The Dr Pepper Dallas Cup, the most prestigious international youth soccer tournament in the United States, announced today the matchups for this year’s opening day triple-header.  The full day of festivities will kick off on March 29 at 12:30pm at the historic Cotton Bowl Stadium. Tickets for opening day go on sale tomorrow and can be purchased on-line at www.dallascup.com.

The marquee game of the tournament’s opening day triple-header will feature the Gordon Jago Super Group reigning champion, Argentine side CA River Plate, taking on current U-18 Barclays Premier League Champion Everton FC at 6:30pm. The day’s action will kickoff at 12:30pm with the FC Dallas Academy taking on Brazilian powerhouse Corinthians. At 3:00pm, Tigres of Mexico will play Dallas Cup debutants Valencia from Spain. The annual “Welcome World” Opening Ceremonies and Parade of Nations, featuring all 188 Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXVI teams, will start at 5:00pm. The 2015 edition of the Dr Pepper Dallas Cup will take place from March 29 through April 5.

The twelve previously announced Gordon Jago Super Group teams have been divided into three brackets of four teams each. The bracket champions, along with the best second place finisher, will advance to the Gordon Jago Super Group semi-finals, to be played on Friday, April 3.  The 2015 Gordon Jago U-19 Super Group brackets are:

Ticket prices for the opening day triple-header range from $15 for adults to $5 for youths. Also available at www.dallascup.com is the “Dr Pepper 6-pack” ticket special, providing 6 adult tickets for the discounted price of only $45. Additional games will be played throughout the week, free of charge, at the Classic League Soccer Complex at Richland College, and MoneyGram Soccer Park in Northwest Dallas. Ticket and schedule information for the remaining stadium games will be released in the coming days.

The Dr Pepper Dallas Cup, the most prestigious international youth soccer tournament in the United States, announced that Valencia CF has accepted the invitation to participate in the prestigious Gordon Jago Super Group. This will be the first Dallas Cup appearance for one of Spain’s most successful clubs in both domestic and European leagues. Additionally, the U17/18 developmental academy teams from FC Dallas, LA Galaxy, and Real Salt Lake, have also accepted invitations to partake in the Gordon Jago Super Group.

Valencia, the third most successful Spanish club behind giants Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, will be the first Spanish representative in the prestigious Gordon Jago Super Group since FC Barcelona’s 2011 appearance. Numerous international soccer stars have had prolonged success at Valencia, including 1978 World Cup Golden Boot winner Mario Kempes, and recent New York City FC signee, striker David Villa.

Dr Pepper Dallas Cup also announced the U-17/18 U.S. Developmental Academy sides from FC Dallas, LA Galaxy, and Real Salt Lake will represent the United States in the Gordon Jago Super Group.  This will mark FC Dallas’ fifth trip to the Gordon Jago Super Group since 2007, while the Galaxy will be making their third consecutive appearance in the top division of the prestigious tournament.  The Real Salt Lake academy, based in Casa Grande Arizona, and currently atop the West Conference standings of the U.S.S.D.A League, will be making their first Super Group appearance since their 2011 debut.

Joining these teams in the elite Gordon Jago Super Group are the previously announced Barclays U18 Premier League Champion Everton, former Super Group winners Corinthians (1999, 2000), Coritiba (2002), UANL Tigres (2003, 2011), and current champion River Plate (2014). Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXVI will take place from March 29 through April 5, 2015.

The Dr Pepper Dallas Cup, the most prestigious international youth soccer tournament in the United States, announced SC Corinthians has accepted the invitation to participate in the prestigious Gordon Jago Super Group. One of Brazil’s most successful clubs, the Sao Paulo based team will be making their fifth Dallas Cup appearance and first since 2011. Additionally, the 2014 Liga MX Apertura finalists UANL Tigres, along with arch rivals CF Monterrey, have also accepted invitations for the 2015 edition of the Gordon Jago Super Group.

Corinthians made their first Dallas Cup appearance in 1997. That team included future Brazilian National Team and Arsenal player Edu Gaspar, who currently serves as the Corinthians General Manager. Corinthians would go on to win consecutive Gordon Jago Super Group titles in 1999 and 2000.

The 2015 Gordon Jago Super Group will also feature two of the most successful clubs in Dallas Cup history. Monterrey Rayados have won a record fifteen Dallas Cup “Boot and Ball” championship trophies across all age groups. Tigres are Dallas Cup’s second most accomplished international team with ten championship trophies, including the 2003 and 2011 Gordon Jago Super Group titles.

Joining these teams in the elite Gordon Jago Super Group are the previously announced Barclays U18 Premier League Champion Everton, 2012 Gordon Jago Super Group winner Coritiba, and current champion River Plate. Dallas Cup XXXVI will take place from March 29 through April 5, 2015.

The Dr Pepper Dallas Cup, the most prestigious international youth soccer tournament in the United States, has announced the return of the 2014 Gordon Jago Super Group champions, CA River Plate. Argentina’s most successful club will defend their iconic “Boot and Ball” trophy during Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXVI, which will be held from March 29 through April 5, 2015.  

This past April, River Plate won the elite Gordon Jago Super Group by defeating the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team by a score of 2-0. Lucas Boyé, now a regular on River Plate’s senior side, scored both goals in the final. Since his heroics in the Dallas Cup championship game, Boyé has made 23 appearances for River Plate’s first team, which will play Colombia’s Atletico Nacional for the Copa Sudamericana championship next Wednesday.

This will be River Plate’s fifth Dallas Cup appearance dating back to their inaugural visit in 1994.  They will attempt to be the first Gordon Jago champion to repeat since Brazil’s Club Atletico Paranaense accomplished the feat in 2004 and 2005.

Also returning for the 2015 tournament is former Dallas Cup champion, Coritiba FC of Brazil.  The 2012 Gordon Jago Super Group winner will be making their fifth consecutive Dallas Cup appearance.  Coritiba reached the 2014 semi-finals after sweeping their three preliminary round games by scoring eight goals while only conceding one. They will join previously announced Everton FC, the current Barclay U18 English Premier League champion, in the Gordon Jago Super Group.

The Dr Pepper Dallas Cup, the most prestigious international youth soccer tournament in the United States, has announced the acceptance of four English teams into the under-19 age bracket of the elite tournament. Liverpool FC Foundation College, Knowsley Youth, United Services Portsmouth, and Birmingham City FC Football and Education Development Programme will all be competing in the 36^th edition of the Dr Pepper Dallas Cup, which will be held from March 29 through April 5, 2015. English teams have claimed a total of nine Dallas Cup iconic “Boot and Ball” trophies throughout the tournament’s 35-year history.

Liverpool FC Foundation College will return to play in the U-19 bracket after a successful debut in the 2014 tournament. Liverpool finished second in their first Dallas Cup tournament, outscoring their opponents 13-4. Joining the U-19 squad at Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXVI will be Liverpool’s U-17 team, which will compete in the U-17 Showcase Bracket.

Also returning are two former Dallas Cup champions, both celebrating appearance milestones in 2015. Knowsley Youth, winners of the 2011 U-19 championship, will be attending their 25^th consecutive Dallas Cup tournament. Making their 35^th consecutive appearance will be United Services Portsmouth, winners of the 1981 U-19 championship. United Services Portsmouth previously competed under the name “Royal Navy” before expanding to include all English military branches in 2014. 

The thirty-sixth edition of the Dr Pepper Dallas Cup will also mark the debut of Birmingham City FC’s Football and Education Development Programme. Birmingham City Football and Education Development Programme is run by Birmingham City FC's community department, and allows players to compete at a high level of soccer, while simultaneously focusing on educational pursuits.

The four English clubs will join previously announced Everton FC for the 2015 tournament. Everton, as current champions of the Barclays U18 Premier League, will participate in the elite Gordon Jago Super Group.

Not long before a young Michael Owen raced famously through Argentina’s helpless defense to score for England in the 1998 World Cup, he was performing similar feats at the Dallas Cup.

Before Rafael Marquez would preside majestically over Mexican teams at four World Cups, he was organizing and spraying passes in Dallas Cup matches.

Same for John O’Brien, who was in the Dallas Cup not long before he famously ...

DALLAS, Texas (Wednesday Sept. 17) – The Dr Pepper Dallas Cup, the most prestigious youth soccer tournament in the United States, has announced that Everton FC, the current Barclays U18 Premier League Champion, has officially accepted the invitation to participate in the elite tournament’s 2015 Gordon Jago Super Group.  Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXVI will be held from March 29 through April 5, 2015.

Returning for a third time to the Dallas Cup, the Merseyside club is recognized as being one of the premier developmental academies in England. Two of their esteemed graduates, 2014 FIFA World Cup players Wayne Rooney and Ross Barkley, appeared with Everton in the 1999 and 2012 Dallas Cup tournaments, respectively.

In May of this year, Everton defeated Manchester City 1-0 to win the Barclays U18 Premier League, the highest level of youth soccer played in England.  In consideration to represent the club in Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXVI are many of the players from that championship team, including Harry Charsley, who scored the championship-clinching goal, along with English U18 national team players Ryan Ledson, who recently captained England to the European U17 championship, Callum Connolly, and Jonjoe Kenny.

The Toffees upcoming trip to Dallas continues the long-standing relationship between the world-renowned tournament and the English Premier League. Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Manchester City are among the Premier League teams that have competed in past Dallas Cups. Fulham was the last English side to claim the Gordon Jago Super Group, hoisting the “Boot and Ball” trophy in 2013.

About Everton FC: Founded in 1887, Everton Football Club resides in Liverpool, playing their games at historic Goodison Park. Known to their fans as the Toffees, Everton has produced several FIFA World Cup players, including Wayne Rooney and Ross Barkley. Having only been relegated to the second division twice in their 127-year history, Everton is one of the most consistent teams in English soccer.  It is the current club for U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper Tim Howard. Visit www.evertonfc.com for the latest news.

About Dr Pepper Dallas Cup:  Dr Pepper Dallas Cup is the most prestigious international youth soccer tournament in the United States. Consisting of age groups from U13 to U19, Dallas Cup averages more than 100,000 spectators during tournament week. Since its inception in 1980, Dallas Cup has hosted teams and referees from across 47 states, six continents and more than 100 countries. Follow Dallas Cup on Twitter, Facebook and on Instagram.