Teams will be competing at the 2026 International Cheer Union (ICU) World Cheerleading Championship and has potential to compete at the Pan American Championships September 2026 in Mexico City.

US National Team Selection process will be by a video entry. Video entry must use athletes that would potentially be on the team and only those that meet the ICU impairment and age requirements. Special Olympics teams must meet specific rostering requirements for Special Olympics Sport specific teams. Specific Special Olympics questions should be addressed to Darian Packard, Special Olympics Global Advisor at darian@socheer.org.

Please submit the Google form below if interested and ask any questions to ltrudell@usacheer.org.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

To apply for the US National Teams, the submission process will consist of the following:

• Complete an online application (google form – Coaches will need USA Cheer membership to submit)
• Submit an interview and skills video by August 1, 2025
• Coach interview process (not all team candidates will be interviewed after applying)

Video Requirements

• Each video must ONLY include athletes who will be eligible for the 2026 Competition (age explanation below).
• Please have a video link for each of the following sections. Sections are required in the following order:

1. Interview (video link 1, can be combined with Community Service Video):
   • 60-90 second introduction about yourself and the team/division you will be representing. Please explain the potential makeup of the team, potential coaches and any pertinent information. In addition, explain why you feel you should be selected as a program.
2. Community Service Projects (video link 1, can be combined with interview video) (15sec Max)
   1. Event participation – show variety of events athletes/team attends. Fundraisers, Walk/Runs, Sports Game Performance, Expos, etc.
   2. Multiple groups recommended but not required.
3. Skills (video link 2)
   1. Skills Section 1: Submit a YouTube skills video link of skills sections within the 2025 competition year. Skills section must include jumps/leaps, tumbling, dance/motions, stunts, pyramids, dance turns/skills, or other skills related to your division.
   2. Skills Section 2: Submit a YouTube video of a routine within the 2025 competition year. Skills highlighted must include skills related to your division.
   3. Skills Section 3: Cheer teams must also submit a 30sec cheer leading crowd technique section. This may include signs, poms, flags, megaphones, motions, cheer tumbling, cheer stunts. It is recommended to use the USA Cheer words from the 2025 National Teams – “Let’s Go U S A, Red White Blue”.

Requirements for Submitting Video:

To be eligible for consideration, submit your video no later than August 1, 2025, via YouTube video links (sections1-3). Please follow THIS LINK for instructions on how to create video links if you have not done this before. It is our recommendation to make it a private link.

Ages for Competing:

For ICU, all members of the teams must be age 12 years of age and older within the year of the 2025 ICU World Championships. Any team proven to be in violation of the ICU age requirements will be automatically disqualified.

*PLEASE NOTE: If the athlete is 11 years old on Jan 1, 2026, but turning 12 in the year of 2026, they will qualify for the team even if they turn 12 years of age, after the competition in April

What are the dates of the 2025 ICU World Championships?
April 21, 2026 USA Cheer Showcase
April 22, 2026 – ICU Opening Ceremonies
April 22 & 23, 2026 – ICU Championships
April 24, 2026 – ICU Closing Ceremonies (optional)

What size squad are you looking for to compete?

The ICU Championships allow a minimum of 16 athletes up to 24 athletes on the competition floor. You are allowed alternates. Any person working with the athletes in any respect, must be included on the team roster as coach, chaperone or other.

How old do I have to be to compete?

For ICU, all members of the team must be at least 12 years of age (depending on the category) within the year of the World Championships. Any team proven to be in violation of the ICU age requirements will be automatically disqualified. Passport, photo identification or birth certificate required, these documents are also submitted for the USA Cheer Membership.

If chosen, what is expected of my team financially?

Teams will be responsible for all expenses. Items that go into costs are, but not limited to: Coaching expenses, transportation, hotel, competition fees, athlete uniform and apparel package, and food. USA Cheer has fundraising ideas and a platform to assist your team with their efforts. You are welcome and encouraged to do fundraisers at home with your schools/programs but there will be set guidelines on what you are able to do for fundraising. Estimated costs for everyone are approximately $1200- $1500 per athlete. Please get pre-approved for any fundraising or marketing campaigns.

Is there a membership requirement?

Every coach is required to have a current USA Cheer Coach membership including the background check. Every volunteer, trainer, chaperone, and athlete 18 and older representing the USA Team is required to have a current USA Cheer Professional membership including the background check. And every athlete 17 years old and younger is required to obtain a USA Cheer Athlete membership with age verification. These memberships ensure safety training, athlete protection training, concussion training, background screening and age verification.

When will we find out about the US National Team decision?

Team selections will be announced as soon as possible after the selection process. Once selected, you have a max of 48 hours to accept, or USA Cheer has the right to move on with another team.

USA Cheer will coordinate Directors and Judges to assist with Team Selections. Weekly communication is required in this process.

If chosen, what is expected of my team?

Once selected, USA Cheer will set up dates to video chat with a member of our coaching staff to work on choreography for the ICU routine alongside your current coaching staff.

What dates will my team have to be in Orlando, FL?

Teams must travel in two to three days before opening ceremonies to Orlando, FL for mandatory practices and the USA Cheer Showcase, leading up to the Opening Ceremonies.

*Please Note: USA Cheer reserves the right to individually select a team to represent the US National Team if there are a small number of teams that apply. In addition, if submission entries lack the skill level to be competitive, a team may not be selected. We also reserve the right to appoint a team if the selection panel finds that submitted teams lack in any or all areas to be competitive. Note, not all ICU Divisions will be entered and not all applicants will be interviewed.