05/16/2026
The Swedes of the Dallas Cup:
Back in 2014, the Dallas Cup brought a whirlwind of international talent to Texas. For two local families hosting through the FC Dallas Youth 97B Gold homestay program, it brought lifelong bonds with a group of unforgettable Swedish youth players. They hosted the Brommapojkarna B98 squad, the 1998-born youth team from the Swedish football club IF Brommapojkarna. Recognized as the defining class of the famous Swedish documentary Fotbollsfabriken (The Football Factory), this generation produced several top-tier professionals now starring in Europe, including Viktor Gyökeres and Dejan Kulusevski. From the moment they arrived, the Blue and Hickman families lovingly referred to the group of guests as "their Swedes"— among their group of guests, a young, determined player named Hjalmar Ekdal. Between intense tournament matches, the host families immersed the boys in true Texas culture sharing family meals to keep the energetic athletes fueled, introducing them to authentic Texas barbecue. Out of all the local delicacies, Hjalmar developed a legendary, distinct obsession with giant Texas cinnamon rolls for breakfast every morning. The boys turned everything into a contest, from battling over ping-pong tables to literally sprinting against each other in restaurant parking lots while waiting for a table. Their official soundtrack was "Best Day of My Life" by American Authors, which blasted at maximum volume on every car ride, as fondly remembered by Tena Hickman.
During a scheduled off-day trip to the Allen Premium Outlets. As Ryan Blue recalls, the moment the Swedes spotted the Tommy Hilfiger store, because the Swedish krona was incredibly strong against the U.S. dollar at the time, the name-brand prices looked like an absolute steal. The players went on an epic shopping spree, buying clothing in their sizes and their families' sizes back home. The haul was so massive that the boys had to buy extra luggage for the trip home.
The competitive spirit also happened in the stands during the Dallas Cup final. The host families’ team, FC Dallas 97B Gold, was locked in a tied game. The Swedes stood up and began chanting fiercely for their Texas brothers breaking into a roaring chorus of, "I believe that we will win!" At that exact second, FC Dallas scored the game-winning goal. The stands erupted, and the Swedish boys celebrated just as loud and proud as the parents.
Over the next twelve years, the host families proudly watched the boys grow up. They followed the careers of their guests through youth academies in Sweden to college soccer days in the United States, and even some all the way to the English Premier League. “We still stay in touch with one of my guests is playing in Florida now, Amadeus Sogaard” – Blain Hickman
By 2026, the incredible journey has come full circle. When Hjalmar and Viktor officially announced on Sweden's World Cup roster, his old Texas families were ecstatic to the Swedish national team's home training base would be located right in Frisco. The Swedish boy who once fell in love with Texas cinnamon rolls returns to Texas
