National Cup X Web page | Atlanta Regional Web page | Application

CHARLESTON, S.C. (July 14, 2010) – For the first time in its history, US Club Soccer’s signature national championship competition will head to Atlanta, Ga., as the city will play host to a National Cup X Regional this fall. The event will take place Oct. 9-11, 2010, at Bunten Road Park, Scott Hudgens Park and George Pierce Park with winners advancing to the National Cup X Finals in July 2011.

Dates, locations and facility announcements for all National Cup X Regionals as well as the Finals will be made in the coming months.

National Cup X Regionals are open to U-11 through U-18/19 boys’ and girls’ teams, and two competitive divisions are available. Winners in the U-13 through U-17 age groups from each of the Regionals advance to the National Cup X Finals, where national championships are awarded in two competitive divisions.

“It’s an honor to have a National Cup Regional in Atlanta,” said Atlanta Fire United Girls Director of Coaching Mark MacKain. “It’s important because it creates another opportunity for the older players to get college exposure and allow younger players to play on a bigger stage. There are some excellent teams and clubs in the Southeast and the Atlanta Regional will be a very good opportunity for them to come together, create an outstanding event and earn a trip to the National Cup Finals.”

Applications for the Atlanta Regional are currently being accepted. The application fee is $795 for U-13 through U-18/19 teams and $595 for U-11 and U-12 squads.

The National Cup will be returning to the Peach State for the first time since 2005, when a Regional was held in Columbus, Ga., a city 100 miles southwest of Atlanta. While all other National Cup X Regionals will be held like normal in the late spring and early summer, the Atlanta Regional will be the first National Cup Regional event to take place during the fall.

Regional play of the this year’s event – the National Cup IX – concluded on July 12 after Regionals were held in a total of 11 cities throughout the country. The National Cup IX Finals are slated for July 24-27 (girls) and July 30-Aug. 2 (boys) in Virginia Beach, Va., where teams will compete for national championships in two competitive divisions.

For more information, visit the National Cup X Web page, e-mail AtlantaRegional@usclubsoccer.org or contact US Club Soccer Southeast Membership Services Representative Kevin McGovern at (843) 492-0280.

About US Club Soccer:
US Club Soccer is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop competitive club soccer in the United States. A member of the United States Soccer Federation since July 2001, US Club Soccer has grown to include member clubs and leagues in all 50 states. In addition to sanctioning and administering tournaments, leagues and other competitions as well as offering a range of programs for its members, US Club Soccer annually conducts the National Cup and the National Collegiate Showcase. US Club Soccer also directs its own player identification and development program – id².

# # #