WHAT: Metropolitan Oval Academy Centennial Celebration – 100 Years of U.S. Soccer Excellence At the Nation’s Longest Continuous Use Soccer Facility
WHO: Over 500 people will join in the celebrations this Sunday with hundreds of youth players aged from age 6-23 coming out in uniform to honor the Oval’s history and celebrate its future. Along with alumni from decades past including former US Men’s National Team members Brian McBride, New York Red Bulls star Julian Hall, veteran soccer stars turned coached Gio Savarese and Luis Robles among others.
WHEN: Sunday, May 17, 2026 | 1-3 p.m. Media Availability
WHERE: Metropolitan Oval Academy, 60th St &, 60th Ct, Maspeth, NY 11378
Metropolitan Oval Academy will host its Centennial Celebration on May 17, 2026 at the historic Metropolitan Oval in Queens, NY – honoring 100 years of continuous operation at what is recognized as the oldest soccer pitch in the United States.
Founded in 1925, the “Met Oval” has been a cornerstone of American soccer for a century, serving as a launchpad for professional players, a community hub for New York City families and a living landmark where the history of the game comes alive. Today, as a proud member of MLS NEXT, the Academy continues that tradition – providing elite training for players from U6 through U23 and advancing athletes to MLS clubs, European academies, college programs, and youth national teams.
The Centennial Celebration will bring together current players, alumni, coaches, community partners, and supporters to honor the past, celebrate the present, and invest in the next 100 years of Met Oval’s legacy.
“The Met Oval has always been bigger than soccer itself,” said Jeffrey Saunders, Board Member and Sporting Director, Metropolitan Oval. “This 100-year milestone is a tribute to the generations who built this legacy and to the players who carry it forward today.”
