Dates and locations announced for National Cup XII Regionals and Finals

Dates and locations have been finalized for the National Cup XII, US Club Soccer’s premier cup-based national championship competition.

Open to all member teams in the U-11 through U-18/19 boys and girls age groups, National Cup XII Regionals will be held in six cities across the country between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July in 2013.

Winning teams from National Cup XII Regionals and qualifying state cups in the U-13 through U-17 age groups will advance to the National Cup XII Finals, slated for July 18-21 at Aurora Sports Park in suburban Denver.

The venue is no stranger to national championship events, having hosted the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) National Championships in 2011.

For the second consecutive year, the National Cup Finals will be held alongside the NPL Champions Cup, US Club Soccer’s premier league-based national championship.

“Hosting both the cup-based and league-based national championship at the same venue provides a tremendous atmosphere and energy for both events,” said Bill Sage, US Club Soccer’s Executive Director.

National Cup XII Regionals include a mixture of familiar sites and new destinations. For the 11th consecutive year, LaGrangeville, N.Y., will play host to the Northeast Regional at Stringham Park. Other familiar venues include 60 Acres Soccer Complex in Seattle, which has hosted the Northwest Regional since 2010, and Tuckahoe Turf Complex in Hammonton, N.J., which will mark its third straight year as the Mid-Atlantic Regional site.

New venues that will host National Cup XII Regionals include Davis Legacy Soccer Complex in Davis, Calif. (West Regional); Bryan Park Soccer Complex in Greensboro, N.C. (Southeast Regional); and Waukegan Sports Park in Waukegan, Ill. (Midwest Regional), which played host to the National Cup XI Finals and 2012 NPL Champions Cup in July.

Online applications for the National Cup XII will be available Dec. 3.

Fees remain unchanged, and two competitive divisions – Super Group (most competitive) and Premier – are available to better allow teams to compete at an appropriate level.

Additionally, the format and number of competition days for the U-11 and U-12 age groups vary by Regional location.

“We think it is very important to have both a cup-based and a league-based national championship,” said Sage. “Both provide different types of excitement and opportunity for teams and clubs. Moving forward, we will continue to integrate these events in the calendar to provide an enhanced developmental and competitive framework.”