The following is a press release from the USL.
USL Announces Partnership with Alianza de Futbol
TAMPA, Fla. – The United Soccer League today announced a partnership with Alianza de Futbol, the leading national organization dedicated to the support and development of amateur Hispanic soccer in the United States, to become its exclusive domestic professional league partner.
The partnership will allow the USL and its teams access to the hundreds of thousands of Hispanic families that participate in Alianza events across the country each year, and the ability to recruit and sign the top prospects identified at these events.
The agreement will also offer the opportunity for the USL’s National Scouting Network to take part in POWERADE® Sueño Alianza showcase matches.
“We look forward to working with Alianza to identify undiscovered, talented Hispanic soccer players and provide them the opportunity to launch their professional careers in the USL,” said USL President Jake Edwards. “Many highly talented young Hispanic players have been discovered through the Alianza program, including those who have gone on to play in MLS and Liga MX. We look forward to continuing that success in the USL.”
For more than a decade, Alianza de Futbol has provided a platform to support the development of amateur Hispanic soccer in the United States. The organization sponsors tournaments – including POWERADE® Sueño Alianza the largest scouting program in the United States dedicated to providing talented Hispanic players in the U-16, U-19 and U-22 age groups a once-in-a-lifetime free opportunity to be seen by top coaches and scouts.
Alianza de Futbol events attract over 220,000 players annually, with more than 1 million Hispanic players having participated in an Alianza event over the past decade. With its partnership with the USL, those players will have a clear path to reach the professional ranks, while also increasing awareness of the league and its teams in the large Hispanic soccer market.
“We are looking forward at Alianza to partner with USL to continue to provide new opportunities to the Hispanic communities. Our new U-22 age group launching this year will provide a direct path to USL & PDL clubs to the best players in Alianza,” said Joaquin Escoto, Managing Director of Alianza de Futbol.
The 2016 USL season will kick off on Friday, March 25 as 29 teams begin their pursuit of the 2016 USL Championship. The six-month regular season will include 435 games, with the top eight teams in the Eastern and Western Conferences advancing to the 2016 USL Playoffs.
For more information and cities to register starting February 22nd for the Alianza free tryouts visit alianzadefutbol.com.
