August 5 – The 2026 FIFA World Cup Miami Host Committee has unveiled a big idea that they hope will capture the imagination of the youth game: ‘The Miami 2026 Youth World Cup.’
The ambitious plan aims to create a youth tournament spanning multiple states and targeting north of 2,000 teams. They’re billing it as a ‘Legacy Project’ for the World Cup – and American soccer’s most extensive grassroots undertaking ever.
Tournament Director Mayowa Owolabi said, “We wanted to develop a youth tournament that gets players and families excited about the World Cup, but also provides them with a high level of competition to start their seasons.”
The structure, if they can pull it off, still entails major travel and a disruption to the youth calendar, with five weekend windows from September through November scattering matches across Richmond, Florida (twice), Salt Lake City, and Phoenix. Both recreational and elite divisions accommodate U8 through U18 age groups, with MLS academies including Orlando City already committed.
The knockout phase unfolds in Miami come March, with the championship weekend scheduled for late May. Winners from competitive regional play advance, while recreational division champions skip straight to Miami.
Entry fees clock in between $300-$750 per team, which for a tournament that bills itself as the World Cup isn’t that expensive, according to Christopher Corey, Miami’s World Cup liaison. “With some of these tournaments the fees start to cost $1,500-$1,600. That’s going to keep out a lot of kids that are in grassroots that are in towns that don’t have big youth clubs.
“This legacy program is for all kids. All kids and that was really important to us. This is an initiative that no one has ever seen before in the United States with how inclusive this event will be.”
Champions earn World Cup match tickets plus on-field recognition during actual games.
The concept is bold. However, unless they’re inviting 48 other countries and their youth teams, calling the tournament ‘The Miami 2026 Youth World Cup’ seems a little over-the-top.