A peculiar re-interpretation of events has taken hold of those watching this year's Generation Adidas Cup. It is a showpiece tournament for MLS Academy teams, but also one which has been routinely won by non-MLS sides for the last three years - and will once again be won by one of the international club team invited to participate in 2017. River Plate - winner of the last two GA Cups - will play Flamengo in the Cup final on April 15.
So it goes: part of the point of GA Cup is for MLS Academy teams to test themselves outside the domestic soccer development bubble.