GA Cup Preview: Sporting KC's U-16s and U-15s kick off GA Cup Friday in Bradenton, Florida

Sporting Kansas City's U-16s and U-15s will start their 2026 GA Cup campaigns Friday and compete in at least six games at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida from March 27-April 4. Led by head coaches Angel Rivillo and Jake Smith, most of the two Academy sides are competing at their first GA Cups after their older teammates enjoyed several successful runs in years past. 

Rivillo's U-16 group includes two players with professional experience in Zamir Loyo Reynaga and Luca Antongriolomi. Both players competed at GA Cup in 2025 along with Finn Dean and Sam Worcester. The rest of the group is full of talented up and comers in the Sporting Kansas City's Pro Player Pathway. 

In the 2024-25 MLS NEXT season, this age group found success at the U-15 level with a perfect showing at MLS NEXT Flex and a berth in the 2025 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs. They will compete in Group F against Philadelphia Union, LIGA MX's CF Monterrey and Atlanta United. Group stage play begins Friday, April 27, when Sporting faces the Union. They will face Monterrey and Atlanta on the 28th and 29th, respectively.

• SKC U-16 Schedule
• SKC U-16 Standings

Sporting's U-15s, guided by Smith, are all making their GA Cup debuts. The youngest age group in Sporting's Academy, the group enters the tournament fresh off a win against Minnesota United's U-16s last week at Swope Soccer Village. A gritty group of highly competitive players, they are ready to prove themselves on one of MLS NEXT's largest stages.

The U-15s also open their GA Cup run against the Philadelphia Union on Friday. Their two other Group G rivals include Ligue 1 side Toulouse FC and Inter Miami CF. 

• SKC U-15 Schedule
• SKC U-15 Standings

Sporting fans can follow the Sporting KC Academy's GA Cup journey by following @SKCAcademy on X and Instagram. Both will feature score updates, starting XIs as well as photos from Sporting's matches.

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