For years it’s been drilled into the heads of sports fans everywhere that soccer is the fastest growing sport in America. Every fall for the last 29 years, the Greater Nashua population has witnessed firsthand what those youth soccer coaches were trying to market nationwide.

“It’s a sport that offers the opportunity to get players of many levels from recreation teams all the way up to competitive and high school aged players on the field and staying active,” said Nashua High School North girls soccer coach Dan Wyborney, who runs the Nashua World Cup Soccer Club’s Columbus Day Tournament. “In soccer there is plenty of opportunity to get better and continue playing the sport and growing as a player.”

Starting Saturday and running through Monday, teams from New England and Canada will take to the pitch to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the event.

They will be competing in boys and girls levels ranging from U9 through U14 (with divisions in each age group). There is a Premier Division, which includes premier and highly competitive travel teams, and a Classic Division, which includes competitive travel, city/town clubs and recreational teams.

“The impact is not just on New Hampshire alone,” said Nashua High School North girls soccer coach Dan Wyborney, who runs the Nashua World Cup Soccer Club’s Columbus Day Tournament. “The attraction is huge for so many communities in the northeast and gives all these players a chance to play at a higher level.”

It’s become too big of a tournament for just Nashua fields to host the event. Aside from the 12 Gate City locations – Mine Falls, Main Dunstable, Nashua High School South, Nashua High School North, Lincoln Park, Pennichuck Junior High School, Roussell Fields, Fairgrounds Junior High School, Bishop Guertin High School, Stellos Stadium, Greeley Park and Yuddicky Farm – the tournament will also branch out to four other Greater Nashua communities – Amherst’s Bean Fields and Cemetary Fields; Hollis’ Nichols Field; Merrimack’s Budweiser Fields and Kollsman Fields; and Milford’s MCAA Fields and the Hampshire Dome.

This year’s event is about more than soccer. In honor of baby Giovanni Guglielmo, who tragically passed away of NEMO (nuclear factor Kappa B essential modulator) this year and whose brothers Alex and Adrian both play for the program, NWC is holding bone marrow drives during the weekend long tournament. Anyone from 18 to 55 years of age will have the opportunity to register as a potential life saving bone marrow donor with DKMS Americas. Both of Giovanni’s parents, Michael and Christina, will be registering people for free as well as accepting tax deductible donations.

For a rundown of the schedules, field locations and directions, and a form to register for the bone marrow drive over the weekend, visit nashuaworldcupsoccer.com.