(Dec. 22, 2009) – If you’re one of the best youth soccer clubs in the nation, where do you celebrate?  Disney World, of course.  In fact, the biggest names in youth club soccer are coming to compete in Disney’s Soccer Showcase presented by Chelsea Football Club Dec. 27, 2009-Jan. 3, 2010, at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex.

 

This year’s showcase features the top-ranked boys Baltimore Bays Chelsea and girls top-ranked Dallas Texans.  In all, six of the top 10 boys teams in the nation and 13 of the top 20 girls teams as ranked by Soccer America magazine will compete among 520 teams and roughly 9,500 athletes over the eight-day event. The tournament annually attracts the best-of-the-best in youth club soccer.

 

An elite list of high school-aged soccer players such as Dallas Texans standout Conor Doyle and High School All-American Marquez Fernandez of the Baltimore Bays Chelsea will compete in Disney’s Soccer Showcase. These players are all trying to follow in the cleats of marquee professional soccer players such as Freddy Adu (Benefica), Eddie Johnson (USL-1) and DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers), who all competed in Disney’s Soccer Showcase early in their careers.

 

The showcase attracts more than 800 NCAA college coaches and scouts, including prestigious programs such as Wake Forest, Harvard, Ohio State and Duke University.

 

“Disney’s Soccer Showcase has become the ultimate soccer experience for serious soccer players looking to get seen by college coaches,” said Patrick Dicks, Disney Sports area manager.  “We have created the ideal experience that brings world-class facilities, tournament management, fantastic weather and high-quality competition together at the world's No. 1 vacation and sports destination.  Any soccer player in the United States who believes he or she can make it at the collegiate level knows that Disney’s Soccer Showcase is the tournament they have to attend.”

 

Not only can players get recruited by major colleges, but standout performers will be selected to Disney’s Soccer Showcase All Star Team and will have the opportunity to train at the famed Chelsea Football Club Academy, which is located near London, and compete against international teams such as Argentina, England and Germany in August.

 

Also, Disney's Soccer Showcase is the first youth event in the country to use the official 2010 FIFA World Cup ball on the tournament’s final day. 

 

The showcase is one of several soccer tournaments hosted at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. The others are:

·      Disney’s Soccer Showcase Qualifier (Sept. 4-6)

·      Disney’s Junior Soccer Showcase (Nov. 26-28)

·      Disney Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament (July 12-17)