Generation Adidas Cup 2025 recap

The Seattle Sounders competed in the 2025 edition of the Generation Adidas Cup this past week in Bradenton, Fla. This is one of the premier youth tournaments in which MLS academy teams compete against fellow MLS sides as well as top international teams.

This edition had two age groups competing in the U16 and U18 levels.

Each age group began the tournament competing in a group of 4. Depending on the performance in that group they would advance to one of the following competitions.

• Championship
  • Format: Seeded single elimination bracket
• Qualification: All top 10 first place finishers; Top 6 second place finishers
• Premier
  • Format: Seeded single elimination bracket
• Qualification: Remaining second place finishers; All third place finishers; Top 2 fourth place finishers
• Consolation
  • Format: Additional group play of 2 groups of 4; Followed by single game against corresponding group finisher
• Qualification: Remaining fourth place finishers

U16

The Sounders U16 team had a rough start in the group stage losing all three games and finishing bottom of the group. However, after entering the Consolation competition they turned things around by winning all games played and finishing first.

U18

The Sounders U18 team was inconsistent throughout the tournament finishing with three wins and four losses. They were able to get into the Premier competition, but dropped out after two rounds and then finished out the games in the Showcase competition.

Seattle Sounders FC vs Daejeon Hana Citizen

One of the U18 group stage games against Daejeon Hana Citizen was streamed on MLS YouTube which allowed for the only viewing of either team at the tournament.

Highlights

Replay

Lineup: 4-2-3-1

Newman; Veillard, Sandnes (Brun), Mikolasy, Pray (Smith); Vargas (Majankeka), Koutelieris; Hassan (Emert), Carli, Dierks (Collins); Flores (Da Silva)

Sounders Scoring Summary:

• 2’ Flores (Hassan)
• 59’ Flores (Majankeka)

Key Players:

• Flores: The forward was the MotM for scoring the two goals on the day. He wasn’t involved in the buildup, but put in work on the defensive end and showcased solid finishing abilities. The first goal was created by his initial press on the keeper blocking a pass that landed to Hassan. After pressing, he didn’t stop and continued to make a run so Hassan could put him in to tap on an empty net. The second goal was more technical, receiving a cross in the box, controlling off the chest, and finishing off the half volley.
• Mikolasy: A guest invite player for the tournament from Crossfire who is an imposing presence on the back line with great height. He was the consistent member of a back line that shut down most of the attack for Daejeon on the day. His standout play was running down Daejeon's best player Kim on a breakaway and pressuring the shot just enough to cut the angle and allow Newman to make an easier save.
• Newman: The goalkeeper was only beaten by a wonder strike from 20 yards out. Otherwise he made the big saves when needed, such as on the breakaway mentioned above. He also was composed in collecting crosses in traffic, showing no fear in going up and challenging for the ball and holding it to avoid any loss in possession.

Rosters

U16: Dima Johnson, Jackson Dale, Duncan Green, Micah Holley, Paolo Hurtado, Max Boltz, Taiki Sugitani, Bryan Cisneros, Adrian Ton, Thaigo Silva, Landon Lucero, Basil Kuprishov, Deyan Radosvljevic, Juma Hassani, Carlos Benitez, Vitalii Kolomiets, Ashton Riggs, Bridger Sandnes, Jerimiah Makinano, Rain Suzuki

U18: Noah Newman, Hunter Anderson, Shaun Brun, Gallatin Sandnes, Mitchell Emert, Etienne Veillard, John Majankeka, Brayden Smith, Abad Vargas, Jordan Dierks, Leo Flores, Omar Hassan*, Erik Collins, Edson Carli, Kelvin Luis-Brito, Ronan Leeming, Bryan da Silva, Harper Mikolasy, John Koutelieris, Keaton Pray

*MLS Next Pro Player

Guest Player