2026 MLK Freedom

Coaches, team managers, players, parents, and siblings,

Thanks for attending a very competitive 2026 MLK Freedom futsal tournament at Spooky Nook on Monday. Here are some high-level stats from the day:

2026 MLK Freedom Stats
Games: 228
Games decided by 2 goals or fewer: 114 (50%)
Games decided by 6 goals or more (the max GD was set at 5): 37 (16%)
Average GD: 3.30 (our 2nd best ever in 12 years of running futsal tournaments - our historical average is 4.11)

Although we know that each team will always have their own unique experience, we strive to create the best competition and the best overall tournament experience possible, and this is how we hold ourselves accountable.

New Exposure App Was Smooth
Our switch to Exposure instead of Tourney Machine seemed like a winner. Other than some annoying ads, the app was easy to use and updated quickly. The right teams showed up to the right courts and games started and ended on time. The refs that did the score reporting got them entered quickly and accurately about 99% of the time.

22 Champions Were Crowned & Almost All Got Medals
Congrats to all our Champions and Finalists! Last year we had 108 teams, so we ordered medals based on an estimate of 120 teams. And then we blew past that number and had 138. We had some anxious moments waiting to see if we'd have enough medals for the last teams to finish (U9 Boys) and we ended up having the exact number of silver "Finalist" medals that we needed and 5 extra gold "Champion" medals. Whew! Big thanks to a the older boys team that was kind enough to not take medals and to a few players that accepted a t-shirt instead of a medal. You made a little kid's day.

Next Up: Presidents Day Rush on Mon Feb 16
Our next event is the Presidents Day Rush on Mon Feb 16 at Spooky Nook. Last year we had a record 150 teams and used 16 courts. Based on our other trends, we're anticipating about 180+ teams this year. Please register early and we hope to see you there!

Next Year's MLK Freedom & The EPIC Cup X
Mark your calendar for Mon Jan 18, 2027 for our 14th edition of the MLK Freedom, and if you like how we run events, consider joining us for The EPIC Cup X this spring!

Yours in futsal,
Brett Dickson & Russell Lewis
Tournament Directors, 2026 MLK Freedom