USA Cup Games Delayed Past 11 A.M. As Air Quality Black Flag Continues

BLAINE, MN — Games at the Target USA Cup will not start before 11 a.m. Thursday after organizers issued a black flag over historic air quality levels at the National Sports Center in Blaine.

The tournament went to a black flag, its most serious weather designation, at 5:30 a.m. Thursday.

In a 7:30 a.m. update posted to its website and Facebook page, USA Cup said the black flag would continue, with the air quality index still at historic levels in the area.

Organizers said they will check conditions again at 9:30 a.m. If levels improve enough by then, games would not start before 11 a.m., and play would resume with the tournament's 7 a.m. slate of games rather than picking up at the current time.

Off-field plans are mostly holding steady. The evening's Neon Dance Party for U11 through U14 players and the coaches' party are still scheduled to go on as planned.

An update on other on campus activities, including the Adidas Super Store, player bag pick up, pin trading and free transportation to the Mall of America and Twin Cities Premium Outlets, is expected with the 9:30 a.m. announcement.

The air quality alert follows a stretch of extreme heat that already disrupted the tournament's schedule earlier in the week. On Tuesday, organizers started the day under a red flag, shortening games by five minutes and adding two-minute water breaks each half.

Founded in 1985 by the Sons of Norway, the Target USA Cup is held each summer at the National Sports Center in Blaine, about 20 minutes north of the Twin Cities. This year's tournament includes 1,150 teams and more than 16,000 players from 20 countries and 25 states. Organizers have said the tournament generated more than $42 million for the state in 2025.

The Target USA Cup is the largest youth soccer tournament in North America.