Nearly 2,000 teams accepted to compete in 2026 Jefferson Cup over 4 weekends

Follow the Jefferson Cup:
Facebook | Instagram | X

Richmond, VA – A total of 1,976 teams have been accepted to compete in the 2026 Jefferson Cup over the course of four weekends this March.

Brackets are now available for the U9-U19 divisions for both the boys and girls divisions. The competition will start March 7-8 with the Boys Weekend (U9-U14), followed by the Girls Weekend (U9-U14) from March 14-15.

After the younger age groups wrap up play, the Showcase portion of the competition will kick into high gear with the Girls Showcase Weekend (U15-U19) from March 20-22. The 2026 Jefferson Cup will wrap up with the Boys Showcase Weekend (U15-U19) from March 27-29. Schedules are also now available for most divisions.

Each weekend of the tournament will feature close to 500 teams. The U9-U14 (2016-2011) age groups will play in a Championship Format, with games taking place Saturday and Sunday. At the Showcase Weekends, U15 teams (2010) will also play in a Championship Format over the course of Saturday and Sunday, with an option to play on Friday. Teams in the U16-U19 age groups (2009-2006) will play in a Showcase Format over the course of Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Teams accepted into this year’s tournament play at the highest levels in multiple leagues across the country including the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), Girls Academy, MLS NEXT, US Youth Soccer National League, and US Club Soccer National Premier Leagues (NPL), among others.

Regarded as one of the best tournaments in the nation, the Jefferson Cup will again feature teams from across the United States. Thirty-two states will have teams playing in this year’s competition: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Multiple other countries will also be attending this year’s event, with teams coming from Canada, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Bermuda.

As part of the Jefferson Cup’s extensive college recruiting opportunities, players in the older age groups will have the opportunity to participate in Player Combines. This will make the 5th edition of the Jeff Cup’s Player Combines, which are supplementary opportunities for college recruiting exposure.

Through its continued partnership with Own The Goal: Elite Goalkeeper Training (OTG), the Jefferson Cup will again feature Goalkeeper Clinics for younger players, and Goalkeeper Showcases for the older age groups.