Univision accepting Bids for Prospects Cup Tournament’s Host U.S. City

Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) announced that UCI Live will present the inaugural Prospects CupSM next December 2017. Sixteen U12 soccer teams from around the world will compete for the sport’s first youth world championship. UCI is now accepting bids (ProspectsCup.com) from cities looking to host the landmark global event. The deadline for submission is December 23, 2016 with the city being announced in late January.

Produced by UCI Live, the company’s new live event and experiential marketing unit, the tournament will be sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation’s Development Academy (USDA), U.S. Youth Soccer and U.S. Club Soccer. Univision Deportes will broadcast Prospects Cup as well as other U-12 events as part of its overall strategy to promote soccer among youth.

“We are very proud to be launching Prospects Cup. The world’s most popular sport deserves a best-in-class global cultural event like this to highlight its young and rising stars,” said Rick Alessandri, EVP of Enterprise Development and Head of UCI Live, UCI. “This new championship, which is a stepping stone for Univision Deportes’ broader youth soccer efforts, will promote sportsmanship and bring together families, fans and athletes in a positive and competitive environment.”

The company is assembling an advisory committee comprised of soccer leaders and personalities, who will select the teams and guide related activities. The committee will invite teams from a pool of brand name youth soccer clubs from the United States, Mexico, South America and Europe, to start.

UCI’s first Prospects Cup will kick-off with opening ceremonies and the unveiling of the official draw taking place on Sunday, December 17, 2017. The round-robin tournament will include eight youth teams based in the U.S. and eight teams from cities around the world and will be spilt into two divisions. The group winners (based upon cumulative points) of each division will compete on Thursday, December 21, 2017. The division champions (from the U.S. and international divisions) will face off in the championship match on December 22, 2017.