August 19, 2026 — Charlotte, NC — Right on the heels of the summer of soccer, a new chapter unfolded for MLS STEM Goals, Learn Fresh's newest soccer-inspired program: the program hosted its very first National Championship tournament. In collaboration with Major League Soccer (MLS), Learn Fresh welcomed 12 students and one outstanding educator for an immersive three-day experience in the Queen City of Charlotte, North Carolina, during MLS All-Star Week. Venecia E. and Matthew T. of the Houston Dynamo and Dash claimed victory, becoming the program’s very first national champions.
This first class of competitors represented 10 different cities across the U.S. and 8 different MLS and National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) clubs.
As this was the program's first national tournament, anticipation and energy were high from day one. Students, families, and educators filed in on Monday, July 27th, for the tournament's official welcome dinner. Icebreaker activities gave students a chance to get to know their teammates and fellow peers. With teams submitting the name they’d play under for the tournament, it was time to turn in ahead of the next day's opening rounds.
The first official day of the MLS STEM Goals National Championship kicked off with MLS All-Star Community Day, presented by Powerade. The youth-focused event drew over 400 local children to celebrate the sport through community growth initiatives and activities. U.S. Soccer Men's National Team and MLS legends Cobi Jones and Marcelo Balboa opened the day and led the kids through Charlotte FC's "Pepas" chant, a nod to the week's hometown team.
The day was packed with stations: a shooting skills challenge, community resource booths, trivia, friendship bracelet and noisemaker stations, and hydration giveaways from Powerade. Students rotated through, checking out each booth before hitting the pitch for small-sided scrimmages where they put their footwork skills to the test.
That afternoon brought teams to the Westin Hotel, the official host hotel for MLS All-Star Week, for the tournament's opening rounds. Walking the same halls as the players and coaches gave the group a real sense of what this first tournament meant.
Students arrived repping their home team in fresh kits, and each team selected the MLS club they'd represent for the tournament. Cards feature scoring statistics from MLS clubs and the likelihood of their forwards, midfielders, or defenders to score a goal. Throughout the MLS STEM Goals game, students answer trivia questions to move up and down the field. Once they reach a spot on the board to attempt a goal, they use their team cards to take the shot, with the statistics deciding whether they made it.
Teams then locked in for three round-robin seeding games, which determined rankings heading into the final rounds. The top two teams earned a bye into the finals: All Stars, represented by Jasmine Z. and Allen D. playing as the Philadelphia Union, and Elite 11, represented by Yeshua I. and Leonardo B., playing as FC Dallas.
After an exciting opening round, students and families headed to Truist Field for the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge, where some of MLS's brightest stars and celebrity guests put their skills to the test in passing and shooting challenges. Families spent the rest of the evening cheering on their favorite players.
Day two started with a visit to Discovery Place Science Museum, where participants explored a wide range of interactive exhibits, from stepping into a live rainforest and lying on a bed of nails, to enjoying a planetarium show. STEM was in action throughout the museum.
After lunch came the highly anticipated final rounds, once again held in the Westin Hotel's ballroom. Teams were announced one by one, taking their seats on the gameplay floor. With the opening whistle, the games were on. All 8 teams competed in single-elimination play, with parents and special guests watching in bated breath as each round came down to the wire.
The famous "gooooal" cheer echoed down the hall. Teams poured their hearts into every game, with penalty shootouts deciding several matchups. (Penalty kick shootouts take place when teams are tied at the end of the game. The outcome is decided by the spinner, with each team taking turns attempting shots. Played to best of five, if the score is still tied after five rounds, it goes to sudden death, where teams take turns until one side misses first.)
The championship came down to L.A. Queens (Desiree L. and Amanda L., representing Los Angeles FC) and Space City (Matthew T. and Venecia E., representing Houston Dynamo & Dash). Space City entered the finals as the last-place seed, facing off against the tournament's 4th-ranked team. In a tightly contested final decided by penalties, it came down to the last kick — and with the final shot, Space City secured the win, capping an incredible comeback run.
The room erupted. Learn Fresh had its very first MLS STEM Goals national champions.
Participants greeted each other with high fives and congratulatory handshakes, a top-tier display of sportsmanship and a testament to the fast friendships built over the week.
Space City got a taste of what it's like for the pros, complete with autographs, post-match selfies, and interviews.
MLS Senior Vice President of Community Engagement, Jan Greenberg, shared words of congratulations and encouragement with each student for their hard work and determination throughout the week, presenting medals and the championship trophy.
The event closed with an awards ceremony recognizing two competitors for outstanding sportsmanship throughout the week, along with this year's Outstanding Educator, Brisa Reza. That award recognizes an educator's exceptional commitment to supporting students through the MLS STEM Goals program and creating meaningful learning opportunities beyond the classroom.
The night wrapped up at the All-Star Game, MLS vs. Liga MX (Mexico's top soccer league), featuring a halftime performance by Ciara. Families and students, now friends, closed out the night together, cheering on the teams.
As the sun set on the week and on the program's inaugural tournament, participants went home with more than medals; they carried the memory of being the first class of participants in this new chapter for the program, pride in what they'd accomplished, and a reminder of the exciting places STEM can take you.
Congratulations to all of this year's MLS STEM Goals National Championship participants. Thank you to our educators, partners, families, and volunteers for making another unforgettable week possible!
Click here to view the event photo album.
2026 MLS STEM Goals National Championship Winners:
Runners-Up:
Sportsmanship Award Winners:
Outstanding Educator Award: