The final weekend of the Generation adidas Cup arrives with MLS sides alive and well in both age groups.

A quickfire format has the tournament steering towards a final weekend. After holding group games last weekend through Monday, with a pause on Tuesday. The Round of 16 and quarterfinals were contested the past two days.

Real Salt Lake and LA Galaxy sit on opposite sides of the bracket in the Under-16 age group. RSL’s defense has helped anchor the team to this point. After conceding just one goal in Group F play – including a win against the Philadelphia Union – Real Salt Lake pitched back-to-back shutouts in the knockout rounds.

The first came in a 1-0 win against FC Tokyo in the Round of 16. Facing Charlotte FC in Thursday’s quarterfinal, goals from Brendan Urtecho and Van Parker secured a 2-0 victory. Up next for Real Salt Lake is KRC Genk, which defeated Portland Timbers and Austin FC in back-to-back knockout rounds.

LA Galaxy also navigated through two knockout games without conceding a goal. A 3-0 win in the Round of 16 against Nashville SC was followed by a 0-0 draw against CF Montreal. LA converted all four penalties to beat the Canadian side 4-2 in the shootout. Dutch side PSV Eindhoven is the semifinal foe.

High level European sides await the U16 teams in Saturday’s semifinals. The Galaxy faces PSV Eindhoven, after the Dutch side defeated Columbus Crew on penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw. KRC Genk will line up against Real Salt Lake, after the Belgian squad defeated Austin FC by a 1-0 margin in Thursday’s action.

Penalty shootouts have been key for Atlanta United’s semifinal appearance among the U18 teams. After a 0-0 draw on Wednesday against Italian side Inter Milan, Atlanta did the same thing to Portland Timbers: a 0-0 draw and a 5-4 win from the spot for the Five Stripes.

Next up for Atlanta is the Colorado Rapids. The unheralded side features ample talent, and Colorado dispatched a quality Chicago Fire squad by a 2-0 score in Thursday’s quarterfinal. Maxim Scordo scored the first goal, while Philip Pak added a second from the penalty spot to secure the victory.

On the scoresheet and in the booth

Maxim Scordo breaks down his Player of the Match performance that punched U18 @RapidsAcademy's spot into the Generation adidas Cup Semifinals.#GenerationadidasCup | @adidasfootball pic.twitter.com/W4Nc0RYYmY

— MLS NEXT (@MLSNEXT) April 17, 2025

Pre-tournament favorites Orlando City have lived up to their billing, and march into a semifinal clash against Liga MX squad Santos Laguna. A pair of 1-0 victories propelled them to this point. Justin Ellis provided the game-winning goal in the Round of 16 matchup against St. Louis City SC. On Thursday, Omar Robbana’s goal stood up to win it.

Santos Laguna is the lone non-MLS side alive in the Championship Bracket’s U18 age group. The Mexican side defeated Inter Miami 2-0 on Wednesday, and scored late to tie against Sockers FC. A 5-4 win on penalties grabbed a semifinal spot.

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

ECNL Boys Texas U16 Players to Watch

Women's America East Breakout Candidates

TDS Girls Regional Rankings: Class of 2028