The Seattle Sounders Academy U-16 squad is in Carson, Calif., for the second phase of Generation adidas Cup qualifying. As the premier tournament that contains every MLS U-16 academy team, the GA Cup serves as a showcase for the future stars of North American soccer.
For qualifying, the teams are divided into three groups: West, Central and East. The top two teams from each pool advance to the Championship Division, where they will compete against international youth teams like Spain’s Valencia and Argentina’s River Plate. The remaining MLS sides head to the Premier Division.
The young Sounders enter the weekend in second place in the West Region behind the Colorado Rapids.