Preview | New York City FC Academy To Compete In 2024 Generation Adidas Cup

New York City Football Club’s Under-17s and Under-15s are set to compete in the Generation adidas Cup this weekend.

The 2024 tournament takes place from March 30 until April 7 in Bradenton, FL. 28 matches from the tournament will stream live exclusively on MLS Season Pass, including both Championship matches in the U-17 and U-15 age groups.

Past editions of the tournament have featured future global stars like World Cup winners Julián Álvarez (River Plate / Manchester City) and Enzo Fernández (River Plate / Chelsea), and Brazilian international Lucas Paquetá (Flamengo / West Ham United).

New York City FC’s U17s have been pitted against Croatian side Hajduk Split as well as domestic rivals Columbus Crew and Seattle Sounders in Group H.

Meanwhile, the U15s will take on Danish outfit Brøndby followed by games against Chicago and Vancouver Whitecaps in Group G.

The Boys in Blue won the tournament at U16 level back in 2017. Speaking ahead of this weekend, U17s coach José Jiménez explained that the City Boys are excited to test themselves against sides from around the globe, highlighting the importance of the experience in the players’ development.

“The quality of the competition and the intensity are huge incentives for us when it comes to playing in GA Cup,” Jiménez said. “Every opponent is going to be different and present different challenges for our players. We’re going to have to adapt to each game, and it’s a great opportunity for our players to showcase their quality.

“We’re going to face teams from across the globe, the likes of, Hajduk Split, Flamengo, River Plate, and PSV Eindhoven.

“Competing against these teams helps our players develop while also exposing them to new football cultures and challenges. The beauty of GA Cup is how it forces you to adapt and tests your ability to do that.”

Those sentiments were echoed by the Head Coach of the U15s, Michael Dal Pra.

He added: “International competition really helps us comprehend the global standard. We take positives from every game we play in GA Cup, and the opportunity to play against a team like Brøndby will be a fantastic learning experience for our group, as well as a challenge.

“As coaches, it’s very exciting for us to see first-hand the level of competition abroad at our age group. Testing ourselves on a global stage like that will only make our players better for it.”

How To Watch

Select games, including championship matches in both divisions, will be broadcast on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Stay tuned to our @NYCFCYouth social media channels for updates on our Academy teams.

Format

Forty teams, organized into 10 groups of four, will compete in each of the two age groups. Group draws will be random, utilizing buckets categorized by division for MLS academies, while international clubs will be 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 more competitive matches.

All teams competing in the 2024 Generation adidas Cup are guaranteed to play seven 60-minute matches, comprised of two 30-minute halves. The championship matches in both age groups will be extended to 70-minute matches. All contests that are tied at the end of regulation will go directly to a penalty-kick shootout.