The Dallas Cup announced today that German club Eintracht Frankfurt will compete in the Gordon Jago Super Group and TUDN Super 14s brackets in the 2020 Dallas Cup.
Dallas Cup XLI will mark the eleventh Super Group appearance for The Eagles, who last competed in the elite bracket in 2017. The German side was named co-champions of the 2011 Gordon Jago Super Group after extreme weather conditions cut the championship match versus Tigres short.
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Under-14 side will also return to the Dallas Cup, the oldest and most prestigious international youth soccer tournament in the United States, to defend their TUDN Super 14s title. Last spring, the Under-14 Eintracht team defeated LA United Futbol Academy in the nationally televised final, 3-0. Over the last 15 years, Eintracht Frankfurt has brought 23 teams to the tournament winning five championships across all age groups.
“After 15 years of attending the Dallas Cup, and a handful of titles, we are happy to be invited back and have the chance to defend our Super 14s title, and proudly play once more in the Super Group,” said Eintracht Frankfurt’s head of academy international relations Armin Kraaz. “Eintracht Frankfurt accompanies the tournament for 15 years now and we are deeply convinced that it’s one of the best tournaments in the world, combining tough competition on the field and a great experience off the field with the Homestay families where our boys stay.”
“We are thrilled that Eintracht Frankfurt accepted our invitation to participate in both the Gordon Jago Super Group and the TUDN Super 14s,” said Dallas Cup’s Executive Director Andy Swift. “The commitment over the years from an elite academy like Eintracht reinforces that the Dallas Cup is one of the premier youth tournaments in the world. The club’s sustained success on the pitch, in conjunction with their continued participation and enjoyment within the tournament’s Homestay program, makes it a true pleasure to welcome back The Eagles to Dallas in 2020.”
Eintracht Frankfurt has developed several top-flight players through their academy system throughout the years. Current first-team players Marco Russ and Timothy Chandler played in the Dallas Cup for Eintracht in 2004 and 2006, respectively. Current German National team and Juventus standout, Emre Can, also played in the Dallas Cup for Eintracht Frankfurt back in 2007.
“We are very happy to come back to Dallas Cup for the 16th time. This tournament is something very special for our Club, and is a fixed date in our calendar,” said former Eintracht Frankfurt star and current youth academy director Andy Möller. “Our players and coaches benefit a lot from the competition with international top teams refereed by international umpires on great pitches in a different climate and culture. As well, we will enjoy once more the unbelievable hospitality of the Homestay program with all the great families. Our teams look forward with great anticipation and can’t wait to take off to Dallas to compete for another “Boot and Ball” trophy for Eintracht Frankfurt!”