Fourteen teams wrote their names in youth sports history Sunday afternoon at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, as the final touches were put on the 2024 United States Youth Soccer Championship presented by New York Life.

The week-long event drew an estimated 8,700 people to the Greater Orlando area, where 174 teams competed to take home legendary USYS hardware, including the 19U Boys James P. McGuire Cup – the oldest trophy in youth sports – during its golden anniversary. Throughout the week, 118 games were streamed, along with six finals (13U Boys and Girls, 18U Boys and Girls, and 19U Boys and Girls) that aired on either ESPNU or ESPN News.

The teams that survived at the final whistle came from nine different U.S. youth soccer states: Florida (2), Illinois (2), Michigan (2), New Jersey (2), South Texas (2), Kansas (1), Nevada (1), North Carolina (1) and Utah (1).

2024 USA Youth Soccer National Champions

• 13U Boys – The Football Academy NJ 11B Black (NJ)
• 13U Girls – HTX 12 (TX-S)
• 14U Boys – Ponys FC 2010 (IL)
• 14U Girls – Galaxy SC 10G NL (IL)
• 15U Boys – Aspire FC 09B Black (TX-S)
• 15U Girls – Las Vegas Surf SC 09G Elite 64 (NV)
• 16U Boys – Utah Celtic FC 08B (UT)
• 16U Girls – Team Boca 08G Elite 64 (FL)
• 17U Boys – Toca FC 07B Elite 64 (KS)
• 17U Girls – Nationals Union 07 Girls Black (MI)
• 18U Boys – Strikers Miami FC 06B Elite (FL)
• 18U Girls – NCFC Youth 06G Elite (NC)
• 19U Boys – Cedar Stars Academy 05/06B (NJ)
• 19U Girls – Michigan Rangers FC 05/06G Elite 64 (MI)

This year’s national championships had a long list of storylines to follow, right from the opening kick.

Utah Celtic FC 08 Boys were one of seven reigning champions who returned with a chance to reclaim their spot at the top – and the only ones who could. Celtic came through their group stage unscathed with wins over Torpedoes BU16 (NJ) and Coppermine SC Boys 08B Elite 64 (MD), as well as a draw in their final match against Kansas Rush Academy Boys 2008 (KS) to secure their spot in the 16U Boys semi-finals.

Then it took two shutout wins against Stony Brook – LGN Wildings Blue B2008 (NY-E) and Galaxy SC 08B Elite 64 (IL) before the reigning champions made it back-to-back wins.

After coming up just short last year, the Ponys FC 2010 Boys (IL) were back in the National Championship hoping for a different outcome. In a wild match that featured several late, dramatic shifts, the Ponys won on penalties against The Football Academy 2010 Boys Black (NJ) in the 14U Boys final to finish the job.

On the girls’ side, Las Vegas Surf SC 09G Elite 64 (NV) had a dominant five-game run to claim the national championship. The Nevada team used both a powerful offense and a stifling defense to outscore its opponents 27-2 and take home the 15-and-Under Girls Cup. Gloria Vancura, a member of the surf team, shared what this week meant to her.

“It feels great because we’ve trained so hard all summer and our hard work has paid off,” Vancura said. “It’s been amazing – it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. It’s an eye-opener to see all these talented players and to be able to learn from them on and off the pitch. To be here is a huge achievement and it means the world to us as a team and as a club.”

Team Boca 08G Elite 64 (FL) also capped off a dominant run – but this time measured in years, not games. The Florida team captured its second national championship and semifinalist in the last four years after defeating Fort Wayne United 08G Elite 64 (IN) 4-2 in a thrilling match during Sunday morning’s 16U Girls final.

The 2024 National Championships, presented by New York Life, marked the end of a celebratory summer for American youth soccer and the events that create unforgettable memories for everyone.