The US Youth Soccer National Championships serves as the crown jewel of competitive youth soccer as the nation’s top 60 youth soccer teams, in the Under-14 through Under-19 boys and girls brackets, compete for the US Youth Soccer National Championship title. New for 2008, the inaugural US Youth Soccer National League is sending the top two teams in the Under-15 through Under-17 boys and girls divisions to compete in the national championships.
Each summer US Youth Soccer crowns a boys and girls national champion in each of its six age divisions (Under 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19). The finals are a culmination of a year-long series of competitions at the state and regional levels. The US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides approximately 185,000 players on more than 10,000 teams from US Youth Soccer’s 55 State Associations the opportunity to showcase their soccer skills against the best competition in the nation, while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play.US Youth Soccer State Championships (often referred to as ‘State Cups’) are held in each of the 55 US Youth Soccer member state associations, some in the fall, but most throughout the spring. Champions are crowned for boys and girls in various age groups between Under-11 and Under-19. Champions in the Under-14 through Under-19 age divisions advance to represent their state association at their respective regional competition.
Four regions, commonly known as Region I (East), Region II (Midwest), Region III (South) and Region IV (West), host the next level of play in the national championships tournament structure. The US Youth Soccer Regional Championship tournaments are truly tournaments of champions, as only teams who have won their state championship or who are invited can participate in their regional tournament. Regional champions in the Under-14 through Under-19 age divisions advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships.
