The boys kick off their National League Quarterfinals when dozens of Elite 64 teams travel to Mesa, Ariz., to compete Nov. 1-4 at the Arizona Athletic Grounds. (View schedule)

Each age group features a champions pool, where teams will play in a tournament format to determine the event champion. In the 14U-19U age groups, teams in every pool are also playing for qualifying spots into the May 2025 National League Semifinals, where teams will compete for a chance to advance to the 2025 USYS National Championships, presented by New York Life.

While teams in the 13U age group will see a champions pool winner crowned, the Quarterfinals primarily serve an opportunity to earn seeding points for next season’s events. There is no semifinal advancement in the 13U age group.

Take a look at some of the teams, games and players to watch in the 14U-19U Boys age groups during the National League Quarterfinals in November.

Last year’s first-place finish in the Elite 64 Northwest showcased the quality of Utah Celtic FC Elite 64 11B (UT) and its completeness as a team. Propelled by a high-powered offense and stifling defense, Celtic’s plus-36 goal difference cemented its status as a team to watch in the champions pool at the November Quarterfinals. The Utah side is off to another good start this year, starting 5-1-1 in league play and firmly in contention for the division title.

Also set to compete in the champions pool are last season’s top two finishers in the Elite 64 Southeast: Azzurri Storm Elite 64 2011 Boys (FL) and Nona Soccer Academy Elite 2011B (FL). Azzurri narrowly edged its Floridian counterpart by one point to finish top of the group a year ago and sits in a similar position right now — albeit with one game in hand.

A team to keep an eye on in the silver pool is Excel Soccer Academy Elite 64 11B (AZ). The new Elite 64 team is off to a hot start with four wins in four games has the Arizona side as one to watch in Mesa.

Day 1 Game to Watch

A Nov. 2 champions pool matchup between Azzurri Storm Elite 64 11B (FL) and Sparta Elite 64 11B (UT) pits the current top teams in the Elite 64 Southeast and Northwest against each other. For either team, a win on day one will secure a place at the National League Semifinals in May.

US Youth SOccer ODP Players

2011 West Region – Leonardo Guadagnino Rodriguez (XL Atletico E64 B11)
2011 West Region – Landon Alferez Montoya (XL Atletico E64 B11)
2011 West Region – Ricardo Amador II (Excel Soccer Academy E64 11)

A fourth-place finish in the Elite 64 Pacific last year seems to have ignited a hot start this time around for Empire Surf Elite 64 10B (CA-S). Heading to Mesa with a 9-2-0 record and plus-40 goal differential through 11 games has positioned the team from Cal South as a real threat in the champions pool at the November Quarterfinals.

A tight race in last year’s Elite 64 Northwest saw Northwest United FC Elite 64 10B (WA) narrowly edge its opponents to finish top of the table. While the Washington side is off to a slow start in league play this year, it will also be a team to watch in the champions pool if it can get back on track.

Keep an eye on two more teams from the Elite 64 Pacific — Tuzos Elite 64 10B (AZ) in the silver pool and Sporting California Elite 64 10B (CA-S) in the wildcard pool. Tuzos has enjoyed a strong 3-1-0 start to the season and is poised to move up in the standings once it catches up in games played, while Sporting California (8-1-2) sits just one point behind Empire Surf at the top of the table. Both teams can make noise at the November Quarterfinals.

Day 1 Game to Watch

Two teams looking to regain their form from last season — Nona FC Elite 64 10B (FL) from the Elite 64 Southeast and Legends FC Elite 64 10B (CA-S) from the Elite 64 Pacific — match up in a champions pool contest on Nov. 2. The two sides, who both earned a top three finish in their respective standings a year ago, will hope a win — and with it a trip to the Semifinals in May — can provide some momentum for the stretch run of the season.

US Youth SOccer ODP Players

2011 West Region – James Kennedy (Sparta B10 E64)

Taka Players to Watch

Video clips and descriptions provided by Taka.

Benjamin Castellanos (Attacking Midfielder – Empire Surf)
Strong and athletic with an eye for a pass, Castellanos will pose a challenge for defenses in Arizona.

Jacob Skiles (Goalkeeper – Sparta United)
Skiles positions himself well, enabling him to make both routine and acrobatic saves to deny the opposition.

A near-perfect run through last year’s Elite 64 Pacific saw Los Angeles Soccer Club Elite 64 09B (CA-S) tally 51 goals while giving up only three en route to a 9-0-1 record, firmly solidifying its status as one of the top teams in the champions pool at the November Quarterfinals. The Cal South side remains in impeccable form this year, racing out to an 8-0-0 start to its campaign.

The one team that earned a point against the formidable LASC team in the Elite 64 Pacific last season — CDA Slammers Elite 64 09B (CA-S) — is also set to compete in the champions pool in Mesa. The Slammers will hope to show some consistency at the Quarterfinals after a 5-2-3 finish in the Pacific last year and a 3-4-2 start this year, but as they proved in the past, they can go head-to-head with anyone on their day.

In the silver pool, Strikers Miami FC Elite 64 09B (FL) arrives at the November Quarterfinals in top form and sitting at 6-0-0 in the Elite 64 Southeast. The Florida side has scored 31 goals and given up only four in the early portion of the season to propel its undefeated start.

Sporting California Elite 64 09B (CA-S) — currently sitting in second place in the Elite 64 Pacific at 7-2-2 — will look to stay in form at the Quarterfinals as it competes in the wildcard pool. The group’s winner will advance to the National League Semifinals in May, so the Cal South side promises to be a team to watch if it can keep its current pace. 

Day 1 Game to Watch

Two of the Elite 64 Pacific’s top five teams this season – Sporting California Elite 64 09B (CA-S) and Phoenix Rising FC Elite 64 09B (AZ) – go head-to-head in the wildcard pool on Nov. 1. The two sides should be familiar with each other after they drew 1-1 in league play on Oct. 20.

US Youth SOccer ODP Players

2010 West Region – Jacob Pepe (Los Angeles Soccer Club 09B Elite 64)

Taka Players to Watch

Video clips and descriptions provided by Taka.

Angel Joshua Jasso Sanchez (Forward – LASC)
Sanchez has speed, game awareness and dribbling skills, but his best asset is his ruthless finishing.

Javier Meissen (Goalkeeper – FBSL Tuzos)
An agile shot-stopper, Meissen impressed at National League events last season, helping FBSL secure several shutouts.

An attack that averaged more than five goals per game led Nona Soccer Academy Elite 64 2008B (FL) to a first-place finish in the Elite 64 Southeast last season. Throughout its 10 games, the Florida side scored 54 goals while giving up just four to position itself in the champions pool at the November Quarterfinals. Nona is off to another hot start in 2024-25, with four wins and 24 goals scored in its first five games.

While Northwest United FC Elite 64 08B (WA) went undefeated in the Elite 64 Northwest last season, an up-and-down campaign this year has the Washington side sitting mid-table with a 3-3-0 record. If they can regain their top form, they’re another team to watch in the champions pool.

In just seven games this season, Strikers Miami FC Elite 64 08B (FL) has scored 36 goals to propel the team to a 5-2-0 record and second-place position in the Elite 64 Southeast. That offense will need to travel to Arizona, but if it does, Strikers Miami will position itself with a great chance in the wildcard pool.

Day 1 Game to Watch

All eyes should be on Nona FC Elite 64 08B (FL) and Los Angeles Soccer Elite 64 08B (CA-S) when the two sides take the field in a champions pool match on Nov. 1. The Florida squad’s 54-goal tally from last season stands to be tested just one year later, as the team has already piled in 24 during the first five games of the season, putting them right in the mix for the Elite 64 Southeast title once again. LASC, though, has a few convincing wins of its own in the Elite 64 Pacific this season, including a 6-0 shutout in its last game played before the Quarterfinals.

Taka Players to Watch

Video clips and descriptions provided by Taka.

Caleb Barajas (Forward – Legends FC San Antonio)
Technically gifted and unselfish, Barajas glides past defenders with ease and could provide lots of assists in Mesa.

Moah Silva (Defender – Nona Academy)
Silva is a talented, athletic centre-back who is capable of stepping up into midfield when required. His aerial prowess makes him a big threat from corners.

Forty-four goals scored for Azzuri Storm Elite 64 07B (FL) led to a 9-1-0 record and second-place finish in last season’s Elite 64 Southeast. Heading to Mesa for the November Quarterfinals, Azzuri finds itself in second place in the Southeast again but is a clear team to watch in the champions pool with how many goals it can rack up.

Headlining the silver pool is the defending 18U National Champions, Strikers Miami FC 2006 Elite (FL). The Florida side is undefeated to start the season and very capable of scoring in bunches. Miami has scored no less than three goals in each of its four Elite 64 Southeast games this season, showcasing the strong, consistent attack that led them to the National title.

In the wildcard pool, Oceanside Breakers Elite 64 06/07B (CA-S) will head to the November Quarterfinals sitting in first place in the Elite 64 Pacific with a 10-1-2 record. They’ll want to bring the defense that anchored the early part of their season, though, as the Cal South side tallied three consecutive shutout victories throughout September.

Day 1 Game to Watch

An offense vs defense matchup awaits on Nov. 1., when So Cal Blues Elite 64 06/07B (CA-S) and Nona FC Elite 64 06/07B (FL) meet up in a champions pool contest. The Cal-South side is led by an attack that’s tallied 31 goals in 10 Elite 64 Pacific games this season, while Nona have only given up three goals in four Elite 64 Southeast games to start the season.

Taka Players to Watch

Video clips and descriptions provided by Taka.

Daniel Echeverry (Defender – Strikers Miami)
A strong and composed centre-back whose leadership skills helped the Florida club win the National Championship last season.

Nathanael Lempao (Midfielder – Sparta United)
Lempao has put together a strong start to the E64 regular season, scoring a brilliant hat-trick against Excel Soccer Academy in September.