Verizon Copa Alianza Kicks Off 2010 Tournament Season

SAN FRANCISCO, March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Alianza de Futbol Hispano, the nation's leading organization dedicated to the development and support of amateur Hispanic soccer, today officially announced the 2010 Verizon Copa Alianza tournament schedule. The Verizon Copa Alianza, entering its seventh consecutive season, is the largest and most prestigious national Hispanic amateur soccer tournament in the United States, and showcases the country's top adult and youth amateur Hispanic teams. The series of premier local tournaments will take place from April through September in ten cities, kicking off in Houston, Texas on Saturday, April 3rd (see schedule below).

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In addition to the ten host cities, the Verizon Copa Alianza will stage Qualifier Tournaments in eight other markets. These qualifying tournaments, will take place in San Antonio (TX), Santa Fe (NM), Albuquerque (NM), Bakersfield (CA), San Diego (CA), Fresno (CA), Milwaukee (WI) and New Jersey.

"Commencing its seventh year, the Verizon Copa Alianza is firmly cemented in the national soccer landscape as the most important Hispanic amateur adult tournament in the country," said Brad Rothenberg, Co-Founder and President of Alianza. "Together with Alianza's successful professional scouting program, El Sueno de Tu Vida, the tournament provides thousands of young, aspiring Hispanic soccer players around the country unprecedented opportunities to be seen by professional scouts from Mexico and the United States. We are proud to give so many players the possibility to one day realize their dreams of signing professional soccer contracts."

A total of more than 1,150 teams and 20,000 players will compete in the Verizon Copa Alianza and Copita Alianza local tournaments in 2010. Each local Verizon Copa Alianza tournament will take place over three consecutive weekends, and at the conclusion of each one, the Verizon Copa Alianza city champion will compete against a professional Mexican Primera Division A team (reserve club) or a reserve MLS (Major League Soccer) club in front of their hometown fans. Participating this year include the Mexican under-20 National team and Mexican clubs Chivas de Guadalajara and America, Mexico's two most popular teams. More than $90,000 in prize money and awards will be offered in 2010 throughout the series of tournaments. Total attendance throughout all the local tournaments is expected to top 220,000.

Additionally, Copita Alianza, Alianza's annual youth tournament played alongside the adult tournament, offers young players up to 16 years of age an opportunity to be scouted by professional teams from Mexico and the U.S as well as by college coaches from around the country. The tournament has a total of 8 age divisions, ranging from under-17 to under-6.

Alianza de Futbol's 2010 lineup of sponsors includes Verizon Wireless, Fox Sports en Espanol, Monster Energy Drink, O'Reilly's Automotive, Inc., Chevron, 7-Eleven, Atletica, and Semanario Record.

VERIZON COPA ALIANZA 2010 CALENDAR

About Alianza de Futbol Hispano

Founded in 2004, Alianza de Futbol Hispano is the leading, national organization dedicated to the support and development of amateur Hispanic soccer in the United States. Through its sponsored amateur tournaments and professional scouting programs, the organization brings together and showcases the talents of Hispanic amateur players nationwide. Alianza and its corporate partners reach out to a growing community of hundreds of thousands of Hispanic soccer players and their families. For more information, visit www.alianzadefutbol.com or call 1-866-538-4955.

SOURCE Alianza de Futbol Hispano