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Diane Scavuzzo
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Dallas Cup Returns To The Pitch In 2021 Without International Teams
The 42nd edition of the tournament features hundreds of elite youth teams from across the USA, all vying for “Boot and Ball” trophies in both Boys and Girls. With Boys U12 to U19 teams and Girls U16 to U19 teams, Dallas Cup has averaged over 100,000 spectators during tournament week.
Dallas Cup, the oldest and one of the most prestigious youth soccer tournament in the United States, is set to return to the pitch later this month.
Dallas Cup will be played from Saturday, March 27 through Sunday, April 4.
Many famous soccer stars played in the Dallas Cup when they were youths and the list of alumni includes soccer legends like David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Wayne Rooney, Chicharito, Raul, Andrea Pirlo, as well as rising stars in the game like Mason Greenwood, Alphonso Davies, Bukayo Saka, and Weston McKennie. In fact, according to the tournament’s website, “The 2018 FIFA World Cup featured 28 Dallas Cup alumni.”
With health and safety protocols in place employing guidance from various health authorities and youth soccer governing bodies, Dallas Cup is devoted to not only being the best youth soccer tournament in the nation, but also to hosting the safest possible event.
One major difference this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic: Due to travel restrictions, the tournament will be unable to host the international teams the tournament has become accustomed to.
Historically, Dallas Cup participants are made up of about 40% international teams, 40% state-side teams, and 20% Dallas-area teams.
Several of the world’s most prestigious clubs have participated in the Dallas Cup, including Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, River Plate, “Chivas”, Flamengo, Boca Juniors, Club America, PSG, and AC Milan, among others. Since its inception in 1980, Dallas Cup has hosted teams and referees from across 47 states, six continents and more than 100 countries.
Eintracht Frankfurt Academy players at Dallas Cup in 2019
While the tournament will certainly miss the international element, the 42nd edition of the tournament will still be packed with the exemplary clubs and academies that reside from all corners of the nation.
The Dallas Cup is a big economic powerhouse, not only in the youth soccer landscape but also for its local economy. The youth soccer tournament contributes more than $38 million annually to the local North Texas economy.
The Boys component of the Dallas Cup will kick off March 28 and run through April 4. More than 230 boys teams from around the nation will vie for the prestigious “Boot and Ball” championship trophies in the U12-U19 age groups.
This year’s tournament, the 2021 Dallas Cup, marks the long-awaited return of girls divisions, with the inaugural Dallas Cup Girls Invitational presented by Mary Kay kicking off this year.
Dallas Cup welcomes elite girls teams in the U16-U19 age brackets and the competition will run concurrently with the boys tournament with the Dallas Cup Girls Invitational will be played March 27 through April 1.
Preliminary games will be played throughout the week at MoneyGram Soccer Park, the Classic League Soccer Complex at Richland College, and Toyota Soccer Complex.
The finals will be played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco. The full tournament schedule is available here.
The post DALLAS CUP RETURNS TO THE PITCH appeared first on SoccerToday.
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