RANTOUL, Ill. (March 8, 2026) — The National League spring season kicked into full gear this weekend in the Midwest, where many accomplished Premier 1 boys teams played their first league games of 2026. Premier 1 teams are competing for division titles and the accompanying berths to The National League Cup in June.
The weekend’s action at the Rantoul Family Sports Complex featured several high-profile games with teams that have enjoyed tremendous on-field success in the past year. The collection of sides that took the fields in Rantoul included two defending US Youth Soccer National Champions, two 2025 National finalists and multiple 2025 National semifinalists. Nearly every game featured a team that has performed well in youth soccer’s biggest stages:
- 61 percent of games featured a team that competed at the Regional or National Championships in 2025
- 46 percent of games featured at least one team that played at the 2025 National Championships
- 36 percent of games featured at least one team that has already qualified for the 2026 National Championships
The weekend also featured five games in which both teams played at Nationals in 2025, including a rematch of the 2009 boys title game. Friday night’s result saw defending champion Raiders FC 2009 (IL) defeat a shorthanded KC Legends 2009 Academy Red (KS) side to jumpstart a 3-0-0 weekend for Raiders in the 17U Premier 1 division.
Sunday’s action included a rematch of a National Championship semifinal, as Minneapolis United 2011 Boys Academy (MN) and Team Chicago 2011 Boys Performance Select (IL) played to a scoreless draw in the matchup of familiar foes. Minneapolis coach Tamba Johnson said his team looks forward to high-quality games when they play Team Chicago, and they expect more of the same during the remainder of the National League season.
“This was a great league to play in last year, and we’re hoping to have the same this year,” Johnson said after his team picked up four points from its two games in Rantoul. “Whenever you have to earn your way to a promotion, it’s always a better league than those that don’t.”
Some notes on the division races after the weekend in Rantoul:
- 14U Premier 1 – Minneapolis United 2012B Academy (MN) leads the group with a 4-0-0 record after it won all three of its games in Rantoul.
- 15U Premier 1 – Behind a high-scoring attack, Toca FC 11B Elite (KS) secured two wins this weekend to take an early lead in the division standings.
- 16U Premier 1 –Two wins in Rantoul, preceded by a win in its opener on Friday night, have Minneapolis United 2010B Academy (MN) off to a 3-0-0 start in the 16U age group.
- 17U Premier 1 – Two Illinois sides — Raiders FC 2009 (IL) and Galaxy SC 09B SC (IL) — picked up three wins apiece in Rantoul to move into an early tie atop the 17U standings. Raiders, the defending National Champions, compiled a plus-10 goal differential, while Galaxy showed grit in securing three wins by one-goal margins.
- 19U Premier 1 – After a win in their first game, 2025 19U National Champions JaHbat B2007 Premier (IL) dropped a 3-1 decision on Sunday against SLSG MO 2008B Celtic (MO), as SLSG moved to the top of the early standings.
In the Midwest, every race for the top spots in the Premier 1 divisions holds to key to the conference’s berths to The National League Cup, as the top two teams advance to the June playoffs.
Additionally, several Midwest teams have already earned another postseason berth after their success at the National League winter events qualified them for the 2026 USYS National Championships, presented by New York Life. Following a finalist finish at the National Championships in 2025, Minneapolis United 2011 is one of the sides that has already earned a trip back to that stage this summer. Now, it is utilizing the competition in the remainder of the National League season to gain the consistency required to challenge for the National title.
“It’s a great accomplishment that we’ve already [qualified for Nationals],” Johnson said. “We’re just trying to keep focused. We still want to win this league and do the best we can. Playing good teams is keeping us sharp as we get ready for July.”