The 7 Elite Academy International Tournament, presented by Greater Zion, has been hailed as a “groundbreaking step forward” for youth soccer and tourism in Southern Utah.

The four-day event attracted thousands of international players from Liverpool and Birmingham in the United Kingdom, Calgary in Canada and states from across the United States.

Over 400 teams played games at spectacular venues in St George, Washington and Mesquite, alongside seminars and visits from college recruiters and professional scouts.

Families also enjoyed all-day entertainment and locally-sourced food options, with the event having now become a favorite highlight of the region’s youth soccer spring calendar.

The tournament also saw the introduction of a revolutionary new app, developed by Tommy Pickersgill’s team at Really Epic Dog, which provided up to date fixtures, score lines and standings.

It was organised as part of 7 Elite Academy’s Player Pathway development programme, which creates tournaments and overseas educational tours throughout the year.

Nick Nield, 7 Elite Academy International Tournament Director, said: “I was so impressed with the standards of soccer on show at this year’s tournament, which was our biggest yet by far.

“We want to show off the very best of youth soccer in Utah and bring more people to our region. We made a groundbreaking step forward in doing that this year.

“The presence of international teams grows every year, which in itself brings a new dimension to our tournament. They helped to make every game extremely competitive.

“We also have close working relationships with some of the best colleges and professional academies in the region. The presence of scouts and recruiters helped to put every player in the college spotlight.

“The next step is how we improve from here. We’re already working hard on our 2026 tournament and we’ve already had a lot of teams wanting to send in their registrations.”

The four-day tournament, which took part this month, was also an opportunity for teams, coaches and their families  to experience the spectacular scenery and facilities on offer in Southern Utah.

International teams were welcomed to Utah with an event at Big Shots Golf in St George, while college recruiters and professional players staged a seminar for players.

There was also the opportunity to meet Liverpool and England star Stephen Warnock at the event, while Premier League Academy Coach Chris Owens staged a series of goalkeeping masterclasses.