RECAP: USYS National League Boys complete season’s first showcase in Arizona
MESA, AZ — Three exciting days of play at the US Youth Soccer National League winter event in Mesa, AZ saw 30 boys teams secure spots in postseason competition, with 15 of those sides punching their ticket to the 2026 USYS National Championships.
Each of the National Championship qualifiers finished first in their four-team group in Mesa. Meanwhile, second-place finishers in each winter event group will advance to either the National Championships or the inaugural edition of The National League Cup.
“It was amazing playing against the best clubs in the country and we’re very proud of the club and what the boys did today,” Strikers Miami FC 09 Elite (FL) coach Diego Rios said. “We now have six months to prepare (for Nationals). We’re going to work really hard and try to bring the second National Championship to our club. We did it two years ago and now that’s what we’re aiming for.”
(View All Qualifiers for Nationals)
The postseason destination for second-place teams is dependent on tiebreakers across all groups at both sets of winter events. Following the conclusion of the January winter event, all tiebreakers will be completed to determine all advancing teams’ postseason destinations.
This weekend’s games in Mesa featured top boys teams in the 14U-19U age groups from the National League’s club-based and team-based divisions, as each competing side earned its place in the event through its performance in league competitions over the past season.
The 15 teams that qualified for the National Championships came from eight different USYS State Associations, led by Cal South and Florida with four each.
Among clubs in attendance, Legends FC SD North’s (CA-S) two teams to qualify for Nationals were the most.
Expanding to all postseason qualifiers, 13 different USYS State Associations saw teams finish in the top two of their four-team groups in Mesa. Cal South led the way with five teams that earned a postseason berth.
Five clubs — Evo PFC (IL), IFC (MS), Legends FC SD North (CA-S), Spartans FC Academy (AZ), and Los Angeles SC (CA-S) — had at least two teams earn a postseason berth, with Evo PFC being the only club to have three teams advance.
The National League winter events continue next weekend, as the first set of girls teams play Nov. 7-9. Following those games, a new set of teams — for both boys and girls — will compete Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2026, to round out the winter events.
