A complete look at this year’s Surf Cup Championship

Surf Cup 2025 went out with a bang as over 1,500 teams gathered at The Proving Grounds over three weekends.

San Diego Surf Boys 2009 team walking off the field after winning the Surf Cup championship game.

San Diego, CA July 31, 2025

SAN DIEGO – The annual Surf Cup Tournament wrapped up this past weekend, crowning 96 teams as this year’s champions. Hosting only the “Best of the Best” players in the nation, Surf Cup has earned an esteemed reputation from youth soccer leagues for showcasing poise, talent and hard work. Several impressive clubs made their appearances, including CDA Slammers, Strikers FC, Albion, Surf Nation and more.

The tournament was held at two locations: Surf Sports Park in Del Mar, CA and the SoCal Sports Complex in Oceanside, CA. With over 1,500 teams competing, Surf Cup became a hotspot for coaches of Division I and Division II college soccer programs. Many of these college coaches were interviewed by Surf Cup between matches.

“We always make it a point to come out,” said Lauren Matthias, head coach of the Westmont College women’s soccer team. “Surf Cup is a well-known, branded event where you’re going to get lots of scouts watching. I hope the athletes stay open minded to keep their options open because you never know who is going to stop by a field and watch you.”

This year, Surf Cup was held over three weekends throughout July and early August. Older youth players played the first weekend of the tournament and made an impact on the game by leveraging cutting-edge technology.

Sportable, a new and emerging brand, attended Surf Cup to test their advanced technology, which allows players to track speed, performance and accuracy. Sportable developed a smart soccer ball connected to cameras and trackers around Field 11 of Surf Sports Park. After each game, players were able to review their athletic statistics – such as pass completion, total distance run and the player’s maximum speed . Surf Cup marked the first live event globally where Sportable tested its technology in real game conditions. While the product is not yet available for sale, it demonstrates immense potential to elevate the traditional game.

In addition to Sportable, Nike made an appearance to celebrate its 30-year partnership with Surf Sports. Nike brought their newest ambassador, Catarina Macario—a Surf Cup alumna who now plays for Chelsea FC and the U.S. Women’s National Team. They created an immersive experience in her honor called the Cold-Blooded Skiller Clinic. Macario also participated in an in-person Q&A with Surf Cup guests.

Surf Cup player and parent talking with a Nike representative inside the Cold-Blooded Skiller Clinic.

Younger athletes played throughout the last two weekends of the tournament, where players made their marks on the field. The San Diego Surf Academy Girls 2015 age group made waves by scoring 31 goals in their first three games. The team advanced to semi-finals and won the Finalists Award in the Best of the Best bracket.

Below is a list of all winners within the Best of the Best bracket at this year’s Surf Cup. To view all other bracket winners, visit Surf Sport’s Total Global Sports page for Olders and Youngers standings.

B2007/08: Legends FC ECNL
G2007/08: Hawaii RUSH Soccer Club
B2009: San Diego Surf ECNL
G2009: City SC GA White
B2010: LAFC So Cal ECNL
G2010: LA Breakers FC ECNL
B2011: Albion SC Riverside MLS II
G2011: San Diego Surf ECNL
B2012: Seattle United ECNL
G2012: San Diego Surf ECNL
B2013: Strikers FC – Irvine MLS Next
G2013: Slammers FC HB Koge ECNL
G2013 (2014 11v11): LAFC So Cal Gold
B2014: Utah United Academy
G2014: West Coast FC White
B2015: XF RCL I
G2015: So Cal Blues SC
B2016: Phenom Soccer Academy
G2016: MVLA Soccer Club
B2017: San Diego Surf Academy
G2017: CDA Slammers FC – Huntington Beach
B2018: San Diego Surf
G2018: Legends FC

This year, new grass was put into Surf Sports Park which allowed teams to play smoother and feel better in their games. This development was part of Surf Sport’s 3-phase plan to upgrade their facilities. The grass was upgraded to Latitude 36 bermuda throughout all 20 soccer fields. This type of grass is also installed in advanced U.S. athletic fields, such as Dodger Stadium, MetLife Stadium and SoFi Stadium.

In the end, Surf Cup 2025 was a tremendous success in terms of audience engagement, event experience and youth soccer talent. With 96 championships won, teams were able to go home knowing they worked hard and played harder.

About Surf:

For over 47 years, Surf has been one of the founding organizations in youth soccer. Surf Sports is nationally renowned for its professionalism, elite event management, high-quality coaching, and, most importantly, a deep commitment to athletic development and the life-changing power of sports. Its mission is to create the “Best of the Best” experiences and opportunities for kids and the organization.