Thousands of soccer players and spectators will dribble into Redmond’s 60 Acres Soccer Complex next summer.

U.S. Youth Soccer has announced that the 2017 U.S. Youth Soccer Region IV (West) Championships will take place at the 60 Acres Soccer Complex. The event is part of the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship Series, the country’s oldest and most prestigious national youth soccer tournament.

Round-robin matches will take place June 20-22, followed by the quarterfinals on June 24, semifinals on June 25 and finals on June 26.

The championships are expected to draw more than 4,000 players and an estimated 14,000 spectators.

“We are excited to welcome more than 18,000 people from 14 states for the U.S. Youth Soccer Region IV Championships next year,” said Jill Smith, City of Redmond economic development manager. “Youth sports tournaments are a big part of tourism in Redmond. They give us a chance to share our beautiful park system with visitors, while filling our hotels and restaurants and bringing new customers to Redmond businesses.”

The U.S. Youth Soccer Region IV Championships consist of U.S. Youth Soccer state champions from 14 state associations, including the host Washington Youth Soccer, U.S. Youth Soccer Far West Regional League Premier Division champions, as well as drawn wildcard entries. Following individual state championship tournaments, the Regional Championships are the second leg of the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship Series.

The tournament will attract more than 210 boys and girls teams, ages 13 and Under through 19/20 and Under, from the 14 Western U.S. Youth Soccer State Associations that make up U.S. Youth Soccer Region IV (Alaska, Arizona, California North, California South, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming).

“It is always exciting to begin planning future U.S. Youth Soccer Regional Championships, and part of that initial planning is choosing the best possible host city for each of our four Regional Championships,” said Tom Mendoth, the Region IV Championships chair. “Washington was a great host for the 2004 U.S. Youth Soccer Region IV Championships, and we look forward to working with them again in 2017 for an even better tournament.”

Regional winners of the 13 and Under through 19/20 and Under brackets earn a berth to the 2017 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in Frisco, Texas.