The third National Event of the ECNL club soccer season kicks off on Friday from Sanford, Florida. There are over 130 teams scheduled to attend the event with three age groups in action. Each age group (U16, U17, and U18/19) features some of the best teams in the country squaring off to kick off the new year. 

The action starts on Friday with a number of must-see games from the U17 age group. Concorde Fire Platinum faces off against Solar SC in what should be one of the best club soccer games of the year. FC Dallas faces a big challenge with a battle against Richmond United. And there are a number of other contests that should keep scouts glued to their screens on Friday.

U16 

Richmond United is the No. 2 team in the Champions League standings at this point of the season after securing a 7-0 start to the campaign. Richmond takes on FC Stars Blue, Solar SC, and GSA during the three-day event. The clash against GSA on Sunday should be a fitting send-off for this age group. GSA is 10-0-1 in conference play this season, but went 1-2 at the last event. 

Florida Elite SA (No. 3 in the Champions League standings) is also in action in Florida this weekend. Florida Elite takes on Tennessee Soccer Club on Friday, which should be a must-watch for many scouts. Florida Elite also takes on Charlotte SA and SLSG Navy. 

Minnesota Thunder is another team to watch at the event. Thunder opens up the National Event against Heat FC on Friday morning. Thunder also takes on DKSC and FC Alliance in Florida. Ava Grate and Paige Kalal were the standouts in Minnesota Thunder’s first game of the season back in November. Jordan Hecht recorded the shutout in goal in that game. 

U17 

The Solar SC matchup against Concorde Fire Platinum on Friday will be circled on everyone’s calendar. This could very well be viewed as a game between the two favorites to win the national championship in this age group. Solar was perfect through the season until a 1-1 draw right before the holiday break. Concorde Fire Platinum is perfect through conference and event play. This is Solar’s first event of the season. Solar also takes on SLSG Navy and FC Stars Blue during the three-day event. Concorde Fire Platinum will also face FC Dallas and FC Pride. 

Tennessee Soccer Club against SUSA FC is another noteworthy game on Friday. Both clubs are off to hot starts to the season and looking for make some noise during the event in Florida. TSC takes on GSA and Richmond United over the course of the weekend. SUSA faces DKSC And FC Dallas. 

The aforementioned FC Dallas takes on Richmond United in another must-see contest on Friday. Richmond is 6-0-1 on the season while FC Dallas sits at 11-0-1 from conference games. FC Dallas’ depth has been on display during previous National Events and will probably be the story once again during the event in Florida. 

U18/19

Internationals (No. 4 in Champions League standings) kicks off the event against VDA on Friday. The Internationals attack was unstoppable during the National Event in South Carolina last month. The team scored 19 goals in three games. 

Tampa Bay United Rowdies is another team to watch during the event in Florida. Tampa opens up the weekend against Minnesota Thunder. They also face NC Fusion and Ohio Premier during the National Event.