ORLANDO, Fla. (July 28, 2025) – The US Youth Soccer (USYS) National Championships, presented by New York Life, wrapped up on Sunday after six days of exciting competition.
By the end of the week, 12 new National Champions had been crowned – including new holders of the storied 18/19U Boys James P. McGuire Cup, JaHbat B06 Premier 1 (IL). The Illinois side capped off a tremendous week with a 3-2 win in the final and became the first team in club history to win a US Youth Soccer National Championship. Makhi Francis, the New York Life Player of the Match, got JaHbat on the board early in the second half and ended a 13-minute stretch with his second and the team’s third to put them up 3-0.
For JaHbat, Sunday’s coronation meant more because of what it proved for coach Kevin Francis.
“It says small clubs can get it done, too. We’re a very small club. We’re not the biggest club even in the town that we are in, in Evanston. But I felt like smaller clubs do a really good job developing players and quality players and I think we just proved that.”
Five other teams – Elmbrook United 10G (WI), LT Elite SGA 11B Premier (TX-S), MI Stars 10B Academy (MI), Raiders FC 2009 (IL), and SCA 12B Purple (OR) – also became the first teams in their respective club histories to win US Youth Soccer National Championships.
Utah Celtic 08B E64 Bradley (UT) continued making history for the third straight year and has now become just the sixth team to win three consecutive US Youth Soccer National Championships. Meanwhile, Columbus United was the lone club to have two National Champions, winning titles in the 14U and 15U Girls age groups.
Columbus United G11 Lions (OH) coach Nicole Thorne reflected on how special it was to come out on top after her side lost in the National Championship final last year.
“This has been an end goal for us all year long to get into the National Championship and have a different end result. We felt confident coming in. Last year’s loss was motivation. It was heartbreaking to play so well and not have the end result and watch the faces of those players who put so much effort in. And so, again, we took that as motivation and focus and drive. To watch those final goals go in and get that lead, knowing that we had secured it, was amazing for me, but I was happier for my group of 17 players who deserve it so much.”
In the 18/19U Girls group, Penn FC 07G Black (PA-E) scored three second half goals to erase a 0-2 halftime deficit. Haley Bull got the Eastern Pennsylvania team on the board in the 68th minute and New York Life Player of the Match Viktorya Luckenbach scored two late goals to catapult her team in front.
Penn FC coach Adam Freeman said his team remained confident and stuck together throughout the game.
“We did have good chances before they (Michigan Rangers FC Elite 64 06/07G (MI)) scored those two goals. We felt confident that once we got one, we’d be able to get two and maybe even three before the end of the game. So, once we went up 3-2, we tried to hold on to them and defended really well to finish out.”
2025 US Youth Soccer National Champions
13U Boys: SCA 12B Purple (OR)
13U Girls: HTX Soccer 13G (TX-S)
14U Boys: LT Elite SGA 11B Premier (TX-S)
14U Girls: Columbus United G11 Lions (OH)
15U Boys: MI Stars 10B Academy (MI)
15U Girls: Columbus United G10 Lions (OH)
16U Boys: Raiders FC 2009 (IL)
16U Girls: Elmbrook United 09G Elite 64 (WI)
17U Boys: Utah Celtic 08B E64 Bradley (UT)
17U Girls: Michigan Tigers Elite 64 08G (MI)
18/19U Boys: JaHbat B06 Premier (IL)
18/19U Girls: Penn FC 07G Black (PA-E)
Eight different USYS State Associations had teams win a National Championship. Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and South Texas each had two winning teams, while Eastern Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, and Wisconsin had one. Of the 12 newly crowned sides, 11 represented the National League.
About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer)
US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sport organization in the country, is on a mission to provide world-class support, resources, and leadership, helping every member fulfill their goals on and off the field of play. US Youth Soccer registers 2.68 million players annually. Through its programming, resources and leadership, US Youth Soccer is advancing the game for its 54 Member State Associations, 10,000 clubs and leagues and one million administrators, coaches, and volunteers. US Youth Soccer connects families and communities to the power of sports and its shared love of soccer. US Youth Soccer provides a path for every player, coach and referee offering programs that provide a fun, safe and healthy environment at every level of the game.
