Tennessee State Soccer Association (TSSA) teams are back in action as the Spring 2026 season of the Tennessee State League officially gets underway. With the new four-division structure introduced last fall now fully in place, participation across the league remains at an impressive level, a testament to the continued momentum of youth soccer across the state and the strength of TSSA’s growing membership base.
The spring season features girls teams competing in the 12U through 19U age groups, alongside boys teams in the 12U through 14U divisions.
“Now that all the older boys’ teams have been crowned State Champions, we’re excited to see what the spring TSL season brings on the girls’ side!” said Jeannie Louk, TSSA Director of Leagues and Programs. “We’re also wrapping up our first-ever year-round divisions for 13U–14U Boys and Girls, and it’s been an incredible start. Lots of big-time games still ahead — can’t wait to see how it all plays out!”
A New Structure, The Same Competitive Spirit
This past fall, TSSA introduced a revamped four-division format fully aligned with US Youth Soccer naming conventions. That structure carries forward into the spring.
- National Championship Series (NCS): Formerly Division 1, NCS champions earn a direct berth into the US Youth Soccer National Championships, the country’s most prestigious youth soccer event.
- President’s Cup (PCUP): Formerly Division 2, President’s Cup champions advance to the USYS Presidents Cup National Qualifier and, from there, the USYS National Presidents Cup.
- Governor’s Cup (GC): Introduced last fall, this division was created to balance levels of play and open up more competitive opportunities for teams across the state.
- Mayor’s Cup (MC): Formerly Division 3, designed for newer or developing teams, with promotional opportunities possible for future seasons.
Tennessee State Cup: May 16-17 and May 23-24
Following the completion of league play, the Tennessee State Cup will take center stage across two consecutive weekends in May at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro.
The first weekend, May 16-17, features quarterfinal and semifinal action across all four divisions for 13U-14U Boys and 13U-19U Girls in the National Championship Series, President’s Cup, Governor’s Cup, and Mayor’s Cup brackets.
Championship weekend arrives May 23-24, when all roads lead to the title matches. The weekend opens with semifinal and final action for all 12U Boys and Girls in the 11v11 State Cup, while 13U-14U Boys and 13U-19U Girls across all four divisions will play their semifinals and finals to crown the TSSA State Cup champions.
The Road Beyond Tennessee
For many teams that emerge as TSSA State Cup champions, the journey does not end in May. The stakes could not be higher, with national competition on the horizon for both the National Championship Series and President’s Cup divisions.
National Championship Series winners will advance to the US Youth Soccer (USYS) National Championships, taking place from July 13-23, 2026. In a particularly exciting development for Tennessee soccer, the girls’ competition will be held right here in Murfreesboro at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex, making it a true home-state showcase for the nation’s best teams. Boys National Championship Series champions will compete in Salt Lake City, Utah.
President’s Cup champions will first compete at the USYS Presidents Cup National Qualifier during June 11-14 in Loudoun, Virginia, with 13U-19U Boys and Girls all taking the field. Teams that advance from there will move on to the USYS National Presidents Cup from July 7-11 in Wichita, Kansas.
Big Games, Bigger Stakes
With a modernized divisional structure, strong participation numbers, and a pathway that brings national competition to Murfreesboro this summer, the Spring 2026 Tennessee State League season has all the ingredients for something special. The games are being played, the standings are taking shape, and Tennessee’s best teams are gearing up for a run at a state title, and potentially much more!
To contact the Tennessee State Soccer Association, please call (615) 590-2200. Also make sure to follow us on social media!