It’s knockout stage time!!! This weekend, Presidents Cup Champions will be crowned and the State Cup will be whittled down to the final two teams.
The Illinois State Cup and Presidents Cup all return to MercyHealth Sportscore Two in Loves Park this weekend as teams from across the state continue their pursuit of a championship. Collectively, nearly 400 teams are participating across the three Cup competitions this spring, providing a true statewide championship experience for teams of all skill levels.
The Illinois State Cup is the premier championship tournament in Illinois Youth Soccer, with state champions advancing on to compete in the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series. This is far more than just another tournament, the State Cup has long served as the proving ground for many of the greatest teams to ever play in the “Land of Lincoln.” The history, tradition and prestige surrounding this competition make it the pinnacle of youth soccer in Illinois.
The Illinois Presidents Cup also provides teams with a statewide championship experience and a pathway to regional and national competition through US Youth Soccer. Champions advance to the US Youth Soccer Midwest Presidents Cup with hopes of eventually reaching the US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup. If the State Cup is the UEFA Champions League, then the Presidents Cup is the Europa League, highly competitive and nationally respected in its own right. Illinois hosts one of the largest Presidents Cup events in the country, and since the competition launched in 2009, Illinois teams have established themselves as national contenders by capturing 59 Midwest Presidents Cup titles and 26 National Presidents Cup championships.
Launched in 2017, the Illinois Cup was created to provide Illinois Youth Soccer member travel and high-level recreational teams the opportunity to experience a statewide championship tournament. The competition mirrors the format of the State Cup and Presidents Cup while offering an ideal championship environment for teams still developing toward those elite events. The Illinois Cup features two divisions of play: Illinois Cup Gold, which is open to all Illinois Youth Soccer member teams including tournament-only teams and teams that do not advance to Presidents Cup group play; and Illinois Cup Silver, which is reserved exclusively for teams competing in the third division or lower within their league structure and meeting specific eligibility requirements. Together, these competitions allow Illinois Youth Soccer to provide meaningful championship opportunities for teams across every level of the game.
If you are heading to Loves Park this weekend for Cup action, be sure to review the Know Before You Go information prior to arrival.
With their win on Sunday, 13U and older Presidents Cup champions advance to the US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup Qualifier – Great Lakes.
The Illinois State Cup and Illinois Cup will conclude June 6-7 with championship weekend.