July 26 Full Circle

FULL CIRCLE USYS

PREVIEW WHAT’S INSIDE!

+ NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS + NATIONAL PRESIDENTS CUP + NATIONAL LEAGUE CUP + MORE!

JULY 2026

THE ASSIST

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A series from New York Life

FEATURES National Championships Recap...

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National Championship Awards...

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National League Cup Recap...

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National Presidents Cup Recap...

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Partnership with Common Goal USA and Soccer Forward...

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Ever wonder how some of soccer’s biggest stars became the players they are today?

Watch The Assist—a series from New York Life that tells the story of three members of the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team and the people who believed in them, stood by them, and helped make their dream a reality.

Watch THE ASSIST

TIM REAM USMNT Defender USYS Alum

LATEST NEWS NATIONAL CHAMPIONS CROWNED IN TENNESSEE AND UTAH +HIGHLIGHT Eighteen different State Associations had teams win a title

The 2026 US Youth Soccer National Championships, presented by New York Life, concluded nine exciting days of action on July 23, when new boys and girls champions were crowned in the 13U, 14U, 15U, 16U, 17U and 19U age groups.

Teams at the National Championships competed in either the Super Group or the Premier Group. Games took place July 13-23, with the girls’ competition in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Smyrna, Tenn., while the boys’ competition was held in Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah.

Title-winning teams navigated three games in the group stage before victories in quarterfinals, semifinals and championship finals led to their names being added to youth soccer history as 2026 National Champions.

Among the newly crowned champions, Raiders FC 2007 (IL) claimed the James P. McGuire Cup — the oldest trophy in American youth sports, first awarded in 1935 — as the 19U Boys Super Group champions. Raiders coach Salvador Valencia, a former player for the club, said the championship represented a full-circle moment for him after first seeing the McGuire Cup 13 years ago when competing at Nationals himself.

“I’ve dreamt of this moment,” Valencia said. “To do it with the guys I’ve coached — the U-19s — and with my dad and uncle. It’s just a dream come true, I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

The McGuire Cup victory was one of two National titles won by Raiders in Utah, as the club also claimed the 17U National Championship. After coming up just short of the mountaintop for a dozen years, Raiders FC has now won three titles in the past two seasons.

“It’s tradition for Raiders to compete at the US Youth Soccer National Championships,” Valencia said. “We’ve always had good age groups… They set the standard pushed themselves to exhaustion, just like these guys. That’s why we love US Youth Soccer because it gives inner-city kids from Chicago an opportunity to maximize their potential in a good platform.”

On the girls side, Evolution SC 2007/08 Girls Jahbat (IL) claimed USYS’ Evelyn Gill/Kathy Zolad Cup as the 19U Girls Super Group champions – one year after the 18/19U Boys won Jahbat its first national title in club history.

After winning all three of its group stages games, Evolution — led by Golden Glove Award winner Simone Hewitt — shut out its opponents in each of the knockout rounds en route to the title.

“It feels absolutely amazing to be National Champions,” Hewitt said. “This has been a long time coming. I’ve played with a lot of these girls since I’ve been 5, 6 years old. These are my sisters. I couldn’t win it with anyone else. It’s about culture, it’s about pride, and it’s about heart.”

SUPER GROUP CHAMPIONS 13U Girls: HTX 14 (TX-S) 14U Girls: Fort Wayne United FC 12G NL (IN) 15U Girls: Utah County SC Spurs 11G DM (UT) 16U Girls: Nationals Union Academy 10G (MI) 17U Girls: Utah Surf 09G Cheshire (UT) 19U Girls: Evolution SC 07/08G Jahbat (IL) 13U Boys: Attack FC B13 Sarmiento (TX-N) 14U Boys: Central Coast United SC South 12 Green (CA-S) 15U Boys: Minneapolis United 11B (MN) 16U Boys: Ponys FC Evo 10B NL (IL) 17U Boys: Raiders FC 2009 (IL) 19U Boys: Raiders FC 2007 (IL) PREMIER GROUP CHAMPIONS 13U Girls: Sound FC G13A (WA) 14U Girls: Sporting Nebraska 12G (NE) 15U Girls: Javanon FC 11G (KY) 16U Girls: Gretna Elite Academy Lincoln City FC 10G Elite (NE) 17U Girls: Cook Inlet SC Elite 09G (AK) 19U Girls: Cabosa Shreveport United 08G Blue (LA) 13U Boys: Sigma X FC 13 Elite (CA-N) 14U Boys: Vale SC Newells 12B (CT) 15U Boys: LA Krewe Rush 11B (LA) 16U Boys: KOSA 10B Black (SC) 17U Boys: Century United 09B NL (PA-W) 19U Boys: Wilmington Hammerheads FC 07 JASA White (NC) Read more at USYouthSoccer.org

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+HIGHLIGHT Attack FC B13 Sarmiento (TX-N) won the 13U Boys Super Group

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+HIGHLIGHT

LATEST NEWS

WVFC 10B Black (WV) won the 16U Boys title

CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT THE NATIONAL LEAGUE CUP FINALS After three days of thrilling action, four girls teams and six boys teams claimed championship titles at The National League Cup Finals in St. Louis, Mo.

+HIGHLIGHT 21 State Associations had teams compete

The competition in St. Louis featured boys teams in the 13U through 19U age groups and girls teams in the 13U, 14U, 15U and 17U age groups. All games at The Finals were played at Creve Coeur Soccer Park, where the teams produced title-worthy performances en route to the championships.

“We’re a group that’s very together,” said Minneapolis United 11G Elite (MN) coach Aidan Campbell. “We had a strong result and then had a struggle in the second game against a good team. We came into the final day knowing we needed to not only win but win my multiple goals. (With it being) 0-0 at half, it shows how mentally tough and resilient this group is. They’ve been together for a long time and it’s a joy to get to coach them.”

Champions | The National League Cup 13U Girls: RSC 13G Premier (MS) 13U Boys: JaHbat B13 Premier (IL) 14U Girls: Impact GFC G12 (OH) 14U Boys: SB4U Venlo Lime 12B (NY-E) 15U Girls: Minneapolis United 11G Elite (MN) 15U Boys: Covered Bridge Soccer 11B (GA) 16U Boys: WVFC 10B Black (WV) 17U Girls: Nationals TriCounty 09G Black (MI) 17U Boys: Owensboro United 09 Boys (KY) 19U Boys: GGS 07/08B Gold (FL)

The competition featured 41 different clubs representing 21 State Associations. The diversity of the competition was on full display, as teams from 10 different state associations captured titles at The NL Cup Finals.

Read more at TheNationalLeague.com P. 12

+HIGHLIGHT Minneapolis United 11G Elite (MN) were the 15U Girls champions

+HIGHLIGHT

LATEST NEWS

Sporting Kaw Valley (KS) won the 13U Girls title

NATIONAL PRESIDENTS CUP CHAMPIONS CROWNED IN WICHITA Five days of thrilling action came to a close on July 11, as US Youth Soccer’s National Presidents Cup wrapped up in Wichita, Kan., with 10 new champions claiming titles.

+HIGHLIGHT 8 State Associations had winning teams

The action in Wichita featured boys and girls teams in the 13U through 19U age groups competing at the Stryker Sports Complex.

“It means a lot to us as a team,” said Wichita United Surf SC 12G goalkeeper Kennedy Newell. “Being at home, I think it created a drive for us to win it. Seeing teams from all around the country helps me because I see different styles of play and how they shoot. Our goal as a team is to keep striving, getting better, growing, and winning more tournaments. I think it feels really good to know I’ve made it from playing when I was really little to here.”

Champions 13U Boys: Brownsville Rayados 2013 (STX) 13U Girls: Sporting Kaw Valley SC 13G Elite (KS) 14U Boys: D10 Lions 12B (STX) 14U Girls: Wichita Surf SC 12G Blaze Academy (KS) 15U Boys: Fife Milton Edgewood SC B11 Blue (WA) 15U Girls: Philadelphia SC Surf 11 Coppa Storm Black (PA-E) 16U Boys: Rampage 10 MS (UT) 16U Girls: Tempo Soccer Club Surge (SD) 17U Boys: FC-1 Academy Boys 2009 Elite (IL) 17U Girls: Utah Valley United Liverpool Premier 09 Embley (UT) 19U Boys: Detroit City FC Downriver 07/08B Elite (MI) 19U Girls: Lakeshore United FC U19G Navy State 2007 MWC (IL) Teams that competed at National Presidents Cup earned their spots through a year-long competition that started at the state level before moving on to one of eight regional qualifier events. Since 2008, Presidents Cup has given players an additional competitive opportunity to compete against teams from across the country for a national title.

Read more at USYouthSoccer.org P. 16

LATEST NEWS USYS, COMMON GOAL USA AND SOCCER FORWARD UNITE TO SHAPE LASTING LEGACY OF FIFA WORLD CUP +HIGHLIGHT More than 400 American soccer leaders will attend

One month after the FIFA World Cup captures the world’s attention, more than 400 leaders from across American soccer will gather in Dallas with one shared ambition: ensuring the tournament leaves a lasting legacy for young people, communities and the future of the game.

US Youth Soccer, in partnership with Common Goal USA and U.S. Soccer’s Soccer Forward Foundation, announced the 2026 Grassroots Symposium & Leadership Weekend, taking place August 27–29, 2026, in Dallas, Texas.

intentionally creates space for community organizations, practitioners and social impact leaders to learn alongside coaches, administrators and decision-makers shaping the future of the sport.

“The future of soccer in the United States won’t be built by one organization or one sector alone,” said Mary Connor, CEO of Common Goal. “The greatest legacy of the FIFA men’s World Cup will come from what communities build together afterward. We are proud to continue working alongside US Youth Soccer and the Soccer Forward Foundation to center soccer for good voices, strategies, and organizations at the Grassroots Symposium to ensure we are Moving Legacy Forward together.”

Joining the partnership this year is the Soccer Forward Foundation, U.S. Soccer’s national legacy initiative, which is helping turn the momentum of major tournaments into sustained investment in participation, places, people, and community impact. Through initiatives including Soccer at Schools, Places to Play, Soccer Forward Fests, and the Kang Women’s Institute, Soccer Forward is one component of U.S. Soccer’s broader strategy to expand access to the game and create lasting opportunities for communities nationwide.

“The FIFA World Cup gave us an extraordinary opportunity to showcase the power of soccer in the United States,” said Lex Chalat, Executive Director of Soccer Forward. “The work now is ensuring that excitement translates into something lasting. By bringing together leaders from across youth soccer, community organizations, philanthropy and the broader game, we’re building the partnerships that will expand access, strengthen communities and ensure the tournament’s legacy continues to create impact for years to come.”

Together, US Youth Soccer, Common Goal USA and Soccer Forward are creating a collaborative platform where leaders from across sectors can move beyond conversation toward collective action.

Centered around the theme Moving Legacy Forward, the national convening brings together leaders from youth soccer organizations, state associations, community-based clubs, Football for Good organizations, philanthropy, education, coaching, public policy and sport innovation to explore how soccer can continue creating positive impact long after the final whistle.

Rather than relying on traditional keynote presentations, the Symposium’s program is being developed through an ongoing collaborative design process involving practitioners, researchers, coaches, community organizations, funders, innovators and young leaders from across the soccer ecosystem. The result will be an experience rooted in real-world practice, emerging ideas and practical solutions that participants can implement long after the event concludes.

The event represents the evolution of a gathering that began in the early 2000s through the U.S. Soccer Foundation to strengthen grassroots soccer and expand access to the game in underserved communities. Since US Youth Soccer assumed leadership of the Symposium four years ago, it has grown into one of the country’s premier gatherings for grassroots soccer leaders, welcoming more than 420 participants in 2025.

The program is designed around the issues that will define the next chapter of soccer in the United States, exploring how leaders can work together to expand participation, strengthen communities, create safer and more inclusive environments, develop coaches and organizations, build sustainable facilities, harness emerging technologies, and translate World Cup momentum into lasting collective impact.

“This Symposium has always been about bringing together the people building the game every day,” said Tom Condone, Chief Executive Officer at US Youth Soccer. “As we look beyond the World Cup, we have a responsibility to ensure soccer remains a force for opportunity, belonging and community across the United States.”

More than a conference, the 2026 Grassroots Symposium & Leadership Weekend is designed as a working gathering—bringing together the people responsible for ensuring that the momentum of the FIFA World Cup translates into lasting opportunities for communities across the United States.

Now in its second year as a presenting partner, Common Goal USA continues to expand the Symposium’s reach by connecting the broader Football for Good movement with the traditional youth soccer ecosystem. The partnership

Additional speakers and programming to be announced. Registration is open now.

Read more at USYouthSoccer.org P. 20

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