More than 100 twelve‑year‑old boys from across the country are in Chula Vista, California this week for US Club Soccer’s 2026 id2 Boys National Training Camp, one of the highest‑profile identification events on the youth soccer calendar. The boys’ camp follows immediately on the heels of last week’s id2 Girls National Training Camp at the same venue, which brought together a similar‑sized pool of 2012‑born players for four days of evaluation and development.
Id2 is US Club Soccer’s national identification and development program for selected birth years, formally recognized within the Olympic Development Program (ODP) structure. This year’s cycle centers on 2012‑born boys and girls, bringing together top players from multiple leagues and regions through a multi‑stage process that starts with scouting at club tournaments, league matches, and Player Development Programs (PDPs). Unlike league‑specific platforms such as MLS NEXT or ECNL, id2 is not tied to a single competition structure and accepts players regardless of whether they are registered through US Club Soccer, US Youth Soccer, or other members, provided they are identified through the scouting network.
Inside the Chula Vista camps, 2012‑born players are grouped into training squads and game teams for four days of high‑intensity work that blends training sessions, competitive matches, and classroom or meeting‑room segments focused on performance expectations at the national level. Evaluations from the February events are used to select a smaller pool for upcoming National Selection programming, including a National Selection Camp in Atlanta and potential international trips later in the year. For US Club Soccer, these back‑to‑back girls’ and boys’ national camps mark a key milestone in the 2012 age‑group calendar and reinforce id2’s role as a major identification touchpoint in the broader U.S. youth soccer landscape.