Teams announced for 2020-2021 US Youth Soccer National League Playoffs
FRISCO, Texas — The field of teams set to participate in the inaugural year of the US Youth Soccer National League Playoffs is now available.
Debuting in the 2020-21 season, the National League Playoffs will present teams in the 14U-19U Boys and Girls age groups with an opportunity to qualify for the 2021 USYS National Championships.
[Click here to view the participating teams and group assignments]
A total of 176 teams will compete in the Playoffs, and each side earned a place in the Playoffs through a top finish in either its National League Conference or the National League (previous national tier platform) during the 2019-20 season.
“We are excited to provide a new pathway for many of the top teams in the National League to qualify for the National Championships,” said Marley Wilson, USYS Director of Leagues and Competitions. “The National League Playoffs will provide an exciting environment for the teams vying to earn advancement to Nationals, and the games will offer college coaches and scouts an excellent opportunity to evaluate some of the top players as they compete in meaningful matches.”
For each gender, the 14U age group will feature eight teams in the Playoffs, while the 15U-19U age groups will include 16 teams each. The teams competing in the Playoffs will be split into groups of four and play each of the other teams in the group one time. In the 15U-19U Boys and Girls age groups (with 16 teams each), the winner of each of the four groups will advance to the 2021 National Championships. The 14U Boys and Girls age groups (with eight teams each) will see the top two teams from each gender’s two groups advance to Nationals.
The Playoffs will take place alongside select USYS National League Showcase Series events.
BOYS – National League Playoffs | Dates and Locations
14U – Dec. 28-30, 2020 (Tampa, FL)
15U – Dec. 28-30, 2020 (Tampa, FL) or March 12-14, 2021 (Greensboro, NC)
16U – Dec. 28-30, 2020 (Tampa, FL) or March 12-14, 2021 (Greensboro, NC)
17U – Jan. 15-17, 2021 (Lakewood Ranch, FL) or March 12-14, 2021 (Greensboro, NC)
18U – Jan. 15-17, 2021 (Lakewood Ranch, FL) or March 12-14, 2021 (Greensboro, NC)
19U – Jan. 15-17, 2021 (Lakewood Ranch, FL) or March 12-14, 2021 (Greensboro, NC)
GIRLS – National League Playoffs | Dates and Locations
14U – Dec. 28-30, 2020 (Tampa, FL)
15U – Dec. 5-7, 2020 (Wilson, NC)
16U – Dec. 5-7, 2020 (Wilson, NC) or March 20-22, 2021 (Irvine, CA)
17U – Dec. 5-7, 2020 (Wilson, NC) or March 20-22, 2021 (Irvine, CA)
18U – Dec. 5-7, 2020 (Wilson, NC) or March 20-22, 2021 (Irvine, CA)
19U – Dec. 5-7, 2020 (Wilson, NC) or March 20-22, 2021 (Irvine, CA)
The restructured National League operates its primary league play across 13 Conferences that operate at a multi-state tier and provide competition at a targeted local level, as well as a pathway for advancement into the regional and national stages of the USYS National Championship Series. The new National League Showcase Series and National League Playoffs represent the national tier of the National League, providing a platform for teams to compete in cross-conference matches.
For more information on the National League and each of its competitions, including the National League Playoffs, click here.
Please note: For the 2020-21 youth soccer season, players born on or after Jan. 1, 2001 will be eligible to compete in the 19U age group in US Youth Soccer competitions. This one-year change is in place to allow players to participate in one additional year of eligibility due to the missed programming as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, click here.
