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There’s been a massive shakeup in the California high school soccer playoffs. Two previously eliminated teams have regained their postseason standing. One will play for a championship.
Eligibility concerns discovered on the rosters of past opponents triggered the shuffling. Multiple players have broken the same rule.
The wrongdoing relates to competition in outside leagues. While in season, players cannot compete for another team in the same sport.
2708. OUTSIDE COMPETITION BY AN INDIVIDUAL
During Individual’s Season of Sport ‐ A member of a high school soccer team may not, during his or her season of sport, compete for an outside team in the sport of soccer. A season of sport (see Bylaw 504) is defined as that period which begins with a student’s first interscholastic competition (non‐league, tournament, or league game) and ends with that student’s last interscholastic contest (tournament, non‐ or CIF Southern Section playoff).
Earlier this week, it was reported that one team in the CIF LA City Section Open Division Boys’ Soccer Tournament would be impacted.
California high school soccer controversy shakes up playoffs.
The No. 2 seed in the Open Division Tournament field, South East, was discovered to have broken the outside competition rule. As a result, it’s semifinal win over Marquez was scrubbed and it was removed from the championship round.
The school had booked its ticket to the title game where it was scheduled to play El Camino Real. Instead, its season ended in scandal.
Marquez took South East’s spot in the finals for a brief moment. Now, they, too, will see their season end.
It’s now a double forfeit in City Section soccer playoffs for players playing in outside competitions. Marquez and South East eliminated. First-round losers Venice and Birmingham will play Thursday to meet ECR for Open Division title. MLS Next players involved.
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) February 25, 2026
Both semifinal competitors have been booted for the rule violation. The teams they beat in the opening round, Venice and Birmingham, will now play for the championship spot.
Birmingham players are ineligible.
Eric Sondheimer of the LA Times says that four players will not be able to compete in their unexpected playoff matchup. Believing that their season had ended with the loss to Marquez in the opening round, they began competing for their club teams.
That outside competition will prevent them from suiting up against Venice.
The Birmingham players followed the rules. They waited until after their season was over to join another team. They are being punished for the wrongdoing of others.
“It’s a big mess,” said City Section commissioner Vicky Lagos.
The Open Division is not the only field impacted. The CIF LA City Section Division III Boys’ Soccer Tournament has also been impacted as Franklin High School was removed from its playoff bracket.
The eligibility controversy has cast a dark cloud over California high school soccer. Many are pushing to eliminate the rule creating this dilemma.
That will do little to help this year’s Birmingham squad. It will be shorthanded while trying to advance to the championship game.