Soccer enthusiasts by the thousands are expected to converge in Bend this weekend for the fourth annual Bend Premier Cup soccer tournament.

The Bend FC Timbers are hosting a field of 156 teams from Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada and Idaho. The Bend FC Timbers account for 20 of the teams participating in this year’s tournament, which begins today and concludes with championship matches on Sunday.

The tournament is being staged at Big Sky Park, Bend Pine Nursery, Mountain View High School, Summit High School, Ponderosa Elementary School, 15th Street and Bear Creek Elementary School.

The finals on Sunday will all be held at Bend Pine Nursery, where the last game is set to begin at 3 p.m.

Each age group (9U through 19U) is split into two divisions: gold and silver.

The gold division is open to pre-competitive 9U-11U teams and 12U-19U teams that play in their respective State Cups. The silver division is for stronger recreational 9U-19U teams and teams that play in their state’s Presidents Cup.

John O’Sullivan, director of the Bend Timbers, estimates that some 4,500 individuals — including players and their family members — will attend the tournament. He says that money raised through entry fees from the Premier Cup will allow the Bend FC Timbers to grant financial aid to players in need.

This past spring the Oregon Rush, an established youth soccer club based in Bend, joined the professional Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer and became the Bend FC Timbers. However, according to O’Sullivan, the only notable change in the Premier Cup this year will be the inclusion of other Timbers partner clubs in the competition field.

O’Sullivan notes that the Premier Cup has nearly doubled in size since the tournament hosted an 86-team field in its 2010 debut.

“It’s grown because it’s a beautiful place to go,” O’Sullivan said. “A lot of the teams that came three years ago have kept coming each year.”

Concessions will be available at the Bend Pine Nursery location. Spectators are welcome at all Premier Cup games; admission is free.

Bend Premier Cup

Start times for first and last games each day at tournament sites:

Today

• 15th Street: 2:35-7:15 p.m.

• Bear Creek Elementary: 5:40-7 p.m.

• Bend Pine Nursery: noon-7 p.m.

• Big Sky: noon-7 p.m.

• Mountain View High School: noon-7 p.m.

• Ponderosa Elementary School: 3-7 p.m.

• Summit High School: 2:45-7 p.m.

Saturday

• 15th Street: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Bear Creek Elementary: 8 a.m.-2:45 p.m.

• Bend Pine Nursery: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Big Sky: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Mountain View High School: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Ponderosa Elementary School: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Summit High School: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

Sunday

• 15th Street: 8-9:20 a.m.

• Bend Pine Nursery: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

• Big Sky: 8-10:40 a.m.

• Mountain View High School: 8-10:40 a.m.

• Ponderosa Elementary School: 9:10 a.m.

• Summit High School: 8-9:20 a.m.

On the web

See www.bendpremiercup.com for schedules and updated results.