Timbers Academy teams prepare for upcoming 2025 Generation adidas Cup, held at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., from April 12-20. Timbers U18s and U16s will play Palmeiras and FC Bayern Munich, respectively, in group play.
NEW YORK, NY– Major League Soccer and MLS NEXT announced details for the 2025 Generation adidas Cup, which will mark the largest and most competitive tournament to date. The 2025 edition of the premier international youth tournament will feature 80 teams, representing 14 different countries, and four continents. International powerhouses FC Bayern, Inter Milan, and Palmeiras will be among the clubs competing against MLS academies at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., from April 12-20.
“Generation adidas Cup showcases MLS’ successful player development pathway on the global stage as MLS academies compete against the world’s best,” said MLS Senior Vice President of Sporting Development Ali Curtis. “The quality of international competition and introduction of a new girls competition in 2025 further showcases MLS’ and adidas’ commitment to making Generation adidas Cup the top youth tournament in the world.”
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Competition Structure
Forty teams, organized into 10 groups of four, will compete in each of the two age groups. Group draws are random, utilizing buckets categorized by division for MLS academies, while international clubs are drawn randomly. Sixteen teams will advance to the single-elimination championship bracket – comprising the 10 group winners and the top six second-place finishers. The next-best 16 teams will enter a consolation bracket, with the final eight teams competing in consolation groups to provide additional competitive matches.
Twenty-eight Generation adidas Cup games, including championship matches in both age groups, will stream live on MLS’ YouTube page. Further broadcast details will be announced in the lead-up to the tournament.
Top International Clubs to Compete
The 2025 Generation adidas Cup will see 18 different international clubs competing in U18 and U16 age groups. Notably, the tournament will include multiple clubs from four different continents – Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. Among the prestigious clubs participating are Inter Milan (U18) and first-time participants FC Bayern (U16) and VfB Stuttgart (U16). Independiente de Panama (U18) is set to become the inaugural Panamanian club to participate.
Young Talent Becomes Stars at Generation adidas Cup
The best young players in the world will descend upon the 2025 Generation adidas Cup as 29 MLS clubs will be represented in both the U18 and U16 age groups. Since 2022, MLS academies have won five of the past six Generation adidas Cup titles.
The tournament has been a springboard for young talents who have gone on to shine on the international stage.
"The Generation adidas Cup is an incredibly important piece of our partnership with Major League Soccer," said Zola Short, Sr. Director of Soccer Sports Marketing, adidas North America. "It's truly a marquee global event, one that we look forward to each year, bringing the best youth talent together to compete at the highest level."
