Top Talent Took Center Stage at San Diego Surf Cup the Championship 2026
Surf Cup the Championship Official Recap Video
San Diego, CA July 30, 2026
SAN DIEGO – San Diego Surf Cup Older’s Weekends ended on a high note as 32 Champions were crowned the Best of the Best. Over 500 teams gathered at the Proving Grounds to compete in elite cross-league competition as coaches from the nation’s top collegiate soccer programs scouted from the sidelines. The prestigious tournament took place at Surf Sports Park in Del Mar, CA across two weekends: June 12-15 (girls) and July 24-27 (boys).
Older Girls Weekend kicked off first with teams from across the nation such as San Diego Surf, Cook Inlet SC, Hawaii Rush and more competing at the highest level. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup beginning the day before, Surf Sports had the opportunity to livestream matches at the venue which added to the already energetic atmosphere. Older Boys Weekend competed next with teams such as Dallas Hornets, Total Futbol Academy, Laguna United FC, and Albion San Diego in attendance.
With Best of the Best talent from across the nation, San Diego Surf Cup is a hotspot for college coaches and scouts. Hundreds of DI, DII, DIII, NAIA and JUCO coaches from top collegiate programs were in attendance including USC, University of Arizona, San Jose State University and more.
“I’ve been here at least the last 10-15 years,” said Shigeyoshi “Sugar” Shinohara, DI Women’s coach at USC. “It’s always a great event to watch. There are so many great recruits, great prospects I will say… It’s a great opportunity to play and the facilities here are absolutely awesome.”
Surf Sports long-standing partner, Nike, also debuted their newly-released Mercurial Superfly and Vapor boots and gifted players custom made player card mementos. Attendees were able to demo the boots while putting their speed and agility to the test at the Mercurial Challenges, a 50-yard experience built exclusively for Surf Cup San Diego. The top three fastest players each day won a free pair of Mercurials, giving Nike the chance to give away 36 pairs of boots between the two weekends.
Listed below are the U16-U19 San Diego Surf Cup 2026 Champions crowned from the Best of the Best bracket:
| AGE GROUP | BOYS | GIRLS |
|---|---|---|
| U19 | San Diego Surf ECNL | Legends San Diego FC ECNL |
| U17 | Albion SC LA MLS Next | Rebels SC ECNL |
| U16 | Laguna United FC MLS Next | — |
This was the first San Diego Surf Cup where Surf Sports Park was fully renovated with premium Bermuda grass. Surf Sports recently upgraded their back field’s grass in May 2026, allowing players, families, and coaches to maintain the Best of the Best experience at the venue. Read more about this renovation at www.surfsports.com/news/.
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About Surf:
Established in 1977, Surf Sports 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. Its mission is to create the “Best of the Best” experiences and opportunities for kids and the organization. To learn more about Surf Sports, please visit www.surfsports.com or contact competition@surfsports.com.
