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New SEASONAL YEAR Age Group Formation

US Youth Soccer (USYS), US Club Soccer, and American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), announced in early 2025 that they have agreed to adopt the seasonal year age group formation cycle for its players starting with each’s 2026-27 season. More information on the announcement can be found here.

The age group cycle, which will now run from August 1 to July 31, represents the opportunity for more players in the each’s system to play club-based soccer with their classmates. Youth players born before August 1 will have the opportunity to play up with older age groups in accordance with their club’s governance.

US Youth Soccer CEO Tom Condone addressed the adjustment to the registration process: “At US Youth Soccer, our mission is to support the development of every player. After careful collaboration with our partners and listening to our membership, we believe this shift to an August 1 player formation cycle better aligns with school calendars, supports social and individual needs, and ultimately enhances the youth soccer experience for families across the country.”

This Age Group formation is effective beginning with each Organization Member’s 2026-27 (August 2026) season/registration year. To help support this transition, U.S. Soccer has introduced a tool to help parents and guardians easily understand the age groupings based on their child’s birthdate.

full outline from us youth soccer & STX Soccer on the Changes for 2026-27

2026-2027 FAQS

WHAT AGE GROUP WILL MY CHILD PLAY IN?

Parents and guardians can use the below tables to determine their player’s age grouping or the US Soccer roster formation tool.

U.S. SOCCER AGE GROUP ROSTER TOOL
WHO ELSE WILL BE GROUPING PLAYERS BASED ON AUG. 1 – JULY 31 REGISTRATION YEAR?

USYS has collaborated with both US Club Soccer and AYSO to mutually recognize August 1 – July 31 age groupings.

WILL PLAYERS WHO ARE IMPACED BY THE NEW AGE GROUPS BE GIVEN EXCEPTIONS?

For USYS run competitions (National League, National Championships and Presidents Cup) there will not be age variances granted. Players can play up in accordance with the competition rules but play downs will not be permitted.

HOW WILL THE OLDEST AGE GROUPS BE HANDLED IN USYS COMPETITIONS?

For USYS competitions (leagues and cups), the U18 and U19 age group will continue to be combined in a U19 age group

HOW WILL THE OLYMPIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (ODP) BE GROUPED?

ODP groupings will be unchanged and continue to utilize only January 1 – December 31 Birth Year.

SEASONAL MATRIX

CURRENT SEASON & NEXT FALL (2026)

Age Group2025-26 Seasonal Year2026-27 Seasonal Year
U4Born between Jan. 1, 2022 – Dec.31, 2022Born between Aug. 1, 2022 – July 31, 2023
U5Born between Jan. 1, 2021 – Dec. 31, 2021Born between Aug. 1, 2021 – July 31, 2022
U6Born between Jan. 1, 2020 – Dec. 31, 2020Born between Aug. 1, 2020 – July 31, 2021
U7Born between Jan. 1, 2019 – Dec. 31, 2019Born between Aug. 1, 2019 – July 31, 2020
U8Born between Jan. 1, 2018 – Dec. 31, 2018Born between Aug. 1, 2018 – July 31, 2019
U9Born between Jan. 1, 2017 – Dec. 31, 2017Born between Aug. 1, 2017 – July 31, 2018
U10Born between Jan. 1, 2016 – Dec. 31, 2016Born between Aug. 1, 2016 – July 31, 2017
U11Born between Jan. 1, 20215 – Dec. 31, 2015Born between Aug. 1, 2015 – July 31, 2016
U12Born between Jan. 1, 2014 – Dec. 31, 2014Born between Aug. 1, 2014 – July 31, 2015
U13Born between Jan. 1, 2013 – Dec. 31, 2013Born between Aug. 1, 2013 – July 31, 2014
U14Born between Jan. 1, 2012 – Dec. 31, 2012Born between Aug. 1, 2012 – July 31, 2013
U15Born between Jan. 1, 2011 – Dec. 31, 2011Born between Aug. 1, 2011 – July 31, 2012
U16Born between Jan. 1, 2010 – Dec. 31, 2010Born between Aug. 1, 2010 – July 31, 2012
U17Born between Jan. 1, 2009 – Dec. 31, 2009Born between Aug. 1, 2009 – July 31, 2008
U18Born between Jan. 1, 2008 – Dec. 31, 2008Born between Aug. 1, 2008 – July 31, 2009
U19Born between Jan. 1, 2007 – Dec. 31, 2007Born between Aug. 1, 2007 – July 31, 2008

BIRTH YEAR AGE CHART FOR 2026-27

YEARJAN.FEB.MAR.APR.MAYJUNEJULYAUG.SEPT.OCT.NOV.DEC.
2007N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AU19U19U19U19U19
2008U19U19U19U19U19U19U19U18U18U18U18U18
2009U18U18U18U18U18U18U18U17U17U17U17U17
2010U17U17U17U17U17U17U17U16U16U16U16U16
2011U16U16U16U16U16U16U16U15U15U15U15U15
2012U15U15U15U15U15U15U15U14U14U14U14U14
2013U14U14U14U14U14U14U14U13U13U13U13U13
2014U13U13U13U13U13U13U13U12U12U12U12U12
2015U12U12U12U12U12U12U12U11U11U11U11U11
2016U11U11U11U11U11U11U11U10U10U10U10U10
2017U10U10U10U10U10U10U10U9U9U9U9U9
2018U9U9U9U9U9U9U9U8U8U8U8U8
2019U8U8U8U8U8U8U8U7U7U7U7U7
2020U7U7U7U7U7U7U7U6U6U6U6U6
2021U6U6U6U6U6U6U6U5U5U5U5U5
2022U5U5U5U5U5U5U5U4U4U4U4U4
2023U4U4U4U4U4U4U4U3U3U3U3U3