Hot weather put them on hold for a while Thursday afternoon, but more than 9,000 soccer players from around the country hit the field in Knoxville.
It was the start of the American Youth Soccer Organization National Games. This is the first time they've been held in Tennessee.
AYSO and city-county officials have been working for months to prepare.
Thursday's games kicked off at several fields around town.
The games will continue through Sunday, when the championship game will be played at the Regal Soccer Stadium on the UT campus.