Sporting KC Youth hosts 226 teams from 8 states for the 2023 Sporting Next-Gen Invitational

In a record-setting tournament weekend, Sporting Kansas City Youth Soccer hosted 226 teams March 24-26 for the largest-ever Sporting Next-Gen Invitational since the event started in 2019.

Over the course of the weekend, nearly 3,000 players from eight different states competed in over 350 matches. The tournament featured 40 divisions of U8 – U15 boys’ and girls’ teams playing 7v7, 9v9, or 11v11 matchups. Matches took place across three facilities: Compass Minerals Sporting Fields, Central Bank Sporting Complex, and Compass Minerals National Performance Center.

The top two teams from each division advanced to the championship match on Sunday, competing for a trophy and the title of Sporting Next-Gen Champion.

“I want to extend my thanks to all of the families and teams that made the trip to play in this year’s Sporting Next-Gen Invitational, and congratulate all of this year’s champions and finalists,” said Alec Smith, Sporting KC Youth Manager of Competitions. “It was such a fun event for everyone involved. I’m so glad so many teams got the chance to develop their skills and to make new memories with Sporting KC this past weekend.”

In addition to tournament action, Sporting Next-Gen players and their families cheered on Sporting KC during the match at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday evening. Players were also able to meet and get autographs from Sporting KC First Team players Logan Ndenbe, Kortne Ford, John Pulskamp, and Kayden Pierre during player appearances throughout the weekend.

This is the first major youth soccer tournament to be hosted at the state-of-the-art Central Bank Sporting Complex in Platte County, Missouri since the facility’s phased opening last fall.

This is also the first Sporting KC Youth tournament to include a free and interactive digital tournament guide through the Sporting KC app. Parents and players could access game schedules and scores, field maps, tournament photos, player appearance information and more all in one place through the Next-Gen digital tournament hub.

With the conclusion of this year’s Sporting Next-Gen Invitational, Sporting KC Youth now looks toward three remaining 2023 tournaments:

• Sporting KC 5v5 Fest | May 27, 2023
• Sporting Legends 3v3 | July 15-16, 2023
• Sporting Classic | August 25-27, 2023

For more information, visit SportingKCYouth.com/Tournaments.