Philadelphia Union Academy to Host Youth Snow Bowl 2026
The Philadelphia Union Academy will host the first-ever Snow Bowl 2026, presented by The SWAG and YSC Academy. This international academy youth tournament will be held Feb. 9–14 at the…
The Philadelphia Union Academy will host the first-ever Snow Bowl 2026, presented by The SWAG and YSC Academy. This international academy youth tournament will be held Feb. 9–14 at the WSFS Bank Sportsplex in Chester, Pennsylvania, uniting European and North American clubs such as Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, and S.L. Benfica.
The Snow Bowl 2026 will feature U-15, U-16, and U-18 divisions. Top global clubs, including Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, S.L. Benfica, and Newcastle United, will face off against the Philadelphia Union Academy. This high-performance prep event will serve as a premier preparation platform for the Union Academy ahead of the 2026 Generation adidas Cup. It will also allow the Union Academy to showcase its state-of-the-art indoor facilities at the WSFS Bank Sportsplex to an international audience.
“We are incredibly proud to launch the Snow Bowl and welcome some of the most historic professional clubs in world football to Philadelphia,” said Jon Scheer, director of academy and professional development for the Philadelphia Union, in a Union news release. “We are grateful to The SWAG and YSC Academy for making this tournament possible as many of their participants will get to see and experience some of the highest level of competition in our sport.”
Participating clubs by division will include the following:
- U-15 Division: Philadelphia Union, Manchester United (England), Borussia Dortmund (Germany), Newcastle United (England), C.F. Monterrey Rayados (Mexico), Chicago Fire FC (USA)
- U-16 Division: Philadelphia Union, S.L. Benfica (Portugal), Borussia Mönchengladbach (Germany), PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands), Lyngby Boldklub (Denmark), Chicago Fire FC (USA)
- U-18 Division: Philadelphia Union, S.L. Benfica (Portugal), Lyngby Boldklub (Denmark), Alberg Next Gen (South Africa)
According to the Union's release, all matches will be played on the IBX Field at the WSFS Bank Sportsplex. Every match of the tournament will be streamed live. Schedules and scores will be available on the Snow Bowl page of the Philadelphia Union website.
YSC Academy is a private school that serves as the Union's educational partner. It provides a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum with elite soccer. The academy boasts a track record of players signing professional contracts and matriculating to selective universities.
The SWAG program provides no-cost training for under-resourced Philadelphia youth and serves about 2,000 players annually, funneling many prospects toward the Philadelphia Union Academy.
