FRISCO, Texas — Games kicked off Tuesday at the 2017 US Youth Soccer National Championships at the Toyota Soccer Center in Frisco, Texas. The teams took the stage, making their first push to earn one of the 14 National titles that will be awarded this weekend. The field of 96 teams is comprised of the nation’s top players in the 13U through 19/20U Boys and Girls age groups.
"Yeah, it’s awesome to have a great complex with all these fields located right behind our office." said Cody Houseknecht, Manager of Event Operations at the US Youth Soccer headquarters in Frisco. "It’s an easy transition and anything we need the staff here is more than willing to bend over backwards for our needs and that’s why we are here this year and last year and actually next year as well, so it’s fantastic."
Group play takes place over the course of three days and will conclude on Thursday. Three points are awarded for a win, one point for a tie and zero points for a loss. The top two teams in the 13U and 14U age groups will advance to the National Championship final on Saturday, while the top two teams in each group in the 15U through 19/20U age groups advance to their respective semifinals.
The event is estimated to bring more than $5 million to the local economy. In addition to the impact locally, the championships provide college coaches from around the country with a premier stage to evaluate future collegiate players, offering a tremendous impact to players and their families. Many college coaches and U.S. Soccer scouts lined the sidelines on Tuesday to watch the players make their first push for the 2017 National Championship.
Several FC Dallas Youth teams are participating in the tournament this week. To find out more, visit the scores and standingspage.