Welcome to Next XI, the youth soccer newsletter spotlighting scores, highlights, and rising players across NYC, Long Island, and the Tri-State.
Each week you’ll find recaps, standout performances, and updates from local tournaments and league play. Our goal is simple: to give youth athletes, clubs, and families the recognition they deserve.
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Columbus Day Weekend is always a big weekend for youth soccer, and with so many matches and tournaments across the Northeast, it’s tough to cover it all. This week we’ll focus on the SUSA Columbus Cup during a windy and rainy Long Island weekend. But that didn’t slow the action down. Elite teams from across the Northeast, from U8 through U14, battled through slick fields and tight turnarounds, and the soccer stayed sharp.
Of course we want to showcase the winners of each division but what if we found out which club most dominated the entire tournament across the top divisions of every age bracket?!
This week we do that in our SUSA Columbus Cup Power Rankings!
SUSA G14 PRECNL Courtesy of Instagram: @susa_academy
NEXT XI | SUSA Columbus Cup 2025 – Girls Premier Edition
Grit. Goals. Glory — even in the rain.
Every goal mattered. Every win counted. Here’s how each age group stacked up — and which clubs walked away owning the girls’ side of the 2025 SUSA Columbus Cup. But first, let’s give credit where it’s due — to the age-group champions who battled through the rain and took home their brackets before we get into the overall power rankings.
Age Group Champions (with top 3)
U8 Premier — Champion: Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals
Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals — 4-0-0, GD +14
Albertson SC — 2-0-2, GD +6
SUSA FC — 1-0-2, GD +6
U9 Premier — Champion: The FA NJ (2017 Girls Black)
The Football Academy NJ (Black) — 4-0-0, GD +11
SUSA FC — 3-0-1, GD +18
World Class FC (2017 Red) — 2-0-1, GD +4
U10 Premier — Champion: The FA NJ (2016 Girls Black)
The Football Academy NJ — 4-0-0, GD +9
SUSA FC — 3-0-1, GD +15
East Meadow SC — 2-0-1, GD +6
U11 Premier — Champion: Penn Fusion SA (Pre-ECNL 2015)
Penn Fusion SA — 3-1-0, GD +10
PDA (2015G Blue) — 3-0-1, GD +10
SUSA FC — 2-1-0, GD +6
U12 Premier — Champion: Match Fit Surf (Pre-ECNL G14)
Match Fit Surf — 3-0-1, GD +8
Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals — 2-1-0, GD +6
World Class FC (2014 White) — 2-0-1, GD 0
U13 Premier — Champion: World Class FC (2013 ECNL)
World Class FC — 3-0-0, GD +17
Penn Fusion SA — 3-0-0, GD +10
Match Fit Surf — 3-0-0, GD +5
U14 Premier — Champion: World Class FC (2012 ECNL)
World Class FC — 2-1-0, GD +9
The FA NJ (2012 Black) — 2-1-0, GD +5 (GF 9)
FC Stars (2012 ECNL Blue) — 2-1-0, GD +5 (GF 8)
Pictured above: SUSA G14 PreECNL/Courtesy of Instagram: @susa_academy
“Who Ran the Cup?” — Girls Club Power Rankings Are In.
Girls Club Power Rankings (U8–U14, Premier only)
Now let’s get to what everyone’s been waiting for — the Club Power Rankings.
Each age group’s champion was decided through full round-robin play, and in some divisions, a final match crowned the overall winner. When a final was played, that result trumped point totals or goal differential — because on championship Sunday, it’s all about who finished the job on the field.
For every other division, standings were determined using a 3-point system (3 for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss), with goal differential and goals scored breaking ties. We then assigned club-power points — 10 for first, 8 for second, 6 for third, and so on — to spotlight which programs delivered the strongest overall performances across the weekend.
The result? A clear picture of which clubs owned the 2025 SUSA Columbus Cup girls’ side.
Here’s how we built the rankings: every Premier match from U8 through U14 was factored in. Each age group’s full slate was scored on a 3-1-0 system (three points for a win, one for a draw, zero for a loss), with goal differential and goals scored breaking any ties. From there, clubs earned power points based on their final placement in each age division — giving us a clear, data-backed picture of which programs rose above the rest.
And the storylines tell themselves. FA NJ’s depth carried them to the top, with age-group titles at U9 and U10 and a runner-up finish at U14. World Class FC flexed at the older ages, claiming U13 and U14 crowns. Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals stayed in the mix with an early U8 title and strong showings across divisions. Match Fit made noise at U12 with a statement 2–0 win over FC Stars, while Penn Fusion SA showed balance and control at U11, going unbeaten with a +10 goal differential.
📩 Share Your Scores & Player Nominations!
Next XI is all about spotlighting the incredible talent across our region — but we can’t do it without you! Coaches, parents, and players: send us your game results, standout moments, and Player of the Week nominations so your team gets the recognition it deserves. Whether it’s a last-minute winner, a goalkeeper making clutch saves, or a team going unbeaten through the weekend, we want to hear it.
Help us celebrate the game by making sure your club and players are featured in the next issue!
Beyond the Scoreboard: The Island F.C. Expands the Game on Long Island
Long Island is stepping onto the professional stage. This week, MLS NEXT Pro announced The Island F.C. as its newest independent club — and the first professional team based on Long Island. The club is expected to begin play in 2027 at a new, privately funded stadium at the Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, NY…
Attention Club Directors
Next XI is growing fast — and we want to grow with your club. If you’re a director or admin, reach out to us about partnerships for distribution so your teams, players, and families never miss the highlights.
