The USA Cup....

USA CUP began in 1985 by the Sons of Norway, a fraternal benefit organization based in the Twin Cities and was originally modeled after Norway Cup. The first year featured 69 teams, including eleven international teams and six from out of state. The opening ceremonies were held at Burnsville High School in the south metro area but all games were played at the Blaine Soccer Complex. The National Sports Center did not open until 1990. One of the early highlights of the tournament occurred in 1989 when the U19 boys St. Paul Blackhawks team, with future U.S. National Team and MLS stars Tony Sanneh and Manny Lagos beat Moscow Dynamo from the Soviet Union. One of the unique parts of USA CUP was the celebrated homestay program where players from visiting international teams stayed in the homes of Minnesota soccer players during the week. As word of the genuine Midwest hospitality and special features of the National Sports Center spread, the tournament grew quickly and by 1992, close to 500 teams were attending the event from 35 U.S. states and 20 countries.

USA CUP had become the largest soccer tournament in the Western Hemisphere in a few short years. 1992 also brought another memorable highlight when soccer legend Pelé visited the tournament during opening ceremonies in the Metrodome. No one in attendance will forget the electricity in the air when Pelé ran onto the turf in front of 25,000 screaming fans. Over the years Schwan’s USA CUP would welcome many celebrity visitors, including Pelé for a repeat visit in 1997; U.S. National Team stars Michelle Akers, Freddy Adu, Mia Hamm, Cobi Jones, Kristine Lilly, Landon Donovan, Julie Foudy, Abby Wambach and Leslie Osborne; Italian coach Roberto Donadoni; and even Survivor Africa winner and former pro soccer player Ethan Zohn.

The tournament annually hosts special prime-time games in the stadium that match top international teams. Some of the teams that have played on the big stage in front of thousands of Schwan’s USA CUP players and families, include the U.S. and Canadian U17 Men’s National Teams; USA, Canada, Norway and Sweden Women’s National Teams, the LA Galaxy MLS team; Burnley F.C. from England; and the Minnesota Thunder and Stars pro teams. Schwan’s USA CUP has always been big – big numbers, big campus, and a big program. In 2007, the tournament attracted more than 1,000 teams for the first time. The 600-acre National Sports Center campus boasts not only 52 fields, it’s certainly the only major international soccer tournament that comes with an eight-sheet ice arena, a world-class cycling Velodrome and an 18-hole championship golf course, all within kicking distance of a soccer field.

The tournament has always been innovative about its mission to provide a quality experience off the field. From a full transportation system to an ambitious activity schedule, to a gigantic super soccer retail store, to live webcasts, a daily newspaper and even a daily video show, Schwan’s USA CUP is unabashed about being, well BIG!

Since 1985 Schwan's USA CUP has hosted a large variety of famous international soccer players, either as guests or players who participated in the tournament before achieving soccer stardom. Below is a sampling of some famous USA CUP alumni.

FORMER USA CUP PLAYERS
 Zlatan Ibrahimovic –Just relesaed by Paris Saint-Germain Taylor Twellman – ESPN Analyst, Former MLS and US International Tony Sanneh – Former MLS and US International Manny Lagos – Current Minnesota United FC Coach, Former MLS and US International Leslie Osborne – US International, also made a guest appearance Brianna Scurry – Former US International Aya Sameshima – 2011 Women’s World Cup Champion Japan Saki Kumagai - 2011 Women’s World Cup Champion Japan Asuna Tanaka – 2011 Women’s World Cup Champion Japan Niklas Backman - AIK Mario Aparicio - Toronto FC Eric Miller - Montreal Impact Teal Bunbury - New England Revolution Arthur Biryarslanov - 2015 Gold Medalist Boxer, Pan American Games

GUEST APPEARANCES AT USA CUP
Pelé – International Soccer Star Samuel Eto’o – Cameroon International Landon Donovan – US International Roberto Donadoni – Former Italy National Team Coach Sergio Arturo Bernal Hernandez – Former Mexican International UNAM PUMAS Hugo Perez – Former US International and NASL and MISL professional Michelle Akers – Former US International Natasha Kai – Former US International Thori Staples – Former US International

INTERNATIONAL TEAM APPEARANCES
U.S. Women's National Team U.S. Under 17 Boys National Team Canada Women’s National Team Canada Under 17 Boys National Team Norway Women’s National Team Australia Women’s National Team Sweden Women’s National Team Ecuador Under 17 Boys National Team
 PROFESSIONAL TEAM APPEARANCES
Major League Soccer (Current and Former) Chicago Fire Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting KC) LA Galaxy Montreal Impact San Jose Earthquakes Seattle Sounders Tampa Bay Mutiny (defunct) Portland Timbers

INTERNATIONAL SQUADS
Tottenham Hotspur (Barclay's Premier League) – Academy Team Burnley (England Championship) Club León Fútbol Club (Liga MX) Cruz Azul (Mexico Primera) – Academy Team CSD Cumunicaciones (Guatamala Liga Nacional) Dorados de Sinaloa (Mexico Liga de Ascenso) Guadalajara Chivas (Mexico Primera) Swansea City AFC (Barclay's Premier League)