eligibility & rules
Read details of the various levels of play in our flight descriptions and verify player's age using the 2025 age grid. Remember, the oldest player on your team determines the age group.
Accordion Content
- Please View the Age Grid Here
- Updated March 2016. In the 6U-11U age groups, when a player deliberately heads the ball in a game, an indirect free kick (IFK) should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense. If the deliberate header occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred. Players should not be given a red card by heading the ball off of the goal line, this should be awarded with an indirect free kick as stated above.
- Glasses: It is recommend for those who wear glasses to wear a strap or sports-type glasses to participate in games. The referee has the authority to determine if the glasses can be worn.
- Casts: It is recommended for those who have a hard or soft cast to wrap it with bubble wrap and an ace bandage. Prior to the game check with the referee. The referee has the authority to determine if they can play with the cast.
- Games for 8U, 9U & 10U Weekend Jamboree could begin on Friday, July 11 at 7 a.m., requests for late starts not accepted.
- Types of teams accepted: This is an international event. All teams registered and in good standing with their FIFA affiliated associations are invited to apply. In the United States all USSF affiliates are invited including US CLUB Soccer, USYS, SAY, AYSO.
- Gender: Boys and girls teams accepted
- Level of Competition: Open – Jamboree Style Event
- Format: 7 vs 7
- Roster size: 14
- Number of players that may dress for any game: 14
- Number of guest players allowed:
- Teams may roster up to 6 guest players
- Players may guest play or double roster on only one team in addition to their primary team
- Double rostered players are limited to two per team
- Length of games jamboree format: 50 minutes
- Ball size: 4
- Awards: All individuals will receive participation awards
- Number of games: 4
- Playoff procedures: No playoff – jamboree only
- Notes: Tournament schedulers will make every effort to schedule teams of similar quality in the same round robin group.
- Games for 11U & 12U could begin on Friday, July 11 at 7 a.m., requests for late starts not accepted.
- Types of teams accepted: This is an international event. All teams registered and in good standing with their FIFA affiliated associations are invited to apply. In the United States all USSF affiliates are invited including US CLUB Soccer, USYS, SAY, AYSO.
- Boys and girls teams accepted
- Level of Competition:
- 11U-12U Flights: Teams will be accepted and placed into flights levels based on their history and their application
- For more information see our Flight Descriptions page.
- Format: 9 vs 9
- Roster size: 18
- Number of players that may dress for any game: 18
- Number of guest players allowed:
- Teams may roster up to 6 guest players
- Players may guest play or double roster on only one team in addition to their primary team
- Double rostered players are limited to two per team
- Length of games non-finals/finals: 50 minutes/60 minutes
- Ball size: 4
- Awards: 1st and 2nd place teams in each flight will receive a team trophy and individual medals
- Minimum number of games: 3
- Playoff procedures: In USA CUP Weekend all teams play in a preliminary world cup group; the top two teams from each group advance to the playoffs. The remaining teams are eliminated.
- Notes: Tournament schedulers will make every effort to schedule teams of similar quality in the same flight.
- Games for could begin as early as Friday, July 11 at 7 a.m., requests for late starts not accepted.
- Types of teams accepted: This is an international event. All teams registered and in good standing with their FIFA affiliated associations are invited to apply. In the United States all USSF affiliates are invited including US CLUB Soccer, USYS, SAY, AYSO.
- Boys and girls teams accepted
- Level of Competition:
- 13U – 18/19U: first and second tier combined (one open flight) Teams will be accepted and placed into flights levels based on their history and their application
- For more information see our Flight Descriptions page.
- Format: 11 vs 11
- Roster size:
- 13U – 14U: 18
- 15U – 18/19U: 22
- Number of players that may dress for any game:
- 13U – 15U: 18
- 16U – 18/19U: 18
- Number of guest players allowed:
- Teams may roster up to 6 guest players
- Players may guest play or double roster on only one team in addition to their primary team
- Double rostered players are limited to two per team
- Length of games non-finals/finals:
- 13U – 14U: 50 minutes/70 minutes
- 15U – 16U: 60 minutes/80 minutes
- 17U – 18/19U: 60 minutes/80 minutes
- Ball size: 5
- Awards: 1st and 2nd place teams will receive team trophy and individual medals
- Minimum number of games: 3
- Playoff procedures: In USA CUP Weekend all teams play in a preliminary world cup group; the top two teams from each group advance to the playoffs. The remaining teams are eliminated.
- Notes: Tournament schedulers will make every effort to schedule teams of similar quality in the same flight.
- Games for 9U & 10U Week Jamboree begin on Friday, July 18 at 7 a.m., requests for late starts not accepted.
- Types of teams accepted: This is an international event. All teams registered and in good standing with their FIFA affiliated associations are invited to apply. In the United States all USSF affiliates are invited including US CLUB Soccer, USYS, SAY, AYSO.
- Gender: Boys and girls teams accepted
- Level of Competition: Open – Jamboree Style Event
- Format: 7 vs 7
- Roster size: 14
- Number of players that may dress for any game: 14
- Number of guest players allowed:
- Teams may roster up to 6 guest players
- Players may guest play or double roster on only one team in addition to their primary team
- Double rostered players are limited to two per team
- Length of games Jamboree format: 50 minutes
- Ball size: 4
- Awards: All individuals will receive participation awards
- Number of games: 4
- Playoff procedures: No playoff – jamboree only
- Notes: Tournament schedulers will make every effort to schedule teams of similar quality in the same round robin group.
- Games for 8U, 9U & 10U Competitive begin on Tuesday, July 15 at 7 a.m. requests for late starts not accepted.
- Types of teams accepted: This is an international event. All teams registered and in good standing with their FIFA affiliated associations are invited to apply. In the United States all USSF affiliates are invited including US Club Soccer, USYS, SAY, AYSO.
- Boys and girls teams accepted
- Level of Competition: Open Flight Only – only for competitive 8U, 9U and 10U teams
- Format: 7 vs 7
- Roster size: 14
- Number of players that may dress for any game: 14
- Length of games non-finals/finals:
- 8U: 50 minutes
- 9U: 50 minutes
- 10U: 50 minutes
- Ball size: 4
- Awards: 1st and 2nd place teams will receive team trophy and individual medals
- Minimum number of games: 4
- Playoff procedures: All USA CUP 8U-10U teams play in a round robin – world cup group with ALL teams advancing to the playoffs. In age groups/flights with 4-13 teams, all teams will advance to a single A playoff. In age groups/flights with 14+ teams, the 1st and second place team from each group will advance to an A playoff and the remaining teams in the group will advance to a B playoff.
- Games for 10U 9v9 Competitive begin on Tuesday, July 15 at 7 a.m. requests for late starts not accepted.
- Types of teams accepted: This is an international event. All teams registered and in good standing with their FIFA affiliated associations are invited to apply. In the United States all USSF affiliates are invited including US Club Soccer, USYS, SAY, AYSO.
- Boys and girls teams accepted
- Level of Competition: Open Flight Only – only for 10U competitive teams
- Format: 9 vs 9
- Roster size: 18
- Number of players that may dress for any game: 18
- Length of games non-finals/finals:
- U10: 50 minutes
- Ball size: 4
- Awards: 1st and 2nd place teams will receive team trophy and individual medals
- Minimum number of games: 4
- Playoff procedures: All USA CUP 10U 9v9 teams play in a round robin – world cup group with ALL teams advancing to the playoffs. In age groups/flights with 4-13 teams, all teams will advance to a single A playoff. In age groups/flights with 14+ teams, the 1st and second place team from each group will advance to an A playoff and the remaining teams in the group will advance to a B playoff.
- Games begin on Tuesday, July 15 at 7 a.m. requests for late starts not accepted.
- Types of teams accepted: This is an international event. All teams registered and in good standing with their FIFA affiliated associations are invited to apply. In the United States all USSF affiliates are invited including US CLUB Soccer, USYS, SAY, AYSO.
- Boys and Girls teams accepted
- Level of Competition: Teams apply for 9v9 open
- For more information see our Flight Descriptions page
- Format: 9v9
- Roster size: 18
- Number of players that may dress for any game: 18
- Number of guest players allowed:
- Teams may roster up to 6 guest players
- Players may guest play or double roster on only one team in addition to their primary team
- Double rostered players are limited to two per team
- Length of games non-finals/finals: 60 minutes
- Ball size: 4
- Awards: 1st and 2nd place teams in each flight will receive team trophy and individual medals
- Minimum number of games: 4
- Playoff procedures: All USA CUP 11U-12U teams play in a round robin – world cup group with ALL teams advancing to the playoffs. In age groups/flights with 4-13 teams, all teams will advance to a single A playoff. In age groups/flights with 14+ teams, the 1st and second place team from each group will advance to an A playoff and the remaining teams in the group will advance to a B playoff.
- Games for begin on Tuesday, July 15 at 7 a.m. requests for late starts not accepted.
- Types of teams accepted: This is an international event. All teams registered and in good standing with their FIFA affiliated associations are invited to apply. In the United States all USSF affiliates are invited including US CLUB Soccer, USYS, SAY, AYSO.
- Boys and girls teams accepted
- Level of Competition: Open Flight Only – only for competitive 11v11 12U teams
- For more information see our Flight Descriptions page.
- Format: 11 vs 11
- Roster size: 18
- Number of players that may dress for any game: 18
- Number of guest players allowed:
- Teams may roster up to 6 guest players
- Players may guest play or double roster on only one team in addition to their primary team
- Double rostered players are limited to two per team
- Length of games non-finals/finals: 60 minutes
- Ball size: 4
- Awards: 1st and 2nd place teams will receive team trophy and individual medals
- Minimum number of games: 4
- Notes: All USA CUP 12U teams play in a round robin – world cup group with ALL teams advancing to the playoffs. In age groups/flights with 4-13 teams all teams will advance to a single A playoff. In age groups/flights with 14 + teams the 1st and second place team from each group will advance to an A playoff and the remaining teams in the group will advance to a B playoff.
- Games for 10U 9v9 Competitive begin on Tuesday, July 15 at 7 a.m. requests for late starts not accepted.
- Types of teams accepted: This is an international event. All teams registered and in good standing with their FIFA affiliated association are invited to apply. In the United States all USSF affiliates are invited including US CLUB Soccer, USYS, SAY, AYSO.
- Boys and girls teams accepted
- Level of Competition: Teams apply at 11v11 Open.
- For more information see our Flight Descriptions page.
- Format: 11vs11
- Roster size:
- 13U – 14U: 18
- 15U – 18/19U: 22
- Number of players that may dress for any game:
- 13U – 18/19U: 18
- Number of guest players allowed:
- Teams may roster up to 6 guest players
- Players may guest play or double roster on only one team in addition to their primary team
- Double rostered players are limited to two per team
- Length of games non-finals/finals:
- 13U – 14U: 70 minutes
- 15U – 18/19U: 80 minutes
- Ball size: 5
- Awards: 1st and 2nd place teams in all Playoff Flights will receive a team trophy and individual medals
- Minimum number of games: 4
- Playoff procedures: All USA CUP 13U-18/19U teams play in a round robin – world cup group with ALL teams advancing to the playoffs. In age groups/flights with 4-13 teams all teams will advance to a single A playoff. In age groups/flights with 14 + teams the 1st and second place team from each group will advance to an A playoff and the remaining teams in the group will advance to a B playoff.
Flight descriptions
Accordion Content
- Teams of the top two levels of competition are accepted in this tournament based on the information provided in the application, other teams that have applied to the event and is geared towards higher level competition. The tournament has the final decision based on the above information to accept teams, playing in that level does not guarantee acceptance.
- Teams are not allowed to play up an age group in USA CUP Weekend.
- Tournament-Only teams can apply to the tournament, but must provided information to the ranking committee for consideration of acceptance into the tournament.
- Teams are accepted into the tournament based on the information included in the application. Applying to the tournament does not guarantee acceptance. Teams will be notified by June 1 of their acceptance.
- Teams are able to enter updated information about their team in the Team Manager Account until June 13.
- Flights will be created based on teams entered in the tournament, determined by the ranking committee. Teams are placed in flights based on the information provided by the team to the tournament, research by ranking committee and other teams registered.
- Teams from outside of Minnesota with flighting questions should contact [email protected].
- Final placement is up to the ranking committee using the above guidelines
8U/9U/10U
- Level – Jamboree
- Black, Blue, Tournament Only, Rec-Plus, TCSL Red, TCSL White, TCSL Blue
11U-12U
- Flights based on competitive makeup (teams are not guaranteed acceptance because they play in a league below):
- Black, TCSL National, TCSL Regional, D2 SMSL
13U-19U
- Flights based on competitive makeup (teams are not guaranteed acceptance because they play in a league below):
- Minnesota League One, Metro Alliance League, TCSL NPL Super, TCSL NPL Premier
*USA CUP Qualifier Minnesota Teams
- Champions of USA CUP Qualifier Minnesota are guaranteed entry into USA CUP Weekend regardless of level
- Teams are not required to play in a Qualifier to apply to USA CUP Weekend
- Teams of all abilities, Elite to Recreational, are accepted into this flighted tournament
- Teams will be accepted into the tournament without a flight
- Teams are able to enter updated information about their team in the Team Manager Account until June 13.
- Flights will be created (Open, Gold and Silver) based on teams entered in the tournament, determined by the ranking committee. Additional flights may be created (Super Group and Bronze) if determined by the ranking committee. Teams are placed in flights based on the information provided by the team to the tournament, research by ranking committee and other teams registered.
- Note: Premier teams are required to play in the Super Group or Gold level, premier level teams are not able to play at the lower level divisions. Minnesota teams that playing in League One Premier or TCSL National (NPL) will be placed at these levels.
- Premier level players are required to play at the Super Group or Gold level. Age groups and specific levels may allow premier level players based on the teams registered.
- Teams from outside of Minnesota with flighting questions should contact [email protected].
- Final placement is up to the ranking committee using the above guidelines.
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