FRISCO - The FC Dallas U-14 Academy is set to travel to Bolivia this week for what has become an annual rite of passage for the next young crop of FCD players.
For the fourth year in a row, FC Dallas will represent MLS and the United States at the famous Mundialito Tahuichi in Santa Cruz, Bolivia starting on January 4th.
“It’s the 20th anniversary of the Mundialito Tahuichi and I believe it’s the biggest U-15 tournament in the world. Teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, USA, Mexico and Brazil have played,” said U-18 Academy head coach Francisco Molina. “They play in big stadiums and the inauguration is something I’ve never experienced for that age anywhere in the world, so it’s a great tournament and a great experience for the boys as well.”
Originally introduced to the tournament by former FCD Academy coaches who were from Santa Cruz, FC Dallas has used the Mundialito as an introduction to international soccer for the youngest of the three US Soccer Development Academy affiliated teams. International tournaments are a huge part of the player development path at FC Dallas and this is just another step in building the next Homegrown stars.
“It’s been a tournament where we feel like we’re playing in hostile territory,” said VP of FC Dallas Youth and U-14 head coach Chris Hayden. “The fields aren’t as nice as ours. You’re faced against teams that are very savvy in getting results. Sometimes the field isn’t in your favor, the referee isn’t in your favor, the climate isn’t in your favor and we feel like those types of experiences are very valuable for our Academy players…We want them to be uncomfortable, so international trips like these to Bolivia have really been useful.”
Based in Santa Cruz, the largest city in Bolivia, the Mundialito is something that all but shuts down the city according to Molina with people coming from around the country for the tournament which is partly played in the 38,000 capacity Estadio Ramon Tahuichi Aguilera. For most of the players on the U-14s, this is a first experience playing soccer outside of the country and it’s something they’re really looking forward to.
“I’m hoping that we come together more not just as a team but as brothers and a family,” said midfielder Joe Nelson. “Our whole team is looking to improve as a team and hopefully we can think a little bit quicker while we’re there and compete like we always do.”
Playing against a tournament of mostly South American teams, some of them national teams, will be difficult for the U-14s, but it provides a much-needed change of pace from the USSDA teams they face on a semi-weekly basis.
“The older [FC Dallas] teams say it’s a good experience to build character,” said goalkeeper Trevor Jackson. “But it’s going to be difficult.”
Recent FCD Homegrown signing Alex Zendejas was part of an FC Dallas team that played in the Mundialito and down the road it’s likely that most FCD Homegrowns will have played in this prestigious tournament while learning the lessons that only games outside of your comfort zone can provide.
“It’s something the kids look forward to and I know the coaching staff looks forward to coaching at this event and learning more about our players,” said Hayden. “We see them every day in training and we see them competing against some of the best domestic competition there is, but when we see them competing in this type of environment with this much pressure on them to see how they react and see how they grow over the course of the event is huge. Then, they come back and they’re better individually and collectively from having this experience. We feel like it’s been really valuable.”
