Sounders Academy U-17's head to Mexico for Liga MX BBVA International Youth Squad Tournament

The Sounders Academy U-17’s head to Mexico this week to participate in the Liga BBVA MX International Youth Squad Tournament. Qualifying for the event as the Generation adidas Cup champions, the young Sounders will face off against some of the top youth teams from Mexico and Europe.

The tournament will run through August 28, with the final slated to take place at the famed Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

“Anytime you get to face international competition, it’s a good moment,” said Sounders FC VP of Player Development Henry Brauner. “Our kids who go to the national team get to see it all the time. For those who aren’t making it to the national team yet, we’re able to see at the club level where everybody is at.”

Eight teams will compete for the title, divided into two four-team groups. Seattle has been placed in the international group alongside Atlético Madrid, Feyenoord Rotterdam and Inter Miami CF. The LigMX group includes Pachuca, Necaxa, Chivas de Guadalajara and Toluca. Teams that finish first in their respective groups will advance directly to the final at the Azteca.

Seattle enters the competition brimming with confidence following their historic GA Cup title back in April, where they defeated fellow MLS clubs Philadelphia Union, Austin FC and Inter Miami, as well as top Mexican teams like Santos Laguna, CF Monterrey and Tigres UANL.

“Yes, we are here to win the event and there’s a sense of pride in the club we’re coming from,” added Brauner. “But it’s also a moment where we can benchmark our players against other academies across the world. Whenever we have these moments to benchmark, it’s measuring stick to see if we’re on par with the rest of the world.”

International exposure is one of Sounders Academy’s developmental pillars. These types of tournaments help players progress by going head-to-head with the top players in their age group from North America and Europe. It also provides a litmus test for the coaching staff, as they can evaluate how the young Sounders stack up against the future stars of the Concacaf Champions League and UEFA Champions League.

“It’s great to prepare our players and use it as a measuring stick for our club,” said Brauner. “Maybe we progress to the point where clubs around the world are comparing themselves to us. That’s the ultimate goal: to change the way that the world sees the American player.”

You can see the Sounders’ full roster for the tournament below: