More than nine thousand soccer players, along with their coaches, families, and friends, are converging on Knoxville this week.
The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) National Games are being held this week for the first time in Tennessee.
AYSO and city and county officials have worked for months to get the fields and the community ready for the event.
Registration began this weekend. The opening ceremonies, where all 220 teams from across the country will parade together at Thompson-Boling Arena, are set for Tuesday at 6 pm.
After some fun 4th of July activities, the games will kick off on Thursday at several fields around town, including Tommy Schumpert/Rifle Range, John Tarleton, Ball Camp/Nicholas Ball, US Cellular Complex, and Victor Ashe Park.
The games will continue through Sunday, when the championship game will be played at the Regal Soccer Stadium on the University of Tennessee. Knoxville campus.