Chicago’s U-15 and U-16 sides will face some of the world’s best clubs in the largest and most competitive edition of the GA Cup to date

The Chicago Fire Academy will kick off its participation in the 2026 Generation adidas Cup, held at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. from March 27-April 4.

The Fire’s highly touted U-15 and U-16 sides will kick off the group stage action on Friday, March 27, taking on other MLS academy teams as well as some of the best developmental clubs in the world, including FC Barcelona and Red Bull Bragantino.

The Generation adidas Cup, or GA Cup for short, is a youth tournament hosted by Major League Soccer and MLS NEXT featuring 88 teams in both Boys and Girls Divisions, representing 14 counties and four continents. Since 2014, the tournament has expanded to include teams from beyond MLS academies, while 2025 saw the addition of a Girls Division. The age categories have varied from year to year, with the 2025 edition featuring the U-16 and U-18 age groups.

This year’s edition will feature the U-15 and U-16 boys age groups, which have been promising for Chicago...