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February 3, 2010
DALLAS CUP NAMES SUPER GROUP
16 teams; 3 national teams announced
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Tangled tackle from last year's Dallas Cup Super Group finale illustrates the intensity of the Dallas Cup international tournament, starting its 2010 run March 28.
Photo by Megan Stephens |
It has been years since the Dallas Cup has had more than 12 teams in the Super Group—not because of a lack of interest---but in interest of maintaining the very highest quality for this group that is the face of this hugely popular international tournament. But for the 2010 version, the 31st edition of the Dallas Cup running from March 28 through April 4, Executive Director Gordon Jago and Tournament Director Randy Jones bowed to extraordinary interest from top clubs and federations from around the world and decided to expand the Super Group field to 16 teams this year.
Jago said the worldwide interest from top-level teams and clubs insured that the group would still maintain the high-level football that the fans here and the legacy established around the world demands.
Right off the bat, any observer would notice the field included three U17 National Teams (Mexico, Japan and USA), competing here to showcase players (91/92 birthdates) in preparation for the U20 FIFA World Cup in Colombia in 2011. This year marks a first for the Dallas Cup, with three National Teams in the Super Group.
Two Dallas teams have qualified for the Super Group competition, FC Dallas and Dallas Texans.
The 2010 Super Group will have Tottenham Hotspur FC & Chelsea FC (England), Cruzeiro EC (Brazil), Eintracht Frankfurt & TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (Germany), the Mexican National Team (91/92), the Japanese National Team (91/92) and the USA National Team (91/92), CF Monterrey, Tigres & CD Guadalajara (Mexico), Liga Deportivo Alajuelense (Costa Rica), Vancouver Whitecaps (Canada), CZ Elite (California-USA), FC Dallas (Texas-USA) and Dallas Texans (Texas-USA).
“Now that the 16 teams have been selected the “fun” begins in determining the four team groups for the preliminary round of the competition” states Tournament Manager Randy Jones. “With these outstanding teams each of the four groups will present outstanding football for the fans in the Dallas area. For the first time in the 31 year history of the Dallas Cup we will have three National teams in the Super Group. The National teams from Mexico, Japan and the United States will showcase the players (born in 1991 and 1992) that they have identified for the Under 20 FIFA World Cup in Colombia in 2011.”
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