Soccer club invited to play in prestigious Dallas Cup

The World Cup for soccer will take place this summer in Germany, but for a group of boys from the Wasatch Front, an even bigger futbol festival will happen next week in Texas.

"Even bigger," that is, from the perspective of these 14- and 15-year-olds from Utah who will compete in the Dallas Cup with their youth soccer club.

"This to them is like playing professional soccer. They are so excited about it," said Inter FC manager Camille Mendel. "That's all they've been talking about since November."

That was when the U-14 soccer squad/football club applied to participate in one of the world's preeminent tournaments, held in the heart of Texas each spring. The Utah boys will get a rare opportunity to compete against and watch players from across the globe. The international event features teams and players from Michigan to Mexico, from Iraq to South Africa, from El Salvador to Magna.

The Salt Lake club — which includes Layton midfielder Brandon Massie — will compete in Bracket H of Group E U-14. Thirty-two teams from six countries (United States, Mexico, El Salvador, Iraq, South Africa and England) and 12 states (from California to Virginia) are entered in this age group. Teams are divided into eight four-member divisions, and each squad will play the other three in their division. The eight division winners advance to the next round, while eliminated teams will get a chance to play two more "friendly" contests.

Coach Matt Broadhead, who's participated in some MLS reserve games, calls his club's invitation into the tournament an "impressive" feat. He pointed out that Inter FC was the only Utah club admitted this year, and only one of a handful of Beehive State squads to ever be invited.

"This is thought of as one of the most prestigious youth tournaments in the world, not just the U.S.," Broadhead said.

One of the biggest benefits of being part of this tournament is that a lot of higher-level soccer coaches attend to evaluate talent.

"It's one of the most well-known youth tournaments in the world," Mendel added. "It's a huge honor for our team to go to the Dallas Cup."