Barça Residency Academy also joins Gordon Jago Super Group; Arsenal FC forced to withdraw from tournament due to FA Youth Cup scheduling
DALLAS, Texas (Friday, March 10) – Dallas Cup, the oldest and most prestigious international youth soccer tournament in North America, has announced that historic English side and former Super Group champion, Fulham FC, will compete in the Gordon Jago Super Group at the 2023 Dallas Cup presented by Coca-Cola. Barça Residency Academy, based out of Arizona, will also compete in the elite 19 & Under bracket.
As London's oldest professional football club, Fulham returns to Dallas Cup with their sights set on securing their second 19U Gordon Jago Super Group title. Fulham made a spectacular debut at Dallas Cup in 2013, remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament and culminating in an impressive victory over Japan's Kashiwa Reysol in the Super Group final. Most recently, The Cottagers reached the 2016 Gordon Jago Super Group final, only to fall short against Everton FC. The 2023 Dallas Cup presented by Coca-Cola will mark Fulham's fourth appearance in the tournament since their debut in 2013.
Fulham has a history of nurturing close connections with the United States Men's National Team. Two of Fulham's first-team players, Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson, represented the U.S. at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Notably, Robinson had previously played in the Dallas Cup in 2015. Fulham also boast some of the most accomplished former U.S. players and Dallas Cup alumni, including Clint Dempsey (DC '01) and Brian McBride (DC '90), who were both honored with the Player of the Season award for Fulham FC award twice. It has also been announced that Barça Residency Academy will join the 2023 Gordon Jago Super Group. Based out of Casa Grande, Arizona, Barça Academy is a founding member of the MLS Next league and competes against the highest caliber of youth academies in North America. Following the training methodology of world-renowned FC Barcelona, 100% of the academy’s graduates have signed a professional contract or were offered a college scholarship. Fulham FC and the Barça Residency Academy join a lineup of impressive talent, making them the ninth and tenth teams participating in the tournament’s elite bracket. The two sides join Spanish giant Real Madrid, Denmark’s FC Midtjylland, Costa Rica’s LD Alajuelense, the Brazilian duo of São Paulo FC and Botafogo, Liga MX’s Tigres and CF Monterrey, as well as local side FC Dallas, who were all previously announced.
Unfortunately, two teams have had to withdraw from the competition. Arsenal FC was forced to bow out due to a scheduling conflict with their upcoming FA Youth Cup match, while Toronto FC has also withdrawn from the Dallas Cup. The iconic Super Group 'Boot & Ball' trophy will be contested by 12 elite teams from top clubs and national federations around the world. In total, more than 275 elite boys' and girls' teams will compete at the 2023 Dallas Cup presented by Coca-Cola and the Dallas Cup Girls' Invitational presented by Mary Kay. Fans can purchase tickets for the exciting opening day matches at Cotton Bowl Stadium on Sunday, April 2nd. For more information about the tournament, visit www.DallasCup.org or follow @dallascup on social media.