RICHMOND, Va. (December 22, 2025) - The ECNL International Tournament, powered by Coaches' Voice and in association with Everton International Academy, is excited to announce the eight U13 boys teams and eight U16 girls teams that will compete in the event in May 2026 at Everton's legendary Finch Farm facility.
An exceptional and unique lineup of teams from England, Scotland, Wales and the United States will come together in a ground-breaking new youth competition to challenge some of the best players and teams from each country. The teams competing are listed below:
U13 Boys Division
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US: Eastside FC (WA), NCFC (NC), Oklahoma Energy, XF Academy (WA)
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UK: Chelsea FC, Everton, Leeds United, Wrexham AFC
U16 Girls Division
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US: Bay Area Surf (CA), Legends SC (CA), Michigan Hawks, Solar SC (TX)
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UK: Chelsea FC, Everton, Rangers FC, Welsh National Team
In January, teams will be placed in groups to determine their initial tournament opponents, with each group featuring two teams from the United States and two teams from the United Kingdom. The event will include both group and knock-out play over two days, with the full schedule announced at a later date.
The ECNL International Tournament, powered by Coaches' Voice and in association with Everton International Academy marks the first time that teams from ECNL Boys and ECNL Girls have qualified for international competition based on their performances in the ECNL. The event reflects a joint commitment from all three organizations to developing and challenging top players while creating meaningful sporting connections and relationships across countries.
The ECNL International Tournament will be led by the elite operations team at Coaches' Voice Tours, whose reputation for excellence in international soccer travel ensures the highest standards and world-class quality. In addition, the ECNL has subsidized the cost of the event for the United States teams to help make the dream of international competition a reality.
For more information regarding the ECNL International Tournament, powered by Coaches' Voice and in association with Everton International Academy, click here.
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About Everton International Academy:
The Everton International Academy is the global development arm of Everton Football Club, designed to bring the Club's renowned coaching philosophy - known as the Everton Way to aspiring footballers around the world.
Through the Everton International Academy Affiliate Programme, the Academy partners with clubs and organisations across multiple continents to deliver world-class coaching, mentoring, and player development support.
Everton Soccer Schools operate across the globe, predominately across the USA, Canada, and the UK - offering players aged 5–18 the chance to train under official Everton coaching methods, focusing on skill development, teamwork, and confidence. To find out more, visit evertonfc.com/international.
About Coaches' Voice:
Coaches' Voice connects players, coaches, and clubs with world-class continuous learning and experiences. Through elite tournaments, player and coach education tours, online learning, specialist courses, and session planning tools, Coaches' Voice ensures that coaches are fully equipped to create the best possible environment for player development.
For more information, please visit https://learning.coachesvoice.com/.
About the ECNL:
The ECNL is the nation's leading youth soccer development platform for America's top soccer players. The ECNL mission to provide the best youth sports experience in the world drives constant innovations in competitions and experiences for players, parents, families, coaches, referees, and partners. The ECNL has questioned convention and challenged the status quo of youth sport since 2009, pushing boundaries and striving for unmatched excellence. Together with its clubs and club leaders, the ECNL creates unforgettable memories and supports the development of youth players into college stars, professionals, world champions, and leaders.
www.TheECNL.com
ECNL FB: @TheECNL | ECNL IG: @TheECNL | ECNL X: @TheECNL
