Union Academy to Host Manchester United, Dortmund, and Benfica in Snow Bowl 2026
Philadelphia Union announced today that the club will host the first-ever Snow Bowl 2026 presented by The SWAG and YSC Academy. Taking place from February 9-14, this prestigious international academy tournament will take place at the WSFS Bank Sportsplex in Chester, Pa., featuring top-tier youth talent from across Europe and North America.
“With all eyes on soccer this summer, especially here in Philadelphia, the Snow Bowl is designed to inspire the next generation of youth soccer players and introduce them to the highest level of international youth competition,” said Rich Graham, founder of YSC Academy and a Philadelphia Union investor. “At The SWAG, which is philanthropically funded, we provide aspiring youth players from across the Greater Philadelphia Region with the opportunity to experience the game 100% free of cost. By eliminating the ‘pay-to-play’ model, The SWAG enables young players both access and opportunity, with an accelerated development pathway for the most talented participants to someday compete at the professional or collegiate levels.”
The inaugural tournament will feature U-15, U-16, and U-18 age groups, bringing global powerhouses such as Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, S.L. Benfica, and Newcastle United to Chester to compete against the Philadelphia Union Academy.
Designed to provide elite competition, the event serves as a premier preparation platform for the Union Academy ahead of the 2026 Generation adidas Cup. It also marks a major milestone for the club, showcasing the 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, Philadelphia Union. “This event is about high-performance preparation and showcasing our Academy’s elite youth development environment. It provides our Union Academy players with the opportunity to test themselves against the very best ahead of the upcoming Generation adidas Cup and MLS Next Playoffs, while also highlighting the world-class facilities we have built here at the Sportsplex. 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
The field includes some of the most respected academies in the world:
- 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).
Tournament Details & Coverage
- Venue: All matches will be played on the IBX Field at the WSFS Bank Sportsplex.
- Streaming: Every match of the tournament will be streamed live.
- Tournament Hub: For full schedules and scores, visit http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/SnowBowl.
About The SWAG
The SWAG is a no-cost, year-round soccer training program for young athletes ages 4-11 coming from some of Philadelphia’s most under-resourced communities. The SWAG program runs from U4 through U11 and is philanthropically funded, serving about 2,000 players per year -- roughly 100 top prospects are sub-selected each year to ‘SWAG Select,’ and they train year-round. A sub-set of the players also attend a private school on full scholarship, training in the morning at school with the SWAG coaches, then in the afternoon at the Philadelphia Union’s training complex. The SWAG program produces over 60-percent of the inbound talent to the Philadelphia Union Academy at U12. More information on The SWAG can be found here: https://www.the-swag.org/
About YSC Academy
YSC Academy is a private, independent school that serves as the educational partner of the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Philadelphia Union Academy. YSC Academy provides a rigorous, college-preparatory education designed for elite student-athletes, featuring an NCAA Eligibility Center–approved curriculum that integrates academic excellence with professional-level soccer training.
The Philadelphia Union Academy functions as the club’s youth development program, training and developing talented players while offering a clear pathway from youth to professional levels, including opportunities with the Union’s First Team and Union II. Union Academy teams compete in top-tier competitions from U12 through U18. Student-athletes in grades 7–12 benefit from the integration of soccer development and academics at YSC Academy, which offers a purpose-built environment for self-directed learning and elite player development.
Approximately 15% of YSC Academy students sign professional contracts while still in high school, and 23% matriculate to highly selective national universities. More than 30% eventually sign as professionals after first attending college. The vast majority of YSC student-athletes receive financial aid, as the school’s budget is primarily supported through philanthropic contributions.
More information about YSC Academy is available at: https://yscacademy.com/
