JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (July 19, 2005) – The 2005 National Cup IV Finals kick off July 21-24, 2005 in Jacksonville, Fla. with Boys U12-U14 and Girls U12-U15 competition.  Advancing out of the National Cup IV Regionals, 62 teams will contend to raise The National Cup trophy at the Patton Park Fields.  National titles will be awarded in nine age group divisions: Boys Premier U12-U14, Boys Super Group U13-U14 and Girls Premier U12-U15.

CASL (NC), bringing four teams in its Boys Premier U12, and Girls Premier U12, U13 and U14 squads, leads a list of nine clubs who will be seeking multiple National Cup IV titles in Jacksonville.  The Chicago Magic (IL), with its Boys Premier U12 and U13 and Girls Premier U13 teams, and Nomads SC (CA) with its Boys Premier U13 and Boys Super Group U13 and U14 teams, will each have three sides apiece contending for national championships.

Rounding out the list of clubs with multiple teams making the trek to Jacksonville are the Austin United Capitals (TX) in Boys Super Group U13 & U14, the Honolulu Bulls (HI) in Girls Premier U13 and Boys Premier U14, the Pasco Stallions (NJ) in Girls Premier U12 and Boys Super Group U13, Santa Clara Sporting Ruckus (CA) in Boys Premier U12 and Boys Super Group U14, Slammers FC (CA) in Boys Premier U13 and Girls Premier U15 and VISTA (VA) in Girls Premier U13 and U15.  The complete schedule for the 2005 National Cup IV Boys U12-U14 & Girls U12-U15 Finals can be found online at www.usclubsoccer.org.

In an agreement reached with Nike and the Manchester United Premier Cup, the Boys Super Group U14 2005 National Cup IV Finalists will receive an invitation to the 2006 Nike Manchester United Premier Cup U.S. Finals.  The Manchester United Premier Cup is the largest and most competitive international youth soccer tournament in the world.  The winner of the U.S. Finals will qualify for the Manchester United Premier Cup World Finals.

Winners in boys and girls U12-U17 age groups from eight National Cup IV Regionals, which were open only to US Club Soccer members, advanced to the 2005 National Cup IV Finals.  Following this weekend’s Boys U12-U14 and Girls U12-U15 Finals in Jacksonville, the Boys U15-U17 Finals will be held in Orlando, Fla. July 29 - Aug. 1, while Stony Brook, N.Y. will host the Girls U16-U17 Finals Aug. 5-8.  Both the Boys U15-U17 and Girls U16-U17 Finals will be held in conjunction with the Score at the Shore Showcase to maximize our members’ exposure to college scouts.

The id2 National Training Camp, the culmination of US Club Soccer’s revolutionary player identification and development program, will also be held in Jacksonville following the Boys U12-U14 and Girls U12-U15 National Cup IV Finals.  From July 24-28, the nation’s top ’91 and ‘92 boys will train and learn from a selection of the country’s top coaches.  US National Team coaches will be present at the id2 National Training Camp to scout players for possible inclusion in other US Soccer programs.

About US Club Soccer
US Club Soccer is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop competitive club soccer in the United States. It has been a member of the United States Soccer Federation since July 2001, and has grown to over 1,200 member clubs and league teams in 47 states. In addition to sanctioning tournaments, leagues, and other competitions and conducting a range of programs for its members, it annually conducts the US Club Soccer National Cup, for member teams for boys and girls’ U12 to U17.  The 2005 National Cup IV kicked off Memorial Day weekend and runs through early August.  US Club Soccer also launched its own player identification and development program in the summer of 2004, termed id2. In 2006, US Club Soccer, in conjunction with Disney’s Wide World of Sports, will launch the inaugural Champions League Cup to determine the nation’s top boy and girl’s clubs.  US Club Soccer’s growing list of National Corporate Partners include: Nike, 24 Hour Fitness, American Airlines, Budget Rent A Car, Cendant Hotel Group, Etriptix, Major League Soccer, Slammers® Ultimate Milk and TEKK Athletic; as well as a supplier group of six additional corporations. For more information, visit www.usclubsoccer.org.