U.S. Youth Soccer Team Competes In 2012 Volkswagen Junior Masters World Finals In Poland
F.C. Golden State Academy BU12 soccer team from Pasadena, California won the honor of representing the USA in the Volkswagen Junior Masters Tournament. Twenty-two countries competed, and while the USA did not take home the trophy, the Golden State team made it to the Quarter-Finals and took home once-in-a-lifetime memories.
Volkswagen of America and Volkswagen AG brought together youth soccer teams from 22 countries on five continents in Warsaw, Poland, last week for the 2012 Volkswagen Junior Masters World Finals. Representing the United States this year was the 2011 Junior Masters national champion F.C. Golden State Academy U12 boys soccer team from Pasadena, California.
“The Volkswagen Junior Masters tournament connects the future generation of star athletes from around the world, providing them a platform to hone their soccer skills, and learn about teamwork and leadership,” said Tim Mahoney, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. Dr. Carsten Krebs, Director of Corporate Communications at Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. was pleased at the team’s performance and said, “Our team won the first matches!”
After competing in a series of eight preliminary regional tournaments, F.C. Golden State Academy defeated Pennsylvania’s Lower Merion Magic at the U.S. finals in Los Angeles on November 20, 2011, winning the 2011 Volkswagen U.S. Junior Masters National Championship and securing their spot in the World Finals. The team is led by coaches Jose Botello and Josh Henderson.
The World Finals took place at the Pepsi Arena in Warsaw, home of the Legia Warsaw football club, just six days before the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship. More than 1,000 junior teams comprising more than16,000 players from 22 countries participated in the national qualifying rounds. African teams are from South Africa and Zimbabwe; Asian/Oceanian teams are from Russia, Kazakhstan, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, The Republic of Korea and Australia; European teams are from Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria and Poland; North American teams are from the United States and Mexico; and South American teams are from Brazil and Argentina.
A dedicated supporter of soccer, Volkswagen of America is the official automotive partner of Major League Soccer and is a sponsor of the D.C. United men’s team in Washington, D.C. The brand also sponsors many grassroots youth soccer tournaments throughout the United States. Globally, Volkswagen is the title sponsor of the Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg, Germany, and owns the VfL Wolfsburg football club at its global headquarters.
