๐ŸŽ‰ Labor Day Early Bird Discount โ€” Limited time offer, ends October 3!  |  ๐Ÿ“‹ Registration Deadline: October 31
LaborDay-AYSO $100 off โ€” Competitive 9U & up
LaborDay-AYSO2 $50 off โ€” Competitive 8U
AYSO Core Teams $50 off โ€” Register & pay by Oct 3

AYSO Area 12A ยท Arizona Presents

Old Pueblo Invitational โ€” Area 12A Arizona

Soccer. Community. Tradition.

Dates
Nov 20โ€“22, 2026
Venue
Rillito Sports Complex
Location
Tucson, AZ
โšฝ Competitive Registration โšฝ AYSO Registration

Welcome Back

The Old Pueblo is Back

The Old Pueblo Invitational is one of Tucson's most beloved youth soccer traditions, and AYSO Area 12A is proud to bring it back. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Sonoran Desert, OPI 2026 brings together teams from across the region for a weekend of great soccer, great community, and great competition.

This year's tournament features two distinct tracks โ€” one built for the competitive club environment, and one that serves as the end-of-season AYSO regional tournament for Core teams. Every team is guaranteed a minimum of three games.

Held at the Rillito Sports Complex in Tucson, November 20โ€“22, 2026 โ€” the weekend before Thanksgiving. OPI is the perfect season capstone for your players.

Competitive Track
Alliance & Club Teams

Open to AYSO Alliance teams and outside club teams. Divisions from 7/8U through 15U & up. Bring your best.

AYSO Track
AYSO Core Teams

Open to AYSO Core regional teams. The end-of-season tournament for AYSO regions in Area 12A and beyond. Divisions 10U through 16U. True to the AYSO spirit: everyone plays, everyone grows.

What to Know

Tournament Information

โš  Committee Review Requested

  • The details in this section are preliminary and require committee review before publication.
  • Coach Requirements in particular differ between AYSO Track and Competitive Track โ€” details TBD.
  • Check-in procedures and awards details also pending confirmation.
๐Ÿ“…
Dates & Schedule

November 20โ€“22, 2026. Pool play runs Friday evening through Saturday. Championship matches on Sunday. Full schedule distributed upon acceptance.

โšฝ
Guaranteed Games

Every team is guaranteed a minimum of 3 games regardless of pool play results. Top teams advance to bracket play on Sunday.

๐ŸŸ๏ธ
Venue

Rillito Sports Complex
Tucson, Arizona. Field details and parking information will be included in your acceptance packet.

๐Ÿ‘ฎ
Coach Requirements

AYSO Track: Coaches must be currently registered AYSO volunteers with valid background check, Safe Haven, and Safesport certification.

Competitive Track: Requirements for club and Alliance coaches TBD โ€” pending committee review.

๐Ÿ“‹
Check-In

Coaches must check in at least 60 minutes before their first match with player passes, coach ID, and hard-copy medical release forms. Full check-in procedures pending confirmation.

๐Ÿ†
Awards

Champion and finalist awards for each division. Additional recognition details to be announced. Pending committee review.

Entry Fees

Tournament Pricing

All referee costs are included in the entry fee โ€” no additional fees on game day. Entry fees are due upon acceptance; spots are not reserved until payment is received.

Competitive Track โ€” Alliance & Club

Division Team Entry Fee Format Guaranteed Games
7/8U$2504v43 minimum
9/10U$5757v73 minimum
11/12U$6509v93 minimum
13/14U$72511v113 minimum
15U & Up$80011v113 minimum

AYSO Track โ€” AYSO Core Regional Teams

Division Team Entry Fee Format Guaranteed Games
AYSO 10U$2507v73 minimum
AYSO 12U$2509v93 minimum
AYSO 14U$25011v113 minimum
AYSO 16U$25011v113 minimum

Open to registered AYSO Core regional teams only. Flat $250 entry fee for all age groups.

Important Notes

  • All referee fees are included in the entry fee. No additional charges on game day.
  • All teams are guaranteed a minimum of 3 games.
  • Entry fees are due upon acceptance. Spots are not reserved until payment is received.
  • Tiebreakers: Points โ†’ Goal differential โ†’ Goals against โ†’ Head-to-head โ†’ Kicks from the penalty mark.
  • A player receiving a red card is automatically suspended for the team's next game.
๐ŸŽ‰

Limited Time Offer ยท Ends October 3, 2026

Labor Day Early Bird Discount

LaborDay-AYSO

$100 off โ€” Competitive 9U & up

Enter code at GotSport checkout

LaborDay-AYSO2

$50 off โ€” Competitive 8U

Enter code at GotSport checkout

AYSO Core Teams

$50 off โ€” Register & pay by Oct 3

No code needed โ€” discount applied on verification

Discount codes valid for new registrations only. GotSport codes entered at checkout. AYSO Core discount applied upon verification of registration and payment received by October 3, 2026. Questions? Email competition@opisoccer.com.

Join the Tournament

Register Your Team

Select your tournament track below. Registration is subject to review and acceptance. You will receive a confirmation email once your spot is confirmed.

๐Ÿ”ฅ
Competitive

For AYSO Alliance teams and outside club teams. Ages 7/8U through 15U & up.

7/8U ยท 9/10U ยท 11/12U ยท 13/14U ยท 15U+

Register โ€” Competitive
โญ
AYSO

For AYSO Core regional teams. End-of-season tournament. Flat $250 entry fee for all age groups.

AYSO 10U ยท AYSO 12U ยท AYSO 14U ยท AYSO 16U

Register โ€” AYSO

Registration Deadline

October 31, 2026

All team registrations must be submitted and accepted by this date. Early Bird discount ends October 3.

Tournament Links

Live tournament information on GotSport โ€” updated as the event approaches.

๐Ÿ“…
Schedule

View the full tournament game schedule on GotSport.

๐Ÿ†
Team Brackets

View pool groupings and bracket assignments for all divisions.

๐Ÿฅ‡
Champions

Division champions and results summary.

How We Play

Rules of Play

All games are played under current AYSO National Rules & Regulations and FIFA Laws of the Game with the age-specific modifications listed below. The Tournament Director's interpretation of all rules is final.

Division Format Field Size Ball Roster / Game Game Length Headers Slide Tackles Build-out Line Offsides GK Punts
7/8U 4v4 25ร—20 yds Size 3 8 / 4 4ร—10 min No No No No No
9/10U 7v7 55โ€“65 ร— 35โ€“45 yds Size 4 12 / 7 2ร—25 min No No Yes Yes No
11/12U 9v9 70โ€“80 ร— 45โ€“55 yds Size 4 14 / 9 2ร—30 min No Limited* No Yes Yes
13/14U 11v11 100โ€“110 ร— 60โ€“70 yds Size 5 16 / 11 2ร—35 min Yes Yes No Yes Yes
15U & Up 11v11 110โ€“120 ร— 65โ€“80 yds Size 5 18 / 11 2ร—40 min Yes Yes No Yes Yes

* 11/12U: Slide tackles are permitted only in a defensive attempt to play the ball โ€” no reckless or dangerous challenges. Referee discretion applies.

Points System

Points determine pool play standings and bracket seeding.

+6
Win
+3
Draw
+1
Shutout (Clean Sheet)
โˆ’1
Yellow Card
โˆ’2
Red Card
0
Loss

Bracket Formats & Advancement

The bracket format used in each division depends on the number of teams registered. The Tournament Director determines final bracket assignments.

3๏ธโƒฃ
3-Team Bracket

Full round-robin โ€” each team plays the other two. Top team advances to the Championship Final. The 2nd and 3rd place teams play a third-place consolation match. Standings determined by points then tiebreakers.

4๏ธโƒฃ
4-Team Bracket

Full round-robin โ€” each team plays 3 games. Top two teams by points advance to the Championship Final. The higher seed is the home team. No semi-final; the final is a rematch between the top two finishers.

5๏ธโƒฃ
5-Team Bracket

Full round-robin โ€” each team plays 4 games. Top two teams by points advance to the Championship Final. Seeds #4 and #5 play a quarterfinal; winner plays #1 in the semi-final. Seeds #2 and #3 meet in the other semi-final. Semi-final winners meet in the Final.

6๏ธโƒฃ
6-Team Bracket

Two groups of 3 โ€” each team plays 2 pool games within its group, then 1 crossover game against a team from the other group. Top 2 teams overall by points advance to the Championship Final.

8๏ธโƒฃ
8-Team Bracket

Two groups of 4 โ€” full round-robin within each group (3 games each). Group winners advance to the Championship Final; runners-up play a 3rd-place match. Cross-group semi-finals if the division warrants it.

๐Ÿ”„
Uneven Registrations

If a division receives an odd number of teams, the Tournament Director may combine age-adjacent divisions, add a wildcard advancement slot, or restructure brackets to ensure all teams receive a minimum of 3 games.

General Rules โ€” All Divisions

  • Unlimited substitutions at any stoppage with referee permission. Players may re-enter.
  • All players must play a minimum of 50% of total game time (AYSO Teams Only).
  • A player receiving a red card is suspended for the team's next game. The tournament director may impose additional sanctions for serious misconduct.
  • No coaching from behind the goal lines. Coaches must remain in the designated technical area.
  • Home team (listed first on schedule) wears light jerseys; away team wears dark. Bring an alternate set of jerseys or numbered pinnies.
  • Each team must present player passes and a signed game card to the referee before kickoff.
  • Guest players must appear on the official roster submitted at check-in. Maximum 3 guest players per team (AYSO divisions only).
  • In the event of a tie after pool play, teams advance by: Points โ†’ Goal differential (max +5 per game) โ†’ Goals against โ†’ Head-to-head โ†’ Kicks from the penalty mark.
  • Heading restriction: deliberate headers by players 12U and younger result in an indirect free kick for the opposing team. No caution issued for first offense per AYSO guidelines.

Where to Stay

Hotels & Accommodations

OPI 2026 has partnered with three hotels near Rillito Sports Complex offering special rates for tournament participants. Book early โ€” room blocks are limited.

โญ OPI Rate
Hilton
Hampton Inn Tucson
๐Ÿ“ 2.9 miles ยท 7 min from Rillito Sports Complex
Hot Breakfast Free Parking Free WiFi
From $149/night Mix of Double Queen & King ยท + 12.05% tax ยท Book by Oct 21 ยท Rooms limited at this rate
โญ OPI Rate
Marriott
TownePlace Suites Tucson
๐Ÿ“ 2.9 miles ยท 7 min from Rillito Sports Complex
Hot Breakfast Free Parking Free WiFi Studio Suites
From $159/night Single Studio rooms ยท + 12.05% tax ยท Book by Oct 21 ยท Rooms limited at this rate
โญ OPI Rate
Best Western
InnSuites Tucson Foothills
๐Ÿ“ 3.3 miles ยท 8 min from Rillito Sports Complex
Full Hot Breakfast Heated Pool Social Hour Tennis Court Gym BBQ Grills
King $109 ยท Two Queen $114 Call or email and ask for the "AYSO" rate ยท Subject to availability ยท No cutoff date
๐Ÿ“‹ Booking Notes
Hampton Inn and TownePlace Suites use the direct booking links above โ€” select your specific travel dates when booking. Best Western InnSuites does not require a booking link โ€” simply call (520) 297-8111 ext. 303 or email mnaweed@innsuites.com and ask for the "AYSO" rate. Room blocks at Hampton and TownePlace are limited โ€” book early. Questions? Contact competition@opisoccer.com.

Something Unique

Desert Cabin Retreats

Looking for a way to keep your whole team together? The Cooper Center โ€” an environmental education facility connected to the University of Arizona โ€” offers newly refurbished cabins set in the stunning Sonoran Desert. Each cabin sleeps up to 12, making them perfect for a team, coaching staff, or group of families who want a shared experience beyond the tournament.

Cabin Highlights

Sleeps up to 12 Newly Refurbished Sonoran Desert Setting University of Arizona Team-Friendly

Rates depend on the number of cabins required and dates of stay. Contact the Cooper Center directly for availability and pricing โ€” this is a rare opportunity to experience the desert in a way no hotel can offer.

Pricing

Rates dependent on number of cabins & duration โ€” contact the center directly for a quote.

Contact the Cooper Center Directly

Cooper Center for Environmental Learning
5403 W. Trails End Rd., Tucson AZ 85745
(520) 626-1825 ยท Camp office
COE-CooperCenter@arizona.edu

Get in Touch

Contact & Location

Tournament Director Ed Smith โ€” director@opisoccer.com
Competition Director Mike Gilmore โ€” competition@opisoccer.com
Fields Chris Hines โ€” fields@opisoccer.com
Website John Parkin & Jason Green โ€” webmaster@opisoccer.com
Tournament Dates November 20โ€“22, 2026
Venue Rillito Sports Complex
Tucson, Arizona
๐ŸŒต

AYSO Area 12A ยท ArizonaSanctioned AYSO tournament. Open to AYSO Core regional teams (AYSO Track) and AYSO Alliance / Club teams (Competitive Track).

๐Ÿ“

Rillito Sports Complex

Tucson, Arizona
Detailed field maps and parking instructions will be included in your team acceptance packet.

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Stay Connected

Follow OPI 2026

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Tournament Sponsors

OPI 2026 is made possible in part by the generous support of local businesses who believe in youth soccer and the Tucson community.

Interested in sponsoring OPI 2026? Contact us at director@opisoccer.com