Beginning with the 2026–27 season, U.S. Soccer will implement a new age group structure that aligns with the academic school year rather than the traditional calendar year. Under this updated system, each age group is defined by an August 1 to July 31 cutoff, allowing players to compete alongside classmates in their same grade. The updated age groups are as follows: U10 (August 1, 2016 – July 31, 2017), U11 (August 1, 2015 – July 31, 2016), U12 (August 1, 2014 – July 31, 2015), U13 (August 1, 2013 – July 31, 2014), U14 (August 1, 2012 – July 31, 2013), U15 (August 1, 2011 – July 31, 2012), U16 (August 1, 2010 – July 31, 2011), U17 (August 1, 2009 – July 31, 2010), U18 (August 1, 2008 – July 31, 2009), and U19 (August 1, 2007 – July 31, 2008). This shift creates a more consistent developmental environment and simplifies team formation by grouping players based on school-year cohorts instead of strict birth years.