By Tom Burton
Coach and Kinetic founder Adam Knight thinks the Dallas Cup squad are on the verge of a ‘life-changing’ experience.
With the tournament schedule confirmed, plans are being finalised to make sure the tour is a memorable one.
But Knight, who jets off with the 18-strong squad next week, thinks it is a chance that the boys have to grab with both hands.
“It’s one thing jumping on a plane to go and play football for a week,” said Knight, who runs the side with Kyle Bernard.
“What the boys have to realise, and what we’ll be telling them, is that this is potentially a life-changing experience.
“These kind of events don’t come along every week, so they have to make the most of it.
“If they apply themselves in the right way, the boys will get so much out of it.
“When they reach their peak in years to come, they’ll remember Dallas and how it help mould them into the rounded players that they’ll become.
“We’re playing some top teams and it’s only by playing top teams, that you become a top player.”
Kinetic are in Bracket A with SC Del Sol from Arizona, Placer United from California and Dallas Texans.
The U16s face Dallas on March 20, Del Sol on March 21 and United on March 23.
Only the winners of the six brackets, plus two wildcard teams will progress to the quarter-finals, which are scheduled for March 24.
The Dr Pepper Dallas Cup is an invite-only, international tournament which has taken place in Texas every Easter since 1980.
It sees 180 youth teams from across the globe go head-to-head in different age groups from U13s to U19s.
Real Madrid, Manchester United, Barcelona, and Arsenal have all sent teams to Dallas in the past.
And players who have played there, including Raul, Ross Barkley and Javier Hernandez, have gone on to make more than 400 World Cup appearances.
England captain Wayne Rooney played in the 1999 Dallas Cup for Everton and David Beckham represented an Essex Schools side in 1990.