The Keeper Cup National Championships 2026 - in partnership with 5v5 Soccer

Description

Games will be played on FRIDAY, from 11am to around 5 pm. Each GK's bracket will last approximately 2 to 3 hours. To register your goalkeeper, you will register based on your birth year. All goalkeepers will play in a 1v1 format, shooting on a real soccer goal with a 5 game guarantee and maximum of 7 games. Goalkeepers that finish 1st, 2nd, or 3rd will receive medals,, with the 1st place GK being crowned 2026 National Champion. Full event details listed below in "General Information" section.

• Tournament (1-Day Play™)
• All individuals
• Boys & Girls
• Ability: Elite/Competitive/Developmental
• $148.00 entry fee
• 5 game guarantee

General Information

REGISTRATION
• Register by selecting your age group below.  You will need to create a coach account (even if you're a parent registering your child).  If you have an account already, you will have the option to log in to your current account instead of creating a new one.

DEADLINES AND PRICING
• Registration Deadline: Sunday before the event (11/22)
• Early Bird Registration begins May 30 and ends Aug 31
• Early Bird pricing is $108
• Late Registration: Starts Monday of event week and will be accepted on an as-needed basis, see divisions below for availability.
• Keeper Cup National Tournament Cost: $148 per goalkeeper
• We have a limited number of spots open and will be prioritizing acceptances for GK's who have already competed in regional qualifiers and placed in the top 3 spots at those qualifiers. Waitlist spots will be offered to gk's outside of those regional qualifiers or for gk's attending for the first time.
• Keeper Cup + 5v5 Tournament Is your team playing in the tournament? A VIP Multi-Event Discount of $50 per event is available. Reach out to Event Contact for more details.
• GK's that attend a regional event AFTER the 'early bird' pricing has ended (8/31), and place in the top 3 of that event shall be given a 10 day window from that regional event date to register for Nationals at the 'early bird' pricing.


TOURNAMENT & GAME FORMAT
• Ball Size: We will play with the same ball size you use in the regular season unless playing “up”
• Goals: Your field will have either 7v7, 9v9, or 11v11 "real" goals, depending on facility
• Field Size: 12 yards wide by 22 yards long (facility dependent)
• 5-game guarantee, maximum of 7 depending on bracket format
• Open to all goalkeepers born in 2018 through 2007.
• Brackets will be combined +/- 1 year and similar ability level (e.g 2014/15's)
• This is a non-sanctioned event so it's open to all goalkeepers from all States.
• This Naitonal Championship event will be played on FRIDAY 11/27 between 11am-5pm
• Every GK is responsible to collect balls during their games. It is encouraged that friends/family attending with their GK to act as 'ball boys', and also the other GK's in the bracket that are not playing to also help collecting balls.


HOW WILL MY BRACKET BE PLAYED WITH X GKs?
• 3 GKs - Play Each GK Three times (6 games), 
• 4 GKs - Play Each GK Twice (6 games, 1st-3rd awarded based on points)
• 5 GKs - 4 Pool Play games for seeding, 1st v 2nd for a championship match, while 3rd place team will play the winner of the 4th vs 5th playoff game to compete for third place (5 or 6 games)
• 6 GKs -  5 Pool Play Games, 1st-3rd Place GKs receive awards
• 7 GKs - 6 Pool Play Games, 1st-3rd Place GKs receive awards


REQUIREMENTS
• All player waivers must be completed on Exposure.
• Check-in: At the fields, 30 minutes before your first game

Players will need proof of age in the form of player cards, birth certificates, team rosters, passports, or school IDs. 


FAQ/Timeline
• The top 3 GKs earn awards
• GKs can register freely up through the Registration Deadline the Sunday before the event
• On Monday of the event week we will send an event welcome notice with next steps
• Official division lists will be published the Tuesday of the event
• Initial Schedules will be posted Thursday evening before the event
• The Keeper Cup Rules: Click here for the official rules