NEW U.S. Elite Youth League: National Academy League
4/17/2023
On April 13, 2023, a press release announced the creation of the National Academy League, a youth soccer league for elite players across the United States. Comprising 54 top non-MLS Academy teams, the league will host competitions within five regional conferences—New England, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Florida—for players in the U13 to U19 age groups. While not explicitly stated, it seems that the National Academy League is a national extension of the North East Elite League (NEAL), which began in the 2021/2022 season.
NEAL, a league for players competing in the U11 to U19 divisions, includes the New England and Northeast conferences and is a strategic partner of MLS NEXT. Predominantly non-MLS academies make up the member clubs, using NEAL as a platform for their U13 and older B teams, while the clubs A teams compete in the MLS NEXT league.
As such, the new National Academy League is a national expansion of NEAL, intended for those players who aspire to participate in MLS NEXT. The inaugural season will be the Fall 2023/Spring 2024 season.
The 54 founding clubs that will compete in 5 conferences in the inaugural season of the National Academy League are listed below:
New England Conference
Boston Bolts, IFA, NEFC, Seacoast United, Valeo, Bayside FC, NY Rush Select, SDA, NY Elite
Northeast Conference
BW Gottschee, Cedar Stars Academy North Bergen, Beachside SC of CT, FC Westchester, Cedar Stars Academy Monmouth, TSF Academy, Ironbound SC, New York SC, DUSC, Met Oval, Barca Academy Pro, Cedar Stars Academy Hudson Valley, FA Euro, LI Slammers
Mid-Atlantic Conference
Alexandria SA, Achilles, SACBA, Bethesda SC, FC DELCO, PA Classics, PDA, Real Jersey, Sporting Athletic, SYC
Southeast Conference
Hoover-Vestavia Soccer, Inter Atlanta FC, Kalonji Soccer Academy, Lanier Soccer Academy, Southern Soccer Academy, Wake FC, Triangle United SC
Florida Conference
Florida Rush, Tampa Bay United, Weston FC, Miami Rush Kendall SC, West Florida Flames, Jacksonville FC, IMG Academy, United Soccer Alliance, Ideasport Soccer Academy, Chargers SC, Plantation FC Academy, FC Tampa Rangers, SFFA, Orlando City Seminole
