Under the relentless West Coast sun, Los Angeles became the perfect setting for the sixth date of the 2024 Alianza de Futbol Tour, held on August 17 and 18 at the San Bernardino Soccer Complex. The event drew thousands of players and fans and reaffirmed the Latino community's deep connection with soccer.

In a city where the Hispanic population exceeds 4,997,000 people, more than 3,510,000 of whom are of Mexican origin (source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023), the growth of soccer has been evident. Teams like LAFC and L.A. Galaxy in MLS, along with Angel City in NWSL and the recurring matches of the Mexican National Team in its 'MexTour,' have helped solidify soccer as an essential part of Los Angeles's cultural identity.

This past weekend, the arrival of the Alianza de Futbol Tour, in its twentieth anniversary, added a new layer of excitement to this ever-evolving story. Far from being merely a sports event, the day at the San Bernardino Soccer Complex reflected the vigor with which the Hispanic community embraced this sport.

The tournaments and tryouts, which included Allstate Sueño Alianza, Verizon Copa Alianza, Ford Copita Alianza, Alianza 5v5, and ViX Alianza Femenil, stood out for the quality of the play and the passion felt in every match. These were days when soccer became a meeting place where young and old shared the field and the dreams that the sport inspires. In parallel to the on-field action, the event offered a place for families and fans to interact and celebrate.

Among the standout experiences was the presence of Jesús Ferreira, a player for FC Dallas and the U.S. National Team, who took time to engage with attendees, and Omar Bravo, the legend of Chivas and the Mexican National Team, who interacted with fans at the Ford booth, taking photos and signing autographs. However, the true protagonist was soccer, once again proving to be a universal language that unites communities beyond borders and differences.

Soccer at Its Finest: Intense Finals at Alianza de Futbol

The San Bernardino Soccer Complex became the stage for thrilling matchups over the weekend, where teams competed passionately in various Alianza de Futbol categories.

In Verizon Copa Alianza, SD Baja was crowned champion with a convincing 3-0 victory over Tortas F.C. in the Grand Final.

This tournament brought together young talents in the U23 category, featuring 200 players across ten teams. From the group stage, S.D. Baja showed dominance, securing a spot in the final after a 4-1 victory over Boysen United in the semifinals. Simultaneously, Ford Copita Alianza stood out as a breeding ground for young prospects, awarding trophies in eight different categories.

With 2,160 players across 120 teams, the fields were filled with energy and determination. The champions were TCBRODERS in the U7 category, SV6 in U9, and Calexico Earthquakes in U11. In the U17 girls' category, So Cal Select Green triumphed 2-1 over SoCal Select in a match highlighting the growing significance of women's soccer across the country.

Sunday also brought the finals of the Alianza 5v5 tournament, where five teams claimed titles in different categories. In the U8 category, Libertad F.C. took home the trophy with a 2-0 victory over Rebels, while in U16, Unidos Futbol dominated with a resounding 5-0 win over Real Guerrero.

These finals celebrated the winners and the effort and dedication of all the young participants, who see soccer as a path to realizing their dreams and building lasting friendships. Women's soccer had its moment of glory with the ViX Alianza Femenil tournament, where Elite F.C. was crowned champion.

This tournament brought together 80 players in four teams. In a final full of intensity, Elite F.C. defeated OTVA/DEP Los Sauces 3-1, securing the trophy and a two thousand-dollar prize. This victory reflects the growth and competitiveness of women's soccer in the region, where more and more women find a platform to shine and make their mark in the sport.

On Friday, various coaches participated in the Alianza Coaching Clinics with US Soccer-certified coaches, where they obtained the grassroots 9v9 license, allowing them to coach U11 and U12 teams.

Dreams in Motion: Allstate Sueño Alianza Tryouts

On the other hand, Allstate Sueño Alianza reaffirmed its role as a key platform for young talents aspiring to a professional soccer career.

The tryouts were a success, with 473 players showcasing their skills in front of scouts from Liga MX and MLS clubs. The young participants were divided into four teams and faced off against formations such as LAFC and California Rush under the watchful eyes of scouts from prestigious clubs like San Diego FC, Atlético de San Luis, Necaxa, LA Galaxy, Real Salt Lake, Pachuca, and U.S. Soccer.

Among the scouts present in San Bernardino were notable figures like Jorge Tello from San Diego FC, Víctor Rangel and Rodrigo Palacios from Atlético San Luis, Roberto Vidrio from LAFC, Jorge Domínguez from Necaxa, Rubén Valencia from L.A. Galaxy, Jon Spencer from Real Salt Lake, Kofi Opare from U.S. Soccer, and José Viay from Pachuca. These experts' presence underscores Allstate Sueño Alianza's importance as a direct bridge to professional soccer.

From this intense evaluation day, Zoey Rodríguez and Eddie Calderón emerged as the standout prospects, earning a spot in the National Showcase in Florida. 

There, they will join 11 other young talents selected in previous cities, including Abbie Ramírez and Robino Lozano from San Antonio, Addison Ramírez and Nathan Ochoa from Dallas, Ángel Castillo, Giancarlo Domínguez, and Laila Carter from Colorado Springs, and Adrián Rentería, Ángel Rosas, and Braelynn Galt from Chicago. Real Salt Lake took the opportunity to extend seven invitations, LAFC issued six, Necaxa made five, Atlético San Luis made three, Pachuca issued two, and ACCESS U, LA Galaxy, Pachuca, and San Diego FC each extended one. Eddie Calderón, selected for the National Showcase, was the most 'sought after,' receiving six invitations.

 

THE INVITATIONS:

• Eddie Calderón (2008-2009): National, LAFC, Real Salt Lake, Pachuca, Necaxa, Atlético San Luis

• Evan Guerrero (2008-2009): Necaxa, LAFC

• Melvin Santacruz (2008-2009): Real Salt Lake, LAFC

• Halle Barrett (2006-2010 women’s): ACCESS U

• Zoey Rodríguez (2006-2010 women’s): National

• Derek Maya (2010-2012): Real Salt Lake

• Édgar Palacios (2010-2012): LAFC

• Mateo Quezada (2010-2012): Real Salt Lake

• Troy Montanez (2010-2012): Real Salt Lake

• Antonio Amaya (2010-2012): LAFC

• Aaron Valentín (2008-2009): Necaxa

• Maximiliano Esquivel (2008-2009): Atlético San Luis

• Jorge Elijah López Figueroa (2008-2009): Necaxa

• José Hernández (2008-2009): Real Salt Lake

• Iván Bustos (2008-2009): Real Salt Lake

• Kelvin Marroquín (2005-2007): Pachuca

• Jaden Pérez (2005-2007): Atlético San Luis

• Evan Palomera (2005-2007): LAFC

Next Stop: San José

The Alianza Tour does not stop and will continue its journey on August 24 and 25 at Morgan Hill Sports Park in San José, California. Once again, the Verizon Copa Alianza U23, Ford Copita Alianza, ViX Alianza Femenil, Alianza 5v5, and Sueño Alianza tryouts will take place, promising more soccer, more passion, and more opportunities for those who dream of reaching the top.

August 21, 2024