Since it was started, the Generation adidas Cup has evolved considerably. Back in 2007, it was conceived as a way for MLS academies to measure themselves against one another. Some international flair was added in 2014 when the tournament invited three foreign-based cubs.
In 2015, the tournament turned into more of a measuring stick for MLS academies to compare themselves against their foreign contemporaries. The tournament was split into two divisions — Champions and Premier — with fully half the field of the top division featuring academies tied to foreign teams.
Notably, since that expansion, no MLS academy had even qualified for the finals, let alone won the tournament.