Surf Cup2026-04-15T14:58:44-07:00

The Surf Cup is widely considered one of the most prestigious youth soccer tournaments in the US and abroad because it attracts thousands of elite-level teams nationwide, providing true cross-league competition. It serves as a premier recruiting ground with often hundreds of college coaches and scouts in attendance, offering unparalleled visibility for players. Originating in San Diego, Surf Cup has expanded it’s legacy to Texas, Las Vegas (Southwest), Seattle (Northwest), Spain, Italy, and Morocco. 

Cross-League Competition

Surf Cup gathers the nations top youth teams from ECNL, MLS Next, GA, DPL, NPL, EA and more, offering a unique landscape to compete. Often teams only compete within their league, missing the opportunity to measure themselves against outside competition. At Surf Cup, elite teams from ALL the top leagues can compete to see who is truly the Best of the Best.

College Scout Exposure

College Coaches consistently return to Surf Cup because they know the talent and energy is unmatched. While the recruiting landscape is evolving, scouts appreciate the “one-stop-shop” aspect of Surf Cup- the ability to watch top players from various leagues all in one place. Surf Cup has built a legacy scouts can rely on as they build their rosters for upcoming seasons.

NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TALENT

Many of the nations biggest soccer stars competed at Surf Cup in their youth, a powerful step in their journey to the biggest stage. Notable Surf Cup Alumni include:

  • Catarina Macario
  • Diego Luna
  • Trinity Rodman
  • Luca de la Torre
  • Naomi Girma
  • Brandon Vasquez
  • Alyssa Thompson
  • Frankie Amaya
  • Jordyn Bugg
  • And many more!

The sky is the limit for players who step onto the proving grounds at Surf Cup.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SURF CUP

Subscribe to our Surf Cup Newsletter to stay up to date on registration deadlines, event updates, and competition announcements.

Find a Surf Cup Event Near You

surf cup southwest championship series

Feb 27 – Mar 1, 2026

Surf Cup Texas

May 23-25, 2026

Surf Cup San Diego

June 12 – 16, 2026

July 24-27, 2026

July 31 – August 3, 2026

Surf Cup Northwest championship series

Jun 20-29, 2026

surf cup international presented by international development academy

Surf Cup Rome | April 1-4, 2026

Surf Cup Morocco | June 25-28, 2026

Surf Cup Salou | Nov 25-29, 2026

What College Scouts & Pro Players Have To Say

“It’s a great event to be at because we always find quality players and from teams all over the country. This is a big help for most MLS teams to be able to come out here and scout young talent.”

Robert Vidrio, MLS Academy Scout, LA Galaxy
Landon Donovan

“I have great memories of playing at Surf Cup when I was a youth soccer player.”

Landon Donovan, Former U.S. Men's National Team Player

“Surf Cup is a great event, we always make it a point to come out. It’s a well known event where you’re going to get lots of scouts watching. Don’t narrow yourself, you never know who is going to stop by the field and watch you. We like watching good football and Surf Cup provides that.”

Lauren Matthias, Head Coach, Westmont College

“I’ve been coming to this Surf Cup Event for 20+ years now, there’s a lot of really good players here. Recruiting landscape has changed but nonetheless there’s always good guys to recruit, the level is great, the fields are fantastic which makes for good games, and it’s a fun environment to be around.”

Adam Cooper, Head Coach, Saint Mary's University

“Surf Cup has always been my favorite tournament. Being a local girl, I’ve always felt so lucky to have this in my backyard.”

Rachel Buehler Van Hollebeke , US Women's National Soccer Team Defender

“Coming out to competitions like this where it actually means something to go win the tournament, that’s what we’re looking for, girls who want to drive for the best and be the best. I’ve been coming to Surf Cup for 20 years now. It’s just a good environment to compete.”

Rob Baarts, Head Coach, New Mexico State University

“This is my third Surf Cup recruiting. It’s just a great opportunity to see kids from different backgrounds, and gives us a platform to connect with individuals that come from out of state.

Daniel Alvarez, Assistant Coach, Whitworth University
Derek Barazza

“Surf Cup Sports sets the standard for elite youth soccer tournaments at the local, national, and international levels. Longtime director Mike Connerley’s leadership and work has literally changed the lives of tens of thousands of young soccer players.”

Derek Barazza, Cal South President

“It’s awesome. I’ve spent many a weekends sitting at the polo fields watching that tournament. It’s brilliant. It’s a great tournament… great facility. It brings all the best teams together. San Diego always has great competitive teams in national levels and players playing in international levels.”

Jill Ellis, Head Coach, US Women's National Team

“I love the concept of ‘Best of the Best’ and being able to bring the best club teams and best players with the best coaches to one place. It gives us the ability to see time slot after time slot of great games. Being able to play at Surf Cup where there is something to play for, it adds an extra edge to these games that you don’t see at other showcases. We want to see players play at the highest level, and Surf Cup definitely does that.”

Max Rooke, Associate Head Coach, Pepperdine

“I’ve been coming to Surf Cup for many years, this is one of the top recruiting event in the country. You see hundreds of coaches from all the top programs, every level, and we all know this is the place to be. Quality competition in one of the best locations in the country- with that combination college coaches keep coming back.”

George Kuntz, Head Coach, Cal State Fullerton

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