US Youth Soccer National League Selects Orlando as Host

The US Youth Soccer National League is excited to announce the location for the 15U-19U teams’ first national event of the upcoming National League P.R.O. season. The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla., will host more than 200 elite boys and girls teams in the 15U-19U age groups, as the teams compete in early-season matches in December.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex (Kissimmee, Fla.)

15U-17U BOYS – Dec. 3-5, 2021 (3 games per team)

18U-19U BOYS – Dec. 4-6, 2021 (3 games per team)

15U-17U GIRLS – Dec. 10-12, 2021 (3 games per team)

18U-19U GIRLS – Dec. 11-13, 2021 (3 games per team)

“We are very excited to work with ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex — one of the premier sites for amateur sports in the nation — to host all of the 15U-19U teams as they kick off their National League P.R.O. season,” said Chris Webb, Director of Operations & Event Management for USYS. “We have no doubt that this setting will provide a great atmosphere for the high-level competition, and all attendees will have memorable experiences to take away from the event.”

The USYS National League P.R.O. event this winter builds on the growing portfolio of youth soccer events at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, which underscore the Central Florida area’s standing as a premier destination for soccer. Each year, a wide variety of professional, amateur and youth soccer events take place throughout Central Florida.

“Any sports facility would love to host a prestigious event such as the USYS National League P.R.O. season, so that’s why we’re thrilled to have the first games of the season at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex,’’ said Disney Sports vice president Faron Kelley. “This event aligns perfectly with our growing list of soccer events, creating even more opportunities for America’s youth soccer players to make their youth sports dreams come true.’’

After playing three games at their respective season-opening weekend in December, each 15U-19U team will play at one more National League P.R.O. event. Half of the 15U-19U Boys and Girls teams will attend their second event Feb. 5-7, at one of two locations in Florida — with boys playing at the Premier Sports Complex in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., and girls playing at the Tournament SportsPlex of Tampa Bay in Tampa, Fla. The 15U-19U teams that do not play their second event in Florida will instead compete at the new Legacy Sports USA in Mesa, Ariz., with the boys playing March 12-14, and the girls competing a week later, March 19-21.

·        See the previous announcement highlighting the 15U-19U second event locations

·        See the previous announcement highlighting the 14U event locations

Hear from Orlando-area Reps

“On behalf of the entire destination, we are thrilled to welcome the National League P.R.O. Boys & Girls teams to Orlando this December,” said Casandra Matej, President and CEO of Visit Orlando. “We have been successfully and safely hosting in-person group events since reopening nearly a year ago. From professional sports to youth tournaments, sports tourism has been an important force in our destination's recovery, and we are looking forward to ending the year strong with the addition of the National League P.R.O. event.”

“We are thrilled to welcome the tremendous team at US Youth Soccer to ESPN’s WWOS, as hundreds of the top boys and girls soccer teams from across the United States in the 15U through 19U ages compete for the right to qualify for the US Youth Soccer National Championships,” said Jason Siegel, President and CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission. “We know that the participating and visiting coaches, athletes and their families will have an incredibly positive experience.”

For more information about the Disney Soccer 2021-22 season and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, visithttps://www.espnwwos.com/sports/soccer/and https://www.disneysportsnews.com.