For the first time since 2019, the Long Island Cup will be held.
The cup is the springtime cup competition of the Long Island Junior Soccer League.
It originated in the early 1980’s but was not played in 2020 as spring soccer was canceled across New York State because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was not held again last year since the LIJSL focused on league play as it was competing for fields with the return of diverse scholastic sports on Long Island.
With nearly 1,300 travel teams competing, it is one of the largest single elimination youth soccer competitions in the world.
Teams are divided into 77 divisions – 42 boys and 35 girls divisions––based on age and ability so every LIJSL team competing has a legitimate chance to win the Long Island Cup.
“We are very excited for the return of Long Island Cup this spring,” LIJSL managing director Steve Padaetz said. “With tiered play, there can be three or more levels of competition in each age, gender group providing every team an opportunity to become a Long Island Cup champion.”
The brackets have been drawn and the first round will be played this weekend, March 19 and 20, on teams’ home fields in Suffolk, Nassau and Queens. The competition continues with round two on the weekend of April 23-24, round three on May 7-8. The semifinals will be played on May 21-22. All these games will be played at teams’ home fields.
The 77 championship games will be played all weekend on June 11-12 at the Half Hollow Hills Soccer Complex in Melville. It is the longtime home of the Huntington Boys Club (HBC).
For more information about the Long Island Cup, contact the LIJSL at 631-648-9020.
