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
• $108.00 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 July 31
• Early Bird pricing is $108 (regular price $148)
• 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 (7/31), 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.
• Full set of rules can be found at thekeepercup.com


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