TAMPA, Fla. – The United Soccer League today announced the renewal of its partnership with Alianza de Futbol – the leading national organization dedicated to the support and development of amateur Hispanic soccer in the United States – which will see the two organizations work closely over the next two years to expand competitive opportunities for players that attend Alianza’s national showcase events.

The renewal of the partnership agreement will see the USL support and promote Allstate Sueño Alianza, Alianza’s player identification events held across the United States each year through the organization’s social media channels. The events will offer opportunities for technical staffs across in the USL Championship and League One to cast a wider net in player recruitment and will provide top prospects a direct path to the professional ranks.

“A strong player-identification infrastructure is critical to any successful professional league,” said Brett Luy, USL Senior Vice President of League Operations. “As the USL continues to grow, it’s important that we look for opportunities to help our clubs throughout that process. Being able to renew our partnership with Alianza provides USL clubs another proven avenue to scout and acquire players that will ultimately help them strengthen their player pool at both the academy and professional levels.”

For more than a decade, Alianza de Futbol has provided a platform to support the development of amateur Hispanic soccer in the United States. The organization sponsors tournaments – including Allstate Sueño Alianza, the largest scouting program in the United States – dedicated to providing talented Hispanic players in the U-14, U-17 and U-20 age groups a free opportunity to be seen by top coaches and scouts.

As part of the partnership, the USL may help secure Academy/U23 teams from clubs competing in the USL Academy Cup and USL League Two to compete in showcase matches during Alianza events. The USL will also provide top players identified at these events with tickets & access to experience USL professional matches, with the long-term goal of giving top players identified at these events opportunities to trial and potentially earn a full-time spot at our clubs’ academies and professional teams.

“We feel very happy to continue this partnership with the USL.” said Joaquin Escoto, Managing Partner of BRC Group, owner of Alianza de Futbol. “ We want to bring more opportunities to the new generation of players and also to the ones that have been part of our program and are now looking to continue their careers back in the United States. A good example is Christopher Bermúdez, who participated in the 2016 Allstate Sueño Alianza tryouts and signed with Pachuca in Liga MX. Now he is part of Greenville Triumph SC of USL League One.”

Allstate Sueño Alianza has helped more than 60 players to sign professional contracts with clubs across Liga MX, MLS and the USL, with thousands of Hispanic players having participated in an Alianza event over the past decade. With its partnership with the USL, those players will have a clear path to reach the professional ranks, while also increasing awareness of the league and its teams in the large Hispanic soccer market.