Wellington To Host 2016 AYSO National Games

Palm Beach County will be home to one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious youth soccer events. The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) recently selected Palm Beach County as the destination for the 2016 AYSO National Games.

AYSO Section 14 will partner with the Palm Beach County Sports Commission to host the National Games at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, from July 3 through July 10, 2016. The AYSO National Games are held every other year.

“We are very excited to see the AYSO National Games return to Palm Beach County for 2016,” AYSO National President Mark Stewart said. “The International Polo Club converts into one of the most stunning soccer facilities imaginable with 30 soccer fields side by side on pristine natural grass. We expect the games to again be an important economic contributor to Palm Beach County, but also a tremendous event for thousands of AYSO soccer players from across the U.S.”

The AYSO invites more than 240 soccer teams — 4,000 athletes and 10,000 total visitors — to participate in the games.

The participating teams will contend for titles in boys and girls divisions, featuring a variety of age groups. More than 1,200 soccer games will take place during the 2016 AYSO National Games.

Palm Beach County was previously home to the AYSO National Games in July 2010.

“We are pleased to partner with the Palm Beach County Sports Commission to bring back the AYSO National Games,” IPC President John Wash said. “Our ability to host 240 teams, along with their families, adds up to more than 10,000 spectators. There is really no other venue in the county that can host an event of this magnitude.”

Learn more at www.ayso.org.