Long Island is set to host its most exciting slate of youth and adult soccer tournaments in 2024, drawing more than 1,200 travel teams from 19 states and three Canadian provinces. Whether you manage an elite U-17 squad, coach a recreational adult side, or simply want to scout future college prospects, the island’s tournaments offer spring-through-fall competition on FIFA-certified turf and pristine natural-grass complexes. Below is a club-administrator-verified roadmap to the biggest events, entry criteria, overnight housing blocks, college-coach attendance numbers and insider tips on navigating Long Island traffic.
1. Long Island Spring Cup (April 5-7, 2024)
Host towns: Hempstead, Uniondale, Mineola
Format: Guaranteed 3 games, 16-team knockout, finals at Hofstra University’s Shuart Stadium
Entry fee: $975 for youth; $650 for adult. Deadline: Feb 23
2023 draw: 212 teams; 68 college coaches in attendance
Housing: Nassau blocks reserved at Hilton Garden Inn (Westbury) and Hyatt Place (Garden City). Teams booking by Feb 1 receive 15% discount plus breakfast vouchers.
2. Suffolk Summer Showcase (June 29-30, 2024)
Featured venue: Sachem Sports Complex (110 acres, 18 lighted fields)
US Youth-sanctioned; college recruiting focus—video coverage by NextPlay highlights each match
New this year: GPS player-tracking, emailed statistical reports to coaches within 24 hrs
Cost: $1,050 per team; includes two Adidas match balls and referee assignor fee
3. Hamptons International Cup (July 12-14, 2024)
Premier-level event with seaside destination appeal. U.S., Brazilian and Japanese academy sides already accepted
Games at East Hampton HS, Amagansett’s Lashley Field and SPORTIME Arena (air-supported dome for weather backup)
Guarantee: Group + knockout = minimum 4 matches for every team
Family draw: Beach-day pass included with player credential; tournament shuttle loop stops at Cooper’s Beach and Montauk lighthouse tour
Fees: $1,200; team deposit $250 locks bracket spot; balance due May 1
4. City Islanders Cup (August 17-18, 2024)
Partnership with USL League Two’s Long Island Rough Riders: all finals played in the club’s 5,000-seat Mitchel Athletic Complex before the Riders’ regular-season night game. Youth finalists walk the touchline in parade ceremony, complimentary tickets included
Discount: $50 rebate for any team wearing tournament-patriot color scheme (navy/red/white) and agreeing to five-minute social-media interview
5. LIJSL Fall Classic (October 19-20, 2024)
Grassroots festival hosted by the Long Island Junior Soccer League celebrating its 55th anniversary
Emphasis on participation—no championship cup, every player receives medal plus voucher for free winter futsal session
Ideal for recreation-level and town-travel teams seeking low-pressure environment
Cost: $495 per team; sibling discount of $25 for families registering two or more children, proof required
College Recruiting Snapshot
Across last year’s circuit, 220 NCAA Div. I, II, III and NAIA coaches checked in at least once. Tournament directors share credential lists with coaches one week prior, publish rosters with graduation years, GPA and verified social handles to streamline compliance.
Traffic & Travel Hacks
– Arrive 35 minutes before kickoff; the Meadowbrook Parkway bottleneck often doubles commute time between Hempstead and southern Nassau
– Carpool parking permits: $10 per vehicle versus $20 individual; buy in tournament mobile app for QR code entry
Registration Links & Contacts
Applications are online using GotSport; make sure your club’s 2024 USYS or US Club passcards are uploaded before deadline to avoid $75 late-processing surcharge. Tournament directors’ email aliases are listed on each homepage; expect 24-hour response time.
Weather Contingencies
All complexes maintain in-house lightning detection; updates posted on Twitter and Instagram stories within five minutes of a delay. Indoor backup space is pre-contracted at nearby school gyms and inflatable domes; if more than 50% of scheduled games are cancelled, each team receives 75% entry refund per USSF-recommended policy.
Sustainability Initiative
In 2024, Nassau-Suffolk coalition provides recycling bags at each field; teams collecting a full 30-gallon bag earn Nike gift-card raffle entries. Water-refill stations cut single-use plastic by an estimated 22,000 bottles in prior events.
Plan your calendar now—most brackets close 45 days before kickoff, and island hotel rooms tighten quickly on summer weekends. Whether you target silverware at Hofstra, college exposure in Suffolk, or surfside family fun out east, Long Island’s 2024 soccer lineup delivers competitive brackets, professional organization and memories that extend well past the final whistle.
