Blues Cup Nike Invitational

Overview

The Blues Cup Nike Invitational is a youth soccer tournament hosted by So Cal Blues in Southern California. The 2026 edition runs May 29–31. The event is open to boys and girls ages U6–U19 across Copper through Premier competitive levels and accepts teams from US Club Soccer, Cal North, USYS, and AYSO registrations. The tournament is positioned as an invitation-only event for Nike partner clubs, aligning with So Cal Blues’ long-standing partnership with Nike as a presenting sponsor. Games are held in the San Juan Capistrano/South Orange County area.

Ownership & Operations

Operated by So Cal Blues, one of Southern California’s most established and historically prominent youth soccer clubs. The Blues Cup brand carries decades of history in the SoCal market. The Nike partnership is reflected in the event name and in the club’s broader identity as a Nike partner club. The Memorial Day weekend (May 29–31) timing makes this a destination event for teams across the region.

Sanctioning

Sanctioned by US Club Soccer. Also accepts Cal North (USYS) and AYSO-registered players with valid passes.

Reputation & Tier

Tier 2–3. An invitation-only format with Nike partner branding places this event above typical open-entry regional tournaments. The multi-day Memorial Day weekend format and broad age group range (U6–U19) give it significant scale. So Cal Blues’ market standing contributes to the event’s credibility in Southern California.

Notes

The Blues Cup Nike Invitational is distinct from the SoCal Blues Cup, a separate all-girls premier event scheduled for September 2026 in Oceanside. The two events serve different competitive windows and audiences under the So Cal Blues tournament umbrella.