US Youth Soccer Eastern Presidents Cup kicks off in Conshohocken and Plymouth Meeting on Friday

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — The US Youth Soccer Eastern Presidents Cup kicks off this Friday at The Proving Grounds in Conshohocken and Plymouth Whitemarsh High School with 117 teams from nine states competing for a spot in the National Presidents Cup next month.

Approximately 35 hotels and more than 5,000 room nights have been booked in the Valley Forge region. The estimated economic impact is around $5.5 million.

“We’re expecting an outstanding show of hospitality from our hotels, restaurants and merchants,” said Chris Branscome, chief executive officer of Eastern PA Youth Soccer. “Of course, we’re expecting a great display of soccer from the 117 teams too.”

Games kick off at 8 a.m. at The Proving Grounds and at noon at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School. Each team will compete in group play for the first three days with one game per day across 12 fields. Group stage winners will advance to the semifinals. The finals will be played on Tuesday. All semifinals and finals games will be played at The Proving Grounds.

Sixteen teams from 14 different clubs will represent Eastern Pennsylvania in the competition. The teams are from Capital Area SA, Central Susquehanna SC, FC Ballyhoo, Hulmeville SC, Keystone Athletic, Keystone FC, Lancaster Elite, Lehigh Valley United, PA Classics (2), Southern Chester County SA Dragons, United Philly Soccer, Vereinigung Erzgebirge SC, Warrington SC and West Mont United SA (2).

Delaware has three teams total with one each from Delaware FC, Henlopen SC and Urban Athletic FC. Five South Jersey-based clubs – Deptford Premier FC (2), Cohansey SC, Mount Laurel United, Rancocas Valley SC and Jersey Shore Boca Jr – have teams playing.

Participating teams also hail from Western Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, Virginia and West Virginia.

Boys and girls teams at the youngest age group – 12 and under – will be competing just for a regional title while the rest of the teams have a chance to move on to nationals. Both finalists will qualify for nationals in the 13U-18U age groups while just the 19U regional winner will advance.

The finals of the 15th edition of the competition will be played July 7-12 in Wichita, Kansas.