Five exciting days of action at the National League Semifinals in Round Rock, Texas, saw 30 boys teams and 30 girls teams qualify for the 2025 USYS National Championships, presented by New York Life.

The games in Round Rock featured top teams in the 14U-19U age groups from the National League’s club-based and team-based divisions, as each competing side earned its place in the event through its performance at quarterfinal events earlier this season.

Many of the coaches and players talked about the value of challenging themselves against National League competition and the confidence that can come from seizing the opportunities available to each team.

“We’re ecstatic,” said NY Hota Bavarian SC 2008 Blue (NY-E) midfielder Drew Lennon. “We worked hard all week and all winter. We got the results, and we’re going to Nationals, so we can’t be happier. 

“Doing well here gives you a lot of confidence heading into Nationals, but we really haven’t accomplished anything yet. We’ve got a bigger goal and need to keep working hard toward it.”

The action at the National League Semifinals was extremely competitive, as all games were decided by an average goal difference of just 1.74. The games to decide berths to the National Championships were just as close, while the pool finals featured some of the most competitive matches of the event. The average goal differential in those 16 games was just 1.18 and included five penalty kick shootouts.

The 60 teams that qualified for the National Championships came from 19 different state associations, led by Michigan and Ohio with eight qualifiers each. Wisconsin followed with seven qualifiers, and Illinois had six.

Eleven different clubs had multiple teams qualify for the National Championships, and 45 total clubs had at least one team punch its ticket to Nationals. Columbus United, Elmbrook United, Steel City FC and Toca FC led the way, as they each had three teams advance to Nationals.

In addition to teams earning their place in the National Championships, five boys teams and five girls teams won tournament competition within the champions pool of their respective age groups.

2025 NL Semifinals (Texas) | Girls Champions
14U: Elmbrook United 11G Elite 64 (WI)
15U: Columbus United G10 Lions (OH)
16U: Steel City FC Elite 64 09G (PA-W)
17U: Michigan Tigers Elite 64 08G (MI)
19U: Steel City FC Elite 64 06/07G (PA-W)

2025 NL Semifinals (Texas) | Boys Champions
14U: Rhode Island Surf B11 Elite Blue (RI)
15U: TKO Premier SC 10B Blue (MI)
16U: Chicago Magic PSG 2009 (IL)
17U: Utah Celtic 08B E64 Bradley (UT)
19U: JaHbat B06 Premier 1 (IL)

“It’s a really good accomplishment for our team, and we’re all really glad that we made it here,” said Elmbrook United Elite 64 11G (WI) forward Reese Roethe after her team won the 14U Girls champions pool. “Winning the group gives us a lot of confidence. We’re ready to win some games at Nationals.”

The 10 champions pool winners represented seven different state associations, as Illinois, Michigan and PA West were the lone state associations to have multiple winners. Each of PA West’s champions pool winners came from Steel City FC, which was the only club to have multiple event champions.

One 2024 USYS National Champion — Utah Celtic 08B E64 Bradley (UT) — won a champions pool title, while four total defending champs punched their tickets back to the National Championships.

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