The Dallas Cup is an internationally flavored tournament by design. Clubs from across the world descend on the Metroplex once a year to make the city feel vaguely like an Olympic competition. The 35th anniversary of the prestigious tournament’s founding was no different.

In fact, this year was an even more robust showcase for the league’s global appeal. Within the eight Dallas Cup age groups that awarded champions, there were five different countries represented: the U.S., Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Argentina.

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Here’s a glance at how each age group at the Dallas Cup finished its lofty business over the weekend.

 

U13 - Chivas USA (Calif.)

While the senior team has taken numerous body blows to its reputation over the last few years, the youth apparatus in place at Chivas USA is still one of the nation’s best. The Goats proved their stripes on Saturday by earning a meeting with TSC Hurricane in the U13 finale thanks to a torrid run of form in Dallas. Chivas USA went 3-0-0 in group play without allowing a goal and notched wins against the Chicago Fire (1-0) and Angeles Soccer Elite (5-1) to earn its place in the title game. Thanks to a 31st minute tally from Misael Becerra and a stout defense - which allowed just one goal in six games - Chivas USA headed back to SoCal with some hardware.

 

U14 - Club Menedy (Guatemala)

Menedy is one of Guatemala’s premier youth development sides, and it certainly upheld the banner in Dallas. After earning seven points to win its group by two over FC Golden State Gold (which drew Menedy 1-1 in group action), Menedy brushed by Antelope Valley FC 4-0 and then beat a group of Houstonian FC 00’s 1-0 to book its spot in the title game. Texas squad Wizards FC was awaiting them with a classic. The teams went into overtime after being tied 1-1 through regulation, and Menedy scored twice in overtime to secure a 3-1 victory and the trophy.

 

U15 - Tigres UANL (Mexico)

It’s hard to imagine a team being more dominant over a wide swath of difficult games than Tigres in the U15 division. In three group games, Tigres smashed its opponents 7-1, 4-1 and 2-0 to book a spot in the semifinals, where they awaited a salty Eintracht Frankfurt group. After a hard-fought 1-0 win, Tigres earned a date with LVSA in the title game. And it wasn’t close. Tigres bagged the opener in the 13th minute en route to a bang-up 5-0 win to win the Boot and Ball trophy for the U15 division.

 

U16 - Juventus SC Heat (Calif.)

The U16 finale produced Saturday’s game of the day. FC Dallas and Juventus SC both handily won their groups with 3-0-0 records (FCD outscored its foes 16-1 in the group stage; JSC’s was 11-4), and matching 1-0 shutouts in the semifinals earned both their spots in the final. FC Dallas was out-shot in the first half but still managed a 2-0 lead at halftime, but the hosts soon faltered. JSC’s David Ramos got a goal back on a breakaway in the 62nd minute, and he scored again minutes later to knot the game at 2-2 and send it into overtime. With all the momentum, JSC’s Steven Orozco smashed home the winner to complete the comeback and send Juventus SC home winners.

 

U17 - FC Dallas Gold (Texas)

Talk about local flavor. After difficult slogs to the finale, FC Dallas Gold squared off against FC Dallas Premier in the U17 title game, and it didn’t disappoint a large local fan base on hand to take it in. FCD Gold leapt out to a 2-0 lead just after halftime on a penalty from Osvaldo Veloz and a Dominick Faletto bicycle kick. Six minutes later, though, Sergio Lara scored from the penalty spot for Premier before Gold’s Cisse Abdoulaye made it 3-1 in the 80th minute. Premier scored once more and had a last-gasp chance to tie it late, but Gold escaped as the local winners.

 

Super 17’s - Club America (Mexico)

This group was an invention of this season to commemorate the Dallas Cup’s 35th anniversary, and Club America won its inaugural run. Club America had to brush past fellow Mexican club and developmental juggernaut Monterrey in the title game, but a 3-1 win with goals in the 33rd, 39th and 58th minutes proved America was up to the task.

 

U19 - Costa Rica U19 MNT

The U.S. U20 MNT wasn’t the only national side competing for trophies in Dallas over the weekend. The Costa Rica U19 team easily won all three of its group games before winning battles against Knowsley Youth (3-2) and Solar Chelsea (2-1) to earn a championship meeting with Liverpool FC Foundation College, a Liverpool-connected program that offers players sport education training opportunities. The Costa Ricans took home a 1-0 victory thanks to a 24th minute goal from Jeffry Montenegro.

 

Gordon Jago Super Group - River Plate

The big hitter, and it was a doozy. The U.S. U20 team captured many of the headlines on their march to the title game, thanks in part to a wacky opening 3-2 win over River Plate in the group stage. A 3-2 U.S. win over Fluminense in the semis and a similar 2-0 River Plate victory over Cortiba in the other semifinal set up a memorable rematch for the Argentinians. Despite a great week for the U20s, River Plate got a brace from Lucas Boye, who scored the capper in the 83rd minute to cement a 2-0 win and the tournament’s most prestigious prize.