HUNTSVILLE – Along with the “Rocket City,” Huntsville his known by several nicknames: Hockey Capital of the South, Pentagon of the South, Federal City of the South, among them.
Well, in a couple years, we can add another moniker – The Youth Soccer Capital of the Nation.
Some 360 teams from across the country will land in the Rocket City in 2027 for the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) National Games.
It’ll be another chapter in Huntsville’s long soccer history when the national games take over the city’s fields for the week of June 29-July 3, 2027.
“On behalf of the AYSO, we are excited to bring the National Games to Huntsville in 2027,” said AYSO President Doug Ryan. “Our mission every day is to promote a fun, family environment across the almost 900 communities in our program. Huntsville’s facilities are top-notch and give our families the opportunity to have a memorable experience during the games.”
Over the last decade, the Rocket City has built a strong reputation, having hosted the AYSO’s Section Games many times – inclluding this weekend.
“Over the years, we’ve invested in building these facilities to make sure our children have the venues to chase their dreams while also creating opportunities like this to show how great our city is to all of the families coming in to compete for the games,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle in making the announcement at the Merrimack Soccer Fields. “Those investments continue to pay dividends with today’s announcement.
“We look forward to all of the children and their families having a memorable experience here in the Rocket City.”
The weeklong event will bring in more than 360 teams from across the country and, in hand, a large economic impact to the area, producing more than 8,000 room nights with an estimated economic impact of more than $9 million, the city said.
“Thanks to the tremendous work by our sports tourism team here in Huntsville, we continue to gain momentum with this being our fourth national or international event set to be hosted here in 2027,” said Joel Lamp, Huntsville/Madison County CVB sports development manager. “Our local AYSO leadership has done an amazing job of bringing this opportunity home, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone for a great week of soccer.”
With the National Games coming in 2027, Huntsville is hosting the Section Games this weekend and again in 2026 in preparation for the event.
“We appreciate the faith the AYSO has in our team and the investment made into our city facilities to provide an exceptional experience for everyone involved,” said Mark Russell, Huntsville Sports Commission executive director. “Events like this made a significant economic impact, but also enable our children to dream and see what’s possible in our own backyard.”
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our email newsletter to have all our smart stories delivered to your inbox.
