Top Idaho Falls Futball Club Team headed to nationals
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – With millions of eyes riveted on the World Cup, one local soccer club is taking their talents to the highest level.
The Idaho Falls Futball Club’s top squad is on its way to nationals to compete against the best eight teams in the U.S.
“We won the Saint George tournament, the I.F. Shootout, and then we took second at State Cup,” said Kai Redd, the attacking midfielder. “That qualified us to go to regionals, which was in Boise, where we played against teams from Oregon, Montana, Washington, Alaska, Wyoming. We ended up winning that, coming on top and punching our ticket to nationals."
Eighteen young men have qualified to compete at the highest levels of U.S. Youth Soccer.
"I think it's bigger than soccer. I think it's bigger than futball. I think here when we step on the pitches together, we're playing as a team together,” said Memphis Lopez, IFFC left back. “We're playing for our brothers on our right and our left, and I think we just really want to compete for each other and represent Idaho."
The team has been playing together for eight years and feels like a family.
"I just love the camaraderie we have. I feel like we're all brothers out here. We play for each other,” Redd said. “My favorite thing about this team is how much heart we play with, and it's really a special thing to be a part of that."
Nationals brings together the best 18 and 19-year-olds in America to compete for U.S. Youth Soccer’s National Presidents Cup.
"There's eight different regions in the U.S., and we'll be representing the Northwest Region,” Redd said. “We're all playing each other in Wichita, Kansas – so top eight teams."
The team has overcome numerous obstacles, instilling resilience and critical life lessons in competition and practice.
"No matter how many times you fall down, it's how you react to everything,” Lopez said. “I think this season especially, we went through a lot of adversity as a team – from our defense, from our midfielders to our strikers – everyone on the team. … We stuck together like glue as a team. That's what I think I will take with me forever as I continue my journey wherever I end up going."
The young men are seeking to raise $25,000 to cover travel costs, hotels, food and competition fees.
If you would like to help send the team to nationals, you can visit www.givesendgo.com/kansas to make a contribution.
The team is revved up and confident about competing at the highest levels of U.S. Youth Soccer.
"We're going to kick butt in nationals," said center Tristan Howell.
"We're going to win the whole thing," Redd added.
