Soccer has become an increasingly popular sport in the United States, which has helped the growth of soccer academies in this country.
While there’s a wide range of academies directly related to MLS teams, there are also academies linked to prestigious European clubs, such as PSG in France and F.C Barcelona in Spain.
Similarly, you can opt for private academies with professional and specialized coaches, enabling players to reach their full potential and develop their technical and tactical skills to the highest level.
That’s why, in this post, we would like to talk about the Best Soccer Academies in the United States, the different options available for parents, and everything that aspiring professional players need to know before signing up.
What is the ideal type of football academy?
In the United States, there are three types of academies, each offering soccer players different advantages:
- Academies linked to European teams
- MLS team academies
- Private and independent academies
European teams
- Greater chances of reaching a professional level
- Sporting achievement is the most important aspect to emphasize
- Players can sign their first professional contract with a European club at the age of 16
We’ll start with European team academies. The top teams in Europe all have academies in different parts of the world, their aim being to recruit the best players from different areas for their youth teams and, hopefully, turn them into professional players.
As soccer continues to gain prominence in the United States, European clubs have recognized the need to establish branches and academies to scout talent through camps and other activities.
Joining one of these academies makes you part of the structure of these high-ranking teams, and all those who join them will receive training from coaches endorsed by the clubs and aligned with the team’s philosophy.
National teams
- Players have the opportunity to make their professional debut with MLS teams
- They are trained and readied to join teams in the university network
- American soccer is on the rise and its academies have the latest state-of-the-art technology
We’ll now move on to national teams in the USA. MLS team academies are known for their excellence in training national and foreign players for their own teams.
From a young age, players receive all the technical and tactical knowledge they need to be able to achieve a professional level.
Sporting prowess is the main asset required of players in order for them to officially sign for a first-division team. No player can guarantee their place, and only the top performers will end up being key players in their teams.
Private academies
- The players will receive personalized supervision and guidance from their coaches
- They will take part in trials with scouts from clubs around the world, aiming to advance to the professional level
- The importance of education is emphasized, and players will receive a comprehensive, high-quality education
Finally, the other option available to parents is to enroll their children in private academies or independent high-performance academies.
As they are independent entities and not directly related to any club, the training is much more authentic and personalized.
Players receive advice and guidance based on their weaknesses and strengths, helping them to develop more effectively, and reach their peak performance in training.
We’ll now leave you with a list of the best
SOCCER ACADEMIES IN THE UNITED STATES
Comparison of the Best Academies in the USA
1. Best High-Performance Academy: FC Barcelona USA
The FC Barcelona High-Performance Academy is located in Arizona and is the only official school of the Catalan club in the whole country – it follows the same values as La Masía.
The Academy’s primary goal is to instill core values in its students, empowering them to achieve exceptional success in both sports and academic education.
To achieve this, the Academy competes in the USSDA, the top competition for lower categories where they can play against the best teams in the country.
In this competition, players compete against the top 70 training clubs, fostering their competitive spirit and honing their skills week after week.
In turn, your child will receive the necessary knowledge to qualify for a university scholarship at a prestigious institution in the United States.
What makes this football academy special for parents?
- A Seedbed of Stars: The F.C. Barcelona Academy in Arizona instills the same ideals as La Masía, its school located in Catalonia, Spain, which has produced such great players as Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández, and Lamine Yamal. Professional soccer players like Julián Araujo, Sam Gleadle, and Riggs Lennon have come through the Arizona academy.
- Elite-level trained coaches: This academy has professional coaches who specialize in training youth and adolescent players – all these coaches are endorsed by the club’s management.
- A Multicultural Academy: In the different categories, we find players from countries around the world such as Spain, Germany, Serbia, and Croatia. The coaches speak different languages, ensuring that language won’t be a barrier during the training sessions.
- High-Performance: As a High-Performance Academy, each training session is designed to help players reach their full potential, progressively enhancing their performance and growth with every session.
- A complete experience: All of this makes the F.C. Barcelona Academy the premier High-Performance option in the country, perfect for players aspiring to reach the highest level.
Types of programs
- Long-term programs: These offer a well-rounded experience combining high-intensity and competitive training over periods of several months. Players enjoy the complete F.C. Barcelona experience, with top-level coaches, matches against other teams from the United States, and much more.
- Summer camps: Ideal for parents who want their children to make the most of their vacation to improve their soccer skills. These camps also offer language training, recreational activities, and more.
- Short-term programs: These programs are a great option for parents and soccer players who want to familiarize themselves with how the Academy works. These are an “express” experience lasting up to two weeks where the kids can experience high-level training and enjoy all the facilities.
2. Best Private Academy: IMG Academy
The IMG Academy has a long history on American soil and around the world, with a very effective organizational structure to help improve the skills of its players.
Its camps and academies accept players from 9 to 18 years old, including goalkeepers and players of all positions.
They offer short, medium and long-term programs. Their summer camp is an ideal opportunity to enjoy all of their facilities and a comprehensive experience that mixes high-level competition with recreational activities.
- It has a great relationship with European teams with annual tryouts.
- It has a wide scouting network that offers its players to prestigious institutions worldwide.
- It has a high rate of professionalization of its students.
- Its academy has been in existence for more than 40 years.
- Its training sessions include video analysis and technological tools.
- Individual development plan for each player.
- Physical and mental conditioning.
3. The Academy with the Best Facilities: F.C Dallas
The FC Dallas Academy uses the Toyota Soccer Center sports complex – state-of-the-art facilities that help to train and develop soccer players.
The sports complex has several training fields and a first-division stadium, all designed to create an environment of great competitiveness and provide the necessary training to try to reach professional levels in soccer.
Players like Ricardo Pepi and Jesús Ferreira have been trained in this academy, which upholds a strong philosophy of possession play and how to exploit space on the pitch.
4. The Best Academy for all-round development: PSG
The PSG Academy has an elite training center, with top-level facilities that emulate those of Europe’s top teams.
Its academic training matches its football expertise, which is why it is renowned for the holistic development of its students.
In turn, the players join PSG’s Global Footballing Network. This can make it easier for them to become professional players if they stand out in their categories.
The Academy also offers university sports scholarships so that its students can continue their academic training while also honing their skills in soccer.
5. The Academy with the Best Scouting Set Up: NY Red Bulls
The NY Red Bulls soccer academy is renowned for having developed dozens of professional players who currently play in the MLS.
It has a very rigorous scouting network that ensures all players meet the Academy’s highest standards.
Their teams have become champions in different categories of the USSDA, and so a competitive edge is guaranteed.
The Academy usually recruits players on a quarterly or semi-annual basis, selecting the players they need who match the team’s philosophy of high intensity and high pressing.
6. The Best Women's Soccer Academy: De Anza Force Soccer Club
The Academia De Anza Force is widely recognized in the United States for creating great talent in women’s soccer, as well as for developing its players holistically.
It has a direct relationship with several NWSL teams and the U.S. national team system.
Players of the caliber of Alex Morgan, Crystal Dunn, and Kelley O’Hara were part of their setup.
7. The Academy with the Most Foreign Players: LA Galaxy
The Los Ángeles Galaxy Academy is one of the most prominent in the country and has a large number of players from Mexico, Central America, and other places around the world, bringing a multicultural environment to its training sessions.
Mexican stars like Giovani Dos Santos and Jonathan Dos Santos (who trained at La Masía, F.C Barcelona) have not only been part of the first team but also served as ambassadors for the academy’s youth development programs.
This Academy guarantees a high level of competition and maximum visibility for the most outstanding talents, offering excellent opportunities to reach the first team.
8. Seattle Sounders Academy
The Seattle Sounders Academy is one of the most thriving youth systems in American soccer, recognized for its solid training programs and the development of young talent.
Currently, Obed Vargas is showing great potential in the first team. At just 19 years of age, he has earned his place in the squad and is showing the tactical awareness and skills he gained during his years in the academy.
The academy emphasizes holistic player development, building on three foundational pillars: tactical, technical, and physical growth.
It employs a long-term system that continuously evaluates players from a young age, fostering their development within the club’s structure until they are ready to join the first team
9. Chicago Fire Academy
The Chicago Fire Academy competes at the highest level within its youth divisions, offering several different age groups that emphasize comprehensive player development.
It boasts first-class facilities and highly qualified coaches who cover all key aspects of football, tailoring the training to the players’ age groups.
Additionally, the academy follows a clear playing philosophy emphasizing possession and the creation of attacking opportunities by swiftly regaining possession from their opponents and controlling the ball well.
It also has a strong track record of promoting academy players to the country’s top division, supported by a well-structured scouting and recruitment network.
10. Atlanta United Academy
Atlanta United boasts one of the most striking stadiums in the MLS and enjoys impressive support from its fans, consistently breaking attendance records.
This support has produced a robust structure for its youth and academy teams.
The Atlanta United Academy offers high-level technical and tactical training across all age groups, instilling a strong ambition in its players to strive for excellence at the highest level.
Its infrastructure is among the most modern in the country and, in fact, the world. The players draw inspiration from Venezuelan star Josef Martinez, who broke several scoring records with the first team.
11. D.C United Academy
D.C. United, the team that represents the US capital, is an excellent option for young footballers aspiring to become professional players.
People like Aaron Herrera and Lucas Bartlett highlight the team’s high standards, and its academy has become one of the most respected in the nation for its competitiveness.
The academy also promotes sportsmanship and healthy competition among its players, promoting a multicultural environment ideal for immigrants and people of all nationalities.
Moreover, the club is one of the ten original participants in the inaugural MLS tournament, showcasing a proud and rich footballing tradition in the country.
12. Bethesda Soccer Club
The Bethesda Soccer Club, even though it isn’t directly affiliated with any MLS team, enjoys a strong reputation and high prestige in youth football across the United States.
The academy has produced 72 professional players and 695 collegiate-level players, prioritizing both their on-field and off-field growth.
On average, three graduates make it to the professional level per class, whether with MLS clubs or European teams.
Currently, the academy has players in the youth setups of Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Stade Reims, and Wolfsburg, as well as other European clubs.
13. San Jose Earthquakes Academy
We conclude the list of the best football academies in the United States with the San Jose Earthquakes Academy, a club that has seen remarkable growth in recent years.
Former player and MLS icon Chris Wondolowski oversees the U23 team and its holistic development.
The rest of the technical and coaching staff are highly skilled professionals from different countries, creating a multicultural and diverse environment.
Access to the academy is through tryouts held periodically each year, although competition for spots is fierce.
Choose the Football Academy that best suits your needs
The United States has a wide range of options when it comes to soccer academies. However, the F.C Barcelona Academy stands out for its clear focus on High Performance and excellent player development.
The key to success is to choose an academy that fits your needs and aspirations; this will increase your child’s chances of becoming a professional footballer.