2012 NIKE Manchester United Premier Cup U.S. Finals
The most competitive U14/15 tournament in the world
May 24-28, 2012 at NIKE World Headquarters in Beaverton, OR
Applications are now closed for the 2012 tournament as the application deadline was February 10.
Please read below for more information on the tournament format for 2012
The Manchester United Premier Cup (MUPC) is the largest international youth football tournament in the world, involving over 6,000 teams from over 40 countries. But, the Manchester United Premier Cup is about more than mere numbers. It is about engendering in the youth of today the desire to become the heroes of tomorrow. It is about promoting the cause of youth soccer and its impact extends far beyond the fortunate few who make it to the Cup final. Its reach extends to the thousands of local teams and programs that exist because of the dream of reaching that final. The MUPC has had some of the most storied soccer clubs in the world participate, including clubs such as FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Ajax, Arsenal, Corinthians, Futbol Club America, FC Porto and, of course, Manchester United.
Teams from around the globe compete in regional or national qualifying tournaments, all with the ultimate goal to reach the MUPC World Finals for boys, and the Gothia Cup tournament for the girls U.S. winner. Once again, Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon will play host to the U.S. Finals for the MUPC.
In the U.S., the MUPC U.S. Finals has annually drawn the most competitive U14 and U15 teams across the nation, and, as a result, the U.S. Soccer Federation has taken notice. Over the past 11 years US Soccer staff coaches have been on hand at the tournament to scout players for the National Team programs. Many players who participated in the MUPC U.S. Finals have gone on to play for the U.S. National Teams and various professional teams.
Format 2012 Manchester United Premier Cup U.S. Finals:
- 20 teams per gender (40 total) from across the U.S. will participate! Teams apply for the tournament and the best 20 teams from across the nation (determined by a tournament committee) from both genders that apply will be invited to participate. Please note that teams that are sponsored by any athletic apparel brand besides Nike can apply.
- Age group: U14/15 Boys - born on/after 1/1/1997; U14 Girls - born on/after 8/1/1997.
- The tournament will be open to teams that are official members of a USSF affiliate organization such as US Club Soccer or US Youth Soccer. All players, with the exception of 3 guest players, must be officially registered members of your club. Again, teams will only be allowed a maximum of 3 guest players.
- Teams will play a minimum of 6 games over 4 days, May 25-28. May 24, will be arrival day and check-in of the teams followed by an opening ceremony and official tournament draw.
- Winner of the boys U.S. Finals will qualify for the Manchester United Premier Cup World Finals to be held in Manchester, England home of the at the home of tournament namesake, Manchester United. Dates of the World Finals will be confirmed later, but will be late July-early August, 2012. There the top teams in the World will battle it out for the right to be named Manchester United Premier Cup World Champion. Teams that qualified for the World Finals in 2011 included Chelsea FC (England), Valencia CF (Spain), PSV Eindhoven (The Netherlands), Hannover 96 (Germany), Fenerbache (Turkey), Universidad de Chile (Chile) and of course Manchester United. For more information on the World Finals, please visit http://www.manchesterunitedpremiercup.com/
- Winner of the girls US Finals will be invited to play in the 2012 Gothia Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden, July 14-22, 2012 where they will compete with over 100 teams from all over the globe in the U14/15 age group. For more information on the Gothia Cup, please visit www.gothiacup.se
- NIKE will invite and pay for airfare, accommodations, meals and transportation for up to 20 people per team for the MUPC World Finals for the boy's winner, as well as the Gothia Cup for the girl's winning team.
For questions and more information contact:
Mike Stebbins
Premier International Tours/L&J Group, Inc.
Tel. 800-724-6076;
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