More than 600 of the best youth soccer clubs are participating in Disney’s Soccer Showcase presented by A.S. Roma from now through January 3 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
This year’s showcase includes 336 boys’ teams and 328 girls’ teams from the United States, Canada, Brazil, Japan, and Guatemala.
The event is rated as the country’s top youth soccer tournament in a Soccer America survey, and three divisions of US Soccer Federations Development Academy Clubs are participating in addition to the US Youth Soccer National League.
The even started December 27 and runs through January 3, and is expected to draw close to 30,000 athletes, college coaches, and fans to the Wide World of Sports Complex. The tournament is considered to be the leading college recruiting event in the United States, with nearly 800 coaches in attendance to scout.
Bobby Clark, the head coach of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Soccer National Champions University of Notre Dame is attending as well as coaches from Maryland, Duke, North Carolina, Creighton, Furman, Penn State, and UCF.
The boys showcase runs through December 30, while the girls showcase takes place December 31 until January 3. More than half of the top 30 soccer clubs in the country have teams participating in the event.
“The Disney’s Soccer Showcase has become the premier college recruitment tournament in the country,” Mike Millay, Director of Business Development at Disney Sports said. “The tournament encompasses all of the best elements teams, players and coaches are looking for including world class facilities, elite competition and fantastic weather—and all at the world’s No. 1 destination for family vacations and youth sports.”
The first Disney Soccer Showcase was in 2000 with 68 teams and eight fields, and it has now grown to accommodate 664 teams on 29 fields, including 15 at the Wide World of Sport Complex. For a list of teams and complete schedule, visit www.espnwwos.com.
