Ben Hernandez, seventh-grader from Sam Houston Middle School and his soccer team, Odyssey, have been invited to participate in the prestigious Dallas Cup which is the oldest international youth soccer tournament in the United States.
Ben’s team is in the under 13 division, based in Southlake and coached by Patrick “Paddy” Gallagher. There are seven age brackets from under 13 to under 19 that compete in the Dallas Cup. Approximately 180 teams are accepted.
Participation in this tournament is by invitation only and according to their website, the selection of teams that receive invitations is based on their competitive performance as shown on the online application.
In addition to being an elite sports competition, the tournament is also an opportunity to learn about other cultures through its Home Stay Program. Members of teams that are invited to compete also agree to provide room and board for a visiting player.
The tournament has historically attracted the most competitive local, U.S. and international boys’ soccer teams. More than 47 states of the U.S. have been represented along with more than 100 countries across six continents. More than 900 international players compete each year. Numerous Dallas Cup players have gone on to play professionally and as World Cup participants. A few of those stars are: David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Wayne Rooney, Chicharito, Raul and Michael Bradley.
The tournament is traditionally made up of approximately 40 percent inter
national teams, 40 percent stateside teams and 20 percent Dallas area teams.
The tournament has proven to be a valuable financial asset to the Dallas area, bringing not only players, but large numbers of spectators, referees, volunteers and scouts.
Dr. Pepper is the title sponsor of the Dallas Cup. Signature sponsors include Toyota, Sprint, Fiesta, Adidas and the Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District.
Held every year during Easter week, this year’s Dallas Cup begins Sunday, March 20. Odyssey’s first game is against Sinergia Deportiva Tigres at 9:30 at Richland College.
For more information, visit http://www.dallascup.com/.