title while also claiming the Golden Ball Award, which is given to the best player in the tournament.

McKennie, who competed in the tournament in 2015 with FC Dallas, is now with Juventus and a veteran with the U.S. national team, while Pepi has found his way to PSV after playing in the Generation Adidas Cup in 2018 and 2019 with FC Dallas.

Within the last seven years, the event has also built a path for players from multiple nationalities to find success in their future. Mexican international player Efrain Alvarez played three times in the cup from 2016-2018 with the LA Galaxy. After impressing, he made his debut with the senior team in 2019 at only 17 years old.

Most recently, the tournament saw phenom Sullivan take part in the 2023 and 2024 editions.

Sullivan helped the Philadelphia Union reach the U15 final after beating academy powerhouses Real Madrid, Arsenal and Valencia. He scored in the final and was named in the tournament’s best XI.

Sullivan followed up on that success by winning the cup with the Union in the U17 division. 

Is there a chance we may see the next McKennie, Pepi or Reyna emerge at this year’s cup? History sure does say so.

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Inaugural Girls Division

To ensure the game continues to grow in the U.S., the 2025 Generation Adidas Cup will feature its inaugural girl’s division. 

The U.S. women’s national team that won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics was also one of the youngest teams in the tournament – leading it to no surprise that tournament officials wanted to include a girl’s division.

With a handful of teenagers already making their debut in the NWSL, such as McKenna Whitham and Melanie Barcenas, the tournament allows young female soccer players to put their names on pro teams’ radars.

Global Powerhouses in Attendance

Other notable youth teams heading to the Sunshine State are Leicester City (U18), Club America (U16), PSV (U16) and Palmeiras (U18).

Newcomers 

For the first time, non-MLS academies had to qualify for their place in the tournament — a major shift from previous editions. This new format not only raises the competitive bar, but also opens the door for high-performing academies from across the country to earn their shot on the international stage.

Sockers FC Chicago (U18) and Tampa Bay United (U16) secured their spots through strong performances at MLS NEXT Fest, showcasing the depth of talent outside the traditional MLS academy system.

So if you’re a fan of youth soccer – or the sport in general – and want to get a deep insight into how American soccer is evolving, be sure to catch breakout players before they hit the global stage. Furthermore, teams from across the world will offer their unique playing styles as they get set to compete on the pitch.

Action for the 2025 Generation Adidas Cup will take place at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida from April 12-20.

The MLS YouTube page will livestream 28 cup matches, including the U16 and U18 championship matches.