New Age Groups

Over the past year, US Soccer reexamined the youth team structure and decided to move away from the FIFA (international soccer) system they have followed for the past 10 years. This system grouped players by birth year (January 1 – December 31) and was meant to support elite players on their way to national-level competition.

Starting with the Fall 2026 season, US Soccer is going back to the structure that existed up until 2016. Teams will be formed based on age cutoffs meant to align with school grades (August 1 – July 31), with the expecation that:

• More kids starting soccer will be on teams with players they know from school, reinforcing friendships that enhance their soccer experience and love of the game.

• Fewer players will be “trapped” in 8th grade, where under the birth-year system they have lost teammates to high school soccer in the winter (as rules prohibit players from participating in club soccer and high school soccer at the same time), or in 12th grade, where some of their teammates from years past have left for college.

• College recruiters observing teams will be able to focus on scouting the appropriate recruiting class and keep players from slipping through the cracks.

The age group changes are outlined below.