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Listed are Indiana Soccer’s Presidents Cup Champions

FC Pride Dynamo 2013 Girls Red	13U	Fort Wayne Sport Club 2013B Berlin
Jr Irish 2012G Premier	14U	Rangers Academy 2012 Boys DA Blue
ISFC/Revolution FC 2011G	15U	USAI 2011B White
FWSC 2010G Dortmund	16U	Indy Eleven 2010B Academy 2
Echo Premier 09 Elite I Girls	17U	Columbus Express 2009B Orange
FWSC 2007/2008G Potsdam	19U	Indy Eleven 2007B Academy 2

Congratulations to Jr Irish 2012G Premier who won the G14U Qualifying Event and earned a trip to Wichita, KS for the Presidents Cup National Championships. They earned a wild card birth into the semi-finals, losing a close game to Colorado Rush, 0-1. Coach Nick Swaim and the team represented themselves, their families, their club and Indiana Soccer well in every aspect of the competition!

US Youth Soccer 2026 National Championships

This is the first year that US Youth Soccer has expanded the national event. They created two tiers based on each state’s previous three years of play, Super & Premier Groups with the girls in Tennessee and the boys in Utah. In the Super Group, there were also 10 teams who qualified from USYS National League (NL) events for both genders. Representing Indiana were:

AGE	BERTH FROM	STATE CUP FINISH	TEAM NAME
G13U	Indiana State Cup	Champion	Carmel FC 13G Gold NL
G14U	NL Winter Event	Champion	Indy Eleven Academy 12G National
G14U	NL Winter Event	Runner Up	Indy Eleven North 12G NL
G14U	NL Winter Event	Semi Finalist	Fort Wayne United 2012G NL
G14U	Indiana State Cup	Semi Finalist	Union FC Indy 2012 Girls Teal I
G15U	NL Winter Event	Champion	Alliance Eleven 2011G
G15U	Indiana State Cup	Runner Up	Indy Premier 11G
G16U	Indiana State Cup	Champion	NWI Lions United 2010G Yellow
G17U	NL Winter Event	Champion	FWSC 09G Dresden
G17U	Indiana State Cup	Runner Up	Indy Premier 09G
G19U	Indiana State Cup	Champion	Indy Eleven 2007G National
G19U	NL Winter Event	4th in Group of 6	Indy Eleven North 07/08G NL

AGE	BERTH FROM	STATE CUP FINISH	TEAM NAME
B13U	Indiana State Cup	Champion	Indy Eleven North 13B NL
B14U	NL Winter Event	Champion	Fort Wayne United FC 2012B NL
B14U	Indiana State Cup	Runner Up	Fort Wayne Sport Club 2012B Bochum
B15U	Indiana State Cup	Champion	Hoosier FC 11B Elite NL
B15U	NL Winter Event	Semi Finalist	Alliance Elven 2011B
B16U	Indiana State Cup	Champion	Indy Premier 10B NL
B17U	Indiana State Cup	Champion	Indy Phoenix FC 2009B
B19U	NL Winter Event	Champion	FW United FC 07/08B NL
B19U	NL Winter Event	Runner Up	Alliance Eleven 07/08B
B19U	NL Winter Event	3rd in Group of 6	Hoosier FC 07/08B Elite NL

All Indiana teams earned at least 3 points in their group play. The following teams earned a spot in the quarterfinals for their age group:

AGE	TEAM NAME
G14U	Indy Eleven Academy 2012G National
G14U	Fort Wayne United FC 2012G NL
B13U	Indy Eleven North 13B NL
B14U	Fort Wayne Sport Club 2012B Bochum
B14U	Fort Wayne United FC 2012B NL
B15U	Hoosier FC 11B Elite NL

Boys 13U Indy Eleven North 13B NL won their quarter-final game 2-1 but lost their semi-final game 2-3.

Boys 14U Fort Wayne Sport Club were paired with Fort Wayne United in their quarter-final game with FWSC advancing on penalty kicks. They lost their semi-final game 0-1.

Boys 15U Hoosier FC lost their quarter-final game 1-2.

Girls 14U, once again, two Indiana teams played in the quarter-final game with Fort Wayne United winning 2-1. In their semi-final game, Fort Wayne United found themselves down 0-1 and then lost their goalkeeper to an injury. Field play, Anna Herald stepped into the goal, and they ended regulation 1-1. Fort Wayne United won the penalty shootout, 4-2, with Anna making a save, helping the team advance to the Championship game.

Great news for Fort Wayne United FC 2012G NL, they won the 2026 US Youth Soccer National Championship in penalties. They are Indiana Soccer’s first US Youth Soccer’s National Champion since Carmel United 2007.

Special congratulations to Anna Herald who earned the Golden Glove award and Marta Lopez for earning the MVP award.

Congratulations again to Fort Wayne United FC 2012G NL.

The excitement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup may have come to an end, but its impact will be felt for years to come. Millions of young players watched the world’s best compete on soccer’s biggest stage, dreaming that one day they could represent their country in front of packed stadiums and inspire the next generation. 

For the U.S. Men’s National Team, the tournament showcased both how far American soccer has come and the opportunities that still lie ahead. Advancing to the knockout stage demonstrated the continued growth of the game in the United States, while the Round of 16 exit served as a reminder that the world’s top soccer nations continue to set an incredibly high standard. 

For young players across Indiana, that should not be discouraging—it should be inspiring. 

The World Cup reminds us that greatness is not created overnight. It is built through thousands of training sessions, countless hours with a ball at your feet, supportive families, dedicated coaches, and communities that believe in the long-term development of every player. 

Different Pathways, Same Destination 

Whenever the United States competes on the world stage, one question inevitably returns: 

“Why do European and South American countries consistently produce world-class players?” 

The answer is more complex than simply comparing one development model to another. 

Across much of Europe and South America, talented players are often identified at young ages and developed through professional club academies. These systems typically remove many of the financial barriers for elite players, allowing them to train in highly competitive environments several times each week alongside the country’s best young talent. While highly effective at accelerating the development of many elite players, these systems can also be unforgiving, sometimes excluding young athletes who mature physically, technically, or emotionally at a slower pace and whose potential may not be recognized until later. 

The United States has grown differently. 

American soccer has been built on a foundation of strong local clubs, dedicated volunteers, passionate parents, community organizations, and a pay-to-play model that has helped create one of the largest youth soccer participation bases in the world. This system has provided opportunities for millions of children to play the game. However, millions of others remain excluded because access is often limited by a family’s ability to afford the costs associated with participation. 

Neither of these existing systems is perfect, and the future is not about choosing one model over the other. The best path forward is to develop a complementary system that provides access and opportunity for every child in the United States, regardless of family income, geography, or background. 

Such a system should preserve the strengths of the American grassroots model while expanding pathways for talented players who may otherwise be overlooked because of financial barriers. It should connect local clubs, schools, community organizations, and professional academies in a way that broadens participation, increases accessibility, and ensures that talent can be identified and developed wherever and whenever it exists. 

The ultimate goal is not to replace the foundation that has helped grow the sport in America. Rather, it is to build upon that foundation and create a more inclusive and equitable soccer ecosystem, one that allows every child the opportunity to play, develop, and reach their full potential. 

Indiana Is Part of the Solution 

Here in Indiana, we see every day what makes American soccer special. 

Thousands of volunteer coaches give their evenings and weekends because they care about kids. 

Parents drive countless miles to practices and games because they believe and want to support their children’s dreams.

Referees, club administrators, trainers, educators, and community leaders all contribute to creating safe, enjoyable environments where players can grow—not only as athletes, but as people. 

At the same time, organizations like Indiana Soccer continue providing coaching education, administrative support, player development pathways, Olympic Development Program opportunities, Futsal, TOPSoccer, and high-quality competitions that expose players to age-appropriate, challenging environments. 

The objective isn’t simply to create better soccer players.  It’s to create lifelong learners, resilient competitors, confident leaders, and eventually adults who love and will give back to the next generation that wants to play the game. 

The Next Generation Starts Today 

The next Christian Pulisic, Sophia Wilson, Weston McKennie, or Rose Lavelle may already be playing on fields across Indiana. 

What they need most isn’t pressure to become professionals. 

They need opportunities. 

They need great coaching. 

They need challenging environments. 

They need teammates who push them. 

And above all, they need to continue enjoying the game. 

The World Cup has reminded us of what is possible when opportunity, talent, preparation, and passion come together. 

Now it is our responsibility—as coaches, parents, volunteers, clubs, and communities—to keep that momentum alive. 

Every training session matters. 

Every coach matters. 

Every volunteer matters. 

Every child matters. 

The road to future World Cups doesn’t begin in a professional stadium. 

It begins on neighborhood fields, community parks, school playgrounds, futsal courts, and local clubs throughout Indiana—where dreams are first discovered, and the love of the game takes root. 

Together, let’s continue building a soccer culture that allows every player to dream big, work hard, and enjoy every step of the journey.

This summer, Indiana ODP went on a road trip!  With 12 district training sessions spanning the state, players got to enjoy the benefits of an ODP training session right in their own backyard. From the rain in Evansville to the heat in Fort Wayne and the mild temperatures in between, it was truly a Midwestern summer. 

These district trainings gave young athletes the chance to experience an ODP training session in a low-stakes environment, removing the veil of the process. That accessibility allows players to get a feel for the pace, the coaching language, and the level of competition they’ll see at a tryout. To the benefit of club coaches and parents, access to coaches enables better insight into the evaluation process.  

A big thank you to all the clubs, coaches, parents, and players who came out to be a part of the process!  For the love of the game. 

2026 Grassroots Symposium & Leadership Weekend will bring together more than 400 leaders to help define what comes after football’s biggest moment

DALLAS, Texas (July 16, 2026) — One month after the FIFA World Cup captures the world’s attention, more than 400 leaders from across American soccer will gather in Dallas with one shared ambition: ensuring the tournament leaves a lasting legacy for young people, communities and the future of the game.

US Youth Soccer, in partnership with Common Goal USA and U.S. Soccer’s Soccer Forward Foundation, today announced the 2026 Grassroots Symposium & Leadership Weekend, taking place August 27–29, 2026, in Dallas, Texas.

Centered around the theme Moving Legacy Forward, the national convening brings together leaders from youth soccer organizations, state associations, community-based clubs, Football for Good organizations, philanthropy, education, coaching, public policy and sport innovation to explore how soccer can continue creating positive impact long after the final whistle.

The event represents the evolution of a gathering that began in the early 2000s through the U.S. Soccer Foundation to strengthen grassroots soccer and expand access to the game in underserved communities. Since US Youth Soccer assumed leadership of the Symposium four years ago, it has grown into one of the country’s premier gatherings for grassroots soccer leaders, welcoming more than 420 participants in 2025.

“This Symposium has always been about bringing together the people building the game every day,” said Tom Condone, Chief Executive Officer at US Youth Soccer. “As we look beyond the World Cup, we have a responsibility to ensure soccer remains a force for opportunity, belonging and community across the United States.”

Now in its second year as a presenting partner, Common Goal USA continues to expand the Symposium’s reach by connecting the broader Football for Good movement with the traditional youth soccer ecosystem. The partnership intentionally creates space for community organizations, practitioners and social impact leaders to learn alongside coaches, administrators and decision-makers shaping the future of the sport.

“The future of soccer in the United States won’t be built by one organization or one sector alone,” said Mary Connor, CEO of Common Goal. “The greatest legacy of the FIFA men’s World Cup will come from what communities build together afterward. We are proud to continue working alongside US Youth Soccer and the Soccer Forward Foundation to center soccer for good voices, strategies, and organizations at the Grassroots Symposium to ensure we are Moving Legacy Forward together.” 

Joining the partnership this year is the Soccer Forward Foundation, U.S. Soccer’s national legacy initiative, which is helping turn the momentum of major tournaments into sustained investment in participation, places, people, and community impact. Through initiatives including Soccer at Schools, Places to Play, Soccer Forward Fests, and the Kang Women’s Institute, Soccer Forward is one component of U.S. Soccer’s broader strategy to expand access to the game and create lasting opportunities for communities nationwide.

“The FIFA World Cup gave us an extraordinary opportunity to showcase the power of soccer in the United States,” said Lex Chalat, Executive Director of Soccer Forward. “The work now is ensuring that excitement translates into something lasting. By bringing together leaders from across youth soccer, community organizations, philanthropy and the broader game, we’re building the partnerships that will expand access, strengthen communities and ensure the tournament’s legacy continues to create impact for years to come.”

Together, US Youth Soccer, Common Goal USA and Soccer Forward are creating a collaborative platform where leaders from across sectors can move beyond conversation toward collective action.

Rather than relying on traditional keynote presentations, the Symposium’s program is being developed through an ongoing collaborative design process involving practitioners, researchers, coaches, community organizations, funders, innovators and young leaders from across the soccer ecosystem. The result will be an experience rooted in real-world practice, emerging ideas and practical solutions that participants can implement long after the event concludes.

The program is designed around the issues that will define the next chapter of soccer in the United States, exploring how leaders can work together to expand participation, strengthen communities, create safer and more inclusive environments, develop coaches and organizations, build sustainable facilities, harness emerging technologies, and translate World Cup momentum into lasting collective impact.

More than a conference, the 2026 Grassroots Symposium & Leadership Weekend is designed as a working gathering—bringing together the people responsible for ensuring that the momentum of the FIFA World Cup translates into lasting opportunities for communities across the United States.

Additional speakers and programming to be announced. Registration is open now.

The competition was fierce at the US Youth Soccer Great Lakes Presidents Cup National Qualifying Event held at Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, Indiana. After battling through group play and knockout rounds, four Indiana teams have earned their place in the championship matches and are now just one win away from advancing to Nationals. 

Congratulations to the following teams advancing to the finals: 

• USAI 2011B White (B15U) 

• FC Pride Dynamo 2013 Girls Red (G13U) 

• Indy Eleven 2007B Academy 2 (B19U) 

• Jr Irish 2012 G Premier (G15U) 

These teams have demonstrated tremendous skill, determination, and teamwork throughout the tournament and will now compete for the opportunity to represent the Great Lakes Region on the national stage. 

Indiana Soccer wishes all finalists the very best in their championship matches. Good luck! 

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the Inaugural Indy Eleven Adult Soccer National Invitational, taking place July 11-12 at the world-class Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, Indiana.

This exciting new event will bring together adult soccer teams from across the country for a weekend of high-level competition, camaraderie, and unforgettable soccer experiences. Whether you’re competing for a championship or simply looking to test your team against top opposition, this tournament promises an outstanding atmosphere both on and off the field.

Indiana Soccer is proud to partner with US Youth Soccer to welcome the return of the TOPSoccer Showcase to Indiana!

Join us at the Community Health Network Event Center, a premier climate-controlled indoor facility located on the world-class Grand Park Sports Campus, as athletes, coaches, volunteers, families, and supporters come together to celebrate the game we all love.

The TOPSoccer Showcase highlights the incredible impact of The Outreach Program for Soccer (TOPSoccer), providing athletes with intellectual, emotional, and physical disabilities the opportunity to participate in soccer in a fun, safe, and inclusive environment.

This inspiring event will feature:
• Showcase matches featuring TOPSoccer athletes from across the country
• Opportunities to connect with players, coaches, and program leaders
• Educational experiences highlighting the importance of adaptive soccer
• A celebration of inclusion, community, and the power of sport

Whether you’re a coach, volunteer, parent, player, or soccer enthusiast, the TOPSoccer Showcase offers a unique opportunity to witness firsthand how soccer changes lives and creates meaningful connections.

Come celebrate ability, inclusion, and the joy of the beautiful game as the TOPSoccer Showcase returns to Indiana!

Watch the 2022 USYS TOPSoccer Festival – The Full Story below: