The boys wrap up the National League Quarterfinals when more than 160 Elite 64 teams travel to Mesa, Ariz., to compete Jan. 17-21 at the Arizona Athletic Grounds. 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 February 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 as 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 January.

14U Boys
Toca FC Elite 64 11B (KS) had one of the most potent offensive showings of any team during its first year in Elite 64 last season. The Kansas side scored 82 goals in its 14 Elite 64 Midwest games to claim the 2023-24 division title and position itself in the champions pool in Mesa. Toca will be ready for the challenge as it is once again in good form with a 2-0-0 record to start league play this season.
Another team from the Elite 64 Midwest with something to prove in the champions pool, Elmbrook United Elite 64 11B (WI) finished two games off of Toca in 2023-24 but had an impressive season of its own. It also holds a high-scoring offense — one that found the back of the net 51 times — and is primed to show what it can do on the national stage.
In the Elite 64 Northeast, Cedar Stars Academy Elite 64 11B (NJ) also scored 51 goals last season en route to its first place finish in the division. The New Jersey side finished 13-1-0 behind its balanced team play and should be considered a real threat in the champions pool in Mesa after its 5-0-0 start to this season.Indy Premier Elite 64 11B (IN) is yet another Elite 64 division winner ready to make noise at the quarterfinals. Finishing on top of a competitive 2023-24 Great Lakes division will prove valuable for the Indiana side, as it will find itself in multiple competitive games in the champions pool.
Day 1 Game to Watch
Cedar Stars Academy Elite 64 11B (NJ) will have its hands full with a talented Galaxy SC Elite 64 2011B(IL) side that finished in third place in the Elite 64 Midwest last season. Galaxy’s impressive run was overshadowed by the two teams in front of them, so Cedar Stars will need to be on high alert with a trip to February’s Semifinals up for grabs.

15U Boys
Toca FC Elite 64 10B (KS) needed every point during its 11-0-3, undefeated run through the Elite 64 Midwest last season to hold off Elmbrook United Elite 64 10B (WI) and take the division title. The experience gained from a title race — one full of close games — may give Toca a leg up on the other teams in the champions pool in Mesa.
Michigan Tigers Elite 64 10B (MI) and MI Rangers FC Elite 64 10B (MI) are no stranger to close finishes, either. The Michigan sides finished second and third, respectively, in the Elite 64 Great Lakes last season, but by no more than two points off the leaders. Both will head to Mesa with their eyes set on getting over the hump and finishing on top of the champions pool.Miami Breakers FC Elite 64 10B (FL) heads to the quarterfinals in top form. The Florida side has opened up Elite 64 Southeast play with a 7-0-0 record behind an offense that’s tallied 30 goals and a defense intent on stifling every opponent. Miami is a team that looks primed to break through the wildcard pool.
Day 1 Game to Watch
Two teams currently undefeated and sitting in first place of their Elite 64 divisions — Toca FC 10B Elite 64 (KS) of the Midwest and MI Rangers FC Elite 64 10B (MI) of the Great Lakes — go head to head on the first day of action in Mesa. All eyes should be on this matchup with a Semifinals spot on the line.
US Youth SOccer ODP Players
2010 Midwest Region – Jordan Freemon (Toca FC 10B Elite 64 (KS))
2010 Midwest Region – Caleb Gonzalez (MI Rangers FC 10B Elite 64 (MI))
2010 Midwest Region – Umar Campion (Club Ohio National 10B (OH))
2010 Midwest Region – Jackson Gagel (Toca FC 10B Elite 64 (KS))
Taka Players to Watch
Video clips and descriptions provided by Taka.
Jason Kopera (Midfielder – Michigan Tigers)
Kopera can pop up in multiple advanced positions in the midfield. He is adept at making intelligent runs to join in the attack and test opposing goalkeepers.
Video Highlight
Nathan Muehl (Forward – Madison 56ers)
A versatile center forward, Muehl’s positioning puts pressure on the back line. He is capable of dipping a shoulder to quickly turn past defenders and shows composure when finishing.
Video Highlight

16U Boys
The 2023-24 Elite 64 Midwest winners, Madison 56ers Elite 64 09B (WI), head to Mesa as a team to watch in the champions pool. An impressive end-of-season run that saw the Wisconsin side rack up seven straight wins and outscore its opponents by 17 shows they can get hot at the right time.
City SC Utah (UT) is another team at the quarterfinals to keep an eye on. En route to its first-place finish in the Elite 64 Northwest last season, City SC put its offense on full display by scoring three or more goals in half of its games and tallying 28 goals overall. If they can keep up that pace, they’ll be a tough team to beat in the champions pool.Two more teams to keep an eye on, PDA SC Vistula Elite 64 09B (NJ) and STA MOSC Elite 64 09B (NJ) hail from the Elite 64 Northeast. Vistula edged Mount Olive by one point to claim the division title, but the two teams split results throughout the season to show how evenly matched they were. With both scoring more than 40 goals during division play last season, either of the New Jersey sides are strong enough to come out on top of the champions pool in Mesa.
Day 1 Game to Watch
A tough defense to break down will meet a high-scoring offense on Day 1, when 2023-24 division winners Madison 56ers Elite 64 09B (WI) and PDA SC Vistula Elite 64 09B (NJ) match up. The 56ers gave up only nine goals throughout Elite 64 Midwest action last season but will need to be ready early against a Vistula offense that averaged 3.3 goals per game in the Elite 64 Northeast a year ago.
US Youth SOccer ODP Players
2009 Midwest Region – Kolby Malott (MI Rangers FC 09B Elite 64 (MI))
2009 Midwest Region – Carson Burch (Club Ohio National 09B (OH))
2009 Midwest Region – Parker Barr (Club Ohio National 09B (OH))
2009 West Region – Logan Willis (Sparta B09 E64 (UT))
Taka Players to Watch
Video clips and descriptions provided by Taka.
Zachary Pulsipher (Goalkeeper – City SC Utah)
Pulsipher is capable of making saves to deny sure goal-scoring opportunities, and his distribution from the goalkeeper position enables City SC Utah to swiftly transition to the offensive.
Video Highlight
Mason Simmons (Forward – Sparta United)
With pace and movement to find open spaces, Simmons can be a terror for opposing defenders. His consistent play has helped him stand out in Elite 64 regular season games and at national events.
Video Highlight

17U Boys
Toca FC Elite 64 08B (KS) and Galaxy SC Elite 64 08B (IL) are plenty familiar with each other after going head-to-head for the Elite 64 Midwest division crown last season. Toca came out on top by a six-point margin, but both will head to Mesa ready for the moment. This also marks the first step for both teams as they make another run at the National Championship. The two division foes faced off in the semifinals last year, with Galaxy coming out on top in penalty kicks.
Cedar Stars Academy Elite 64 08B (NJ) went 11-2-1 in Elite 64 Northeast play last season to earn its spot in the champions pool at the quarterfinals. The New Jersey side’s overall balance will be tough for teams to contend with, making CSA a team to watch in Mesa. Finishing in second place just behind them, PDA Hibernian Elite 64 08B (NJ) narrowly lost both contests to Cedar Stars by one-goal margins but proved it can compete with the best. PDA Hibernian should be taken seriously in Mesa. Another team that finished in second place of its division last season, Ohio Galaxies FC Elite 64 08B (OH) seems ready to change that outcome this year. The Ohio side is off to a 5-0-0 start in Great Lakes action and will be a team no one wants to face in the champions pool.
Day 1 Game to Watch
With a trip to the Semifinals on the line, Steel City FC Elite 64 08B (PA-W) and Toca FC Elite 64 08B (KS) square off on Day 1 in Mesa. Both teams should be ready from the start after claiming division titles last season, and the winner of this one should gain plenty of confidence moving forward.
US Youth SOccer ODP Players
2008 Midwest Region – Jayden Chico (MI Rangers FC 08B Elite 64 (MI))
Taka Players to Watch
Video clips and descriptions provided by Taka.
Nicholas Niebauer (Forward – Steel City FC)
Niebauer impacts the game in multiple ways. He can act as the first line of defense by initiating a high press that troubles opposing center backs. And when he gets his chances, he’s capable of finding the back of the net.
Video Highlight
Alexander F Leon (Goalkeeper – Cedar Stars Academy)
Superb lateral agility helps Leon’s save-making ability range from post to post. Over the course of the last couple Elite 64 seasons, he’s denied opponents on several shots that appeared bound for goal.
Video Highlight

19U Boys
Sixty-four goals during Elite 64 Northeast play propelled PDA SC Vistula Elite 64 06/07B (NJ) to the division title last season. That goal-per-game ratio of 4.6 led it to an 11-1-2 record and proved too much for opponents to handle. If Vistula shows up to Mesa with its shooting boots, it can do damage in the champions pool.
Galaxy SC Elite 64 07B (IL) will be ready for the thin margins that champions pool play can bring about after last season. The Illinois side came out on top of a difficult 2023-24 Elite 64 Midwest slate with a 10-2-1 record and was frequently involved in one-score games. The ability to play under pressure will be important in Mesa, so keep an eye out for Galaxy.
Toca FC Elite 64 07B (KS) finished just behind Galaxy in the Midwest division but showed its ability while running the table at the National Championships. It won all five games in Orlando and gave up just one goal in the process. Toca will have a target on its back at the quarterfinals.
Don’t forget about Ohio Galaxies FC Elite 64 07B (OH), either. One year after a first-place finish in the Elite 64 Great Lakes, Galaxies is looking for more and sits 4-0-1 in the early part of division play this season. With 14 goals already, they’re looking to surpass the 40 they scored in 2023-24 action. Teams in the champions pool should be cautious of their goal-scoring ability.
Day 1 Game to Watch
A clash of styles is in order early in Mesa. Reigning national champions and the defensively stout Toca FC Elite 64 07B (KS) will hope it can slow down the dynamic offense of PDA SC Vistula Elite 64 06/07B (NJ) on Day 1, with the winner heading to the National League Semifinals.
US Youth SOccer ODP Players
2007 Midwest Region – Marshall DeGraff (Galaxy SC 07B Elite 64 (IL))
2007 Midwest Region – Carlos Fernandez del Pino (SPORTING BV Elite 64 06/07B (KS))
2007 Midwest Region – Aidan Orth (MI Rangers FC 06/07B Elite 64 (MI))
Taka Players to Watch
Video clips and descriptions provided by Taka.
Odis Fickel (Midfielder – Michigan Rangers)
Composure and impressive skills on the ball help Fickel to fuel the Michigan Rangers attack. He can create space to create his own shot or to find teammates with precise passes.
Video Highlight
Jacob Pence Jr. (Midfielder – STA MOSC)
Pence has a knack for finding open spaces in build-up play or on the counter attack. Once he receives the ball, he’s capable of setting up STA’s forwards or challenging opposing keepers with an attempt on goal.