FRISCO, Texas (July 17, 2025) — In less than a week, 168 of the best youth soccer teams in the country will be competing at the 2025 US Youth Soccer National Championships, presented by New York Life, as they vie for the ultimate achievement in youth soccer.
Among the sides competing at Nationals in the Orlando, Fla., 153 teams competed in The National League during the 2024-25 season.
The US Youth Soccer National Championships crown the top youth soccer team in each of the 13U, 14U, 15U, 16U, 17U and 19U age groups for both boys and girls. The action kicks off with group play July 22-24, followed by the 13U title games on July 25. The remaining age groups play semifinal games on July 26, and the 14U, 15U, 16U, 17U and 19U champions will be crowned on July 27. National League teams have historically captured a large majority of the National Championships, and the sides set to compete this year will be aiming to add to that legacy.
The Standouts
Just one team — 15U Boys Sparta Elite 64 10B (UT) — is heading to the National Championships in pursuit of its fourth major title of the 2024-25 season. The Utah side won its NL Club Premier 1 division during the league season by going unbeaten, and it added a Champions Pool title at the National League Semifinals in Oceanside, Calif. Most recently, Sparta ran the table at the Far West Regional Championships in Boise, Idaho, where it claimed the Regional title.
If Sparta 10B can navigate the upcoming challenges at the National Championships, it could match the historic accolades garnered by the club’s 2006 Boys team, which produced a four-title season of its own in 2022-23 — winning its Elite 64 division, the Elite 64 National Finals, the Far West Regional Championship and the US Youth Soccer National Championship.
Meanwhile, 15U Girls TFA Elite 64 10G (OH) has also compiled a sparkling resume during the 2024-25 season. The Ohio side qualified for the National Championships by winning all three of its Wildcard Pool games at the National League Semifinals in Round Rock, Texas.
TFA’s performance at the National League’s events foreshadowed a standout spring and summer that has seen it add two more titles to its name. It first compiled a perfect 13-0-0 record to finish on top of its NL Club Premier 1 division, and it built off that performance to go on and win the Midwest Regional Championship in Overland Park, Kan. Now, TFA will aim to maintain that pristine record and cap its strong season with the US Youth Soccer National Championship.
In-Form Teams
A strong collection of teams is heading to the National Championships after winning multiple titles across National League competitions and the Regional Championships.
Teams that won their National League division and the Champions Pool at the National League Semifinals (8): Ambassadors FC 2008 Girls (OH), Michigan Tigers Elite 64 08G (MI), PPA 10G Green (MD), Rhode Island Surf B11 Elite Blue (RI), Sparta Elite 64 10B (UT), Steel City FC Elite 64 06/07G (PA-W), Steel City FC Elite 64 09G (PA-W), Utah Celtic 08B E64 Bradley (UT)
Teams that won their National League division and the Silver Pool at the National League Semifinals (2): Imperial SC 09B (TX-S), Strikers Miami FC Elite 64 09B (FL)
Teams that won their National League division and the Wildcard Pool at the National League Semifinals (7): Azzurri Storm Elite 64 07B (FL), *CarShield FC 11G Academy NL (MO), *FC Dallas ETX 07G Premier (TX-N), MFA Revolution GR 08B Elite (MI), Raiders FC 2009 (IL), *Team Chicago 11 Boys Elite 64 RL (IL), YMS 10B Premier United (PA-E)
*No pool final but won all three games during the NL Semifinals
Teams that won their National League division and their respective USYS Regional Championship (18): Aggies FC 09B Blue (UT), City SC Utah 12G (UT), Elmbrook United 12G Elite 64 (WI), Galaxy SC 09B Elite 64 (IL), KBSC Elite 2010 (FL), LA Force 07G Elite (LA), Legacy 08 Boys Green (TX-S), LI Slammers Boys 2010 (NY-E), LT Elite SGA 11B Premier (TX-S), LT Elite SGA 12B Premier (TX-S), NC Rush Triad 09 Blue (NC), NUSA 07 Boys Maroon (TN), Players 08 Boys Elite (NV), Ponys F.C. 2010 (IL), Rebel Elite 09 Black (UT), Seacoast United Maine 09B Elite (ME), Toca FC 08B Elite 64 (KS), Western United Pioneers 12B Elite Red (MA)
Team Origins
The National League teams that are preparing to compete at the National Championships represent all areas of the country. On the team-based side, all 13 conferences have multiple teams in the field in Orlando. Meanwhile, the NL Club Premier 1 divisions produced 53 National Championship qualifiers, and the NL Club Premier 2 divisions are represented by 18 teams.
Among the team-based divisions, the Midwest’s 13 qualifiers lead the way, followed closely by the Frontier and Great Lakes (11 each) and the Mid Atlantic (10). In NL Club Premier 1, the Midwest leads the way with 19 qualified teams, followed by the Great Lakes with 12 and the Northwest with 10.
League play within the National League also proved to be a good indicator of success on the national stage, as 76 teams — nearly half of the field playing in Orlando — finished in first place in their National League division. In all, more than 126 of the teams playing at Nationals finished in the top 3 of their National League division.
Defending Champs & Challengers
Five teams that won National titles in 2024 are back again in 2025, and each played in The National League during the regular season. See the pathway each team took in 2024-25 to return to Orlando for a chance to defend their titles:
- The Football Academy NJ 11B Black (NJ) — Qualified for Nationals by winning the Champions Pool title at the NL Semifinals in Oceanside, where it scored 14 goals and conceded none.
- Ponys F.C. 2010 (IL) — Finished in first place in the Midwest division of NL Team Premier 1 and qualified for Nationals via the NL Semifinals in Round Rock. It also won the Midwest Regional Championship.
- Aspire FC 09B Black (TX-S) — Finished in fourth place in the Frontier division of NL Team Premier 1 and qualified for Nationals via the NL Semifinals in Oceanside, where it narrowly lost in the Champions Pool final.
- Utah Celtic 08B E64 Bradley (UT) — Finished in first place in its NL Club Premier 1 division and won the Champions Pool at the NL Semifinals in Round Rock.
- MI Rangers FC Elite 64 06/07G (MI) — Finished second in its NL Club Premier 1 division and won all three of its Wildcard Pool games at the NL Semifinals in Round Rock to qualify for Nationals.
Additionally, six teams that finished as runners-up at Nationals in 2024 are back in the field for the 2025 National Championships. Each returning finalist earned its place in Orlando by qualifying through the National League Semifinals, and several secured titles during regular season competitions.
- Columbus United G11 Lions (OH) — Won the Great Lakes division (NL Team Premier 1).
- The Football Academy 10B Black (NJ)
- Columbus United G10 Lions (OH) — Won the Champions Pool at the NL Semifinals in Round Rock.
- Galaxy SC 08B Elite 64 (IL) — Finished second in its NL Club Premier 1 division.
- FW United Elite 64 08G (IN) — Finished first in its NL Club Premier 1 division.
- FW United Elite 64 06/07G (IN) — Finished second in its NL Club Premier 1 division.
Last year, 40 percent of the returning finalists managed to claim National Championships on their second try. These teams will be aiming to do the same when they take the field next week in Orlando.