Villarreal CF Joins Dallas Cup Super Group
Villarreal CF will make its Dallas Cup debut in the coming weeks as the La Liga club joins a star-studded roster of elite international academies in the Gordon Jago Super Group. Dr Pepper Dallas Cup is the oldest and most prestigious international youth soccer tournament in the United States with 40 years of competition to be celebrated in April.
Youth Soccer News: Dr Pepper Dallas Cup has announced that Villarreal CF will compete in the 2019 Gordon Jago Super Group. The 40th edition of the annual tournament will be played April 14-21, 2019, in Dallas, Texas.
The La Liga side will make its Dallas Cup debut as the club strives to become the first Spanish Super Group champion since Real Madrid’s back-to-back titles in 1993 and 1994.
Villarreal, known as El Submarino Amarillo (The Yellow Submarine), competes in Spain’s first division at the senior and youth levels. The senior squad has placed in the top five of the La Liga table the past three seasons. Villarreal’s youth team is currently in first place of Group VII of the 2018-2019 División de Honor Juvenil, the top level of Spain’s youth soccer system. Villarreal is seeking to become Group VII champion for the fourth time in the past five years.
Although Villarreal has never played in Dallas Cup, several of the club’s current and former players competed at the tournament during their youth careers. Giuseppe Rossi, who played in the 2006 Dallas Cup with Manchester United, is Villarreal’s all-time leading scorer. Current Villarreal defender, Ramiro Funes Mori, competed in the 2008 Dallas Cup. Mexican brothers Giovani and Jonathan dos Santos (2001 Dallas Cup) enjoyed lengthy stints at Villarreal, making 145 combined appearances for the team.
U.S. Men’s National Team star and 2004 Dallas Cup alumnus, Jozy Altidore, also suited up for Villarreal following his record $10 million transfer to the club back in 2008.
Villarreal CF joins a strong Gordon Jago Super Group that features Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool, defending Super Group champion Tigres UANL, 2018 Copa do Brasil champion Cruzeiro EC, and USSDA national champion New York City FC, among others. In total, twelve clubs, representing seven countries and four continents, will compete for the Gordon Jago Super Group “Boot and Ball” trophy. 
The news comes a year after Villarreal CF announced a partnership with Virginia youth club Annandale United FC. The Spanish club is boosting its presence in the United States in order to provide American players with the opportunity to develop at an elite level.
The Villarreal Virginia CF Academy (VIVA) is directed by Villarreal CF staff from Spain, with the club’s established philosophy serving as the development model. Villarreal CF also invites standout players to train with Villarreal CF’s Academy teams in Spain.
“Villarreal CF Virginia Academy provides youth players with a complete professional club development experience,” said Bo Amato, Annandale United FC. Technical Director. “Our players will benefit from Villarreal CF coaches coming to the US to train and coach both our teams and our coaches.”
