Registration for the 7 Elite Academy International Tournament, presented by Greater Zion, has opened and entries are expected to flood in from across the world.
Games will take place over four days at top-class youth soccer venues in St George, Utah and Mesquite, Nevada in February 2027.
Under-ps thru Under-12s will play in Mesquite on February 4-6, while Under-13s thru Under-19s will play on St George on February 4-7. There will also be a Pre Academy event in St George on February 6.
The event is a popular international destination, with clubs from the UK, Europe, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa taking part in 2026.
Overall, it is expected that at least 500 teams will register to play, with numbers steadily growing since it was launched in 2018.
Nick Nield, 7 Elite Academy International Tournament Director, said: “It is so exciting to launch our 2027 tournament, which is going to be far bigger than anything we’ve seen before.
“There has been a remarkable rise in registrations over the last few years, with 2026 seeing over 400 teams apply to play. We expect to overtake that number very early for 2027.
“It is vital that teams get their registrations to us as early as possible to avoid missing out. We have limited spaces at our venues and there is always an early rush of interest.
“The expansion of our tournament on the international stage will bring new challenges for our local and regional teams. That is why the event is now so popular.”
Games in St George will be played at Shivwits Legacy Fields in the shadow of the spectacular Snow Canyon State Park, as well as Little Valley Fields and Sullivan Virgin River Soccer Park.
There will also be games played at Mesquite Regional Sports and Events Complex in Nevada and selected high school stadiums. The tournament will not be a ‘stay and play’ event.
Anthony Godfrey, Global Academy Director at 7 Elite Academy, said: “When we started this tournament with a handful of teams in 2018, we had a plan for it to grow into a huge international destination event.
“By bringing in teams from across the world and out of state in the USA, we are helping to push up standards and give players a new perspective on how soccer is played on the international stage.
“But it isn’t just about soccer. We are working closely with college recruiters to ensure that any player who shows enough potential can access opportunities for scholarships.
“The organisations we invite can also help a player find new ways to progress at our academies in the UK, Europe and South Africa, as well as trials with professional clubs.
“The 2027 7 Elite Academy International Tournament will be a four day celebration of the best that global youth soccer has to offer. I can’t wait for it to start.”