FC Cincinnati marked another MLS expansion milestone on Monday evening, announcing their plans to launch their academy with two youth teams this fall.
Granted admission to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy – the top national youth league in the United States – in October, FC Cincy will begin life in the DA with an Under-15 side and an Under-16/17 side when the 2019-20 season kicks off in September.
“We’ve been working with U.S. Soccer, MLS and Cincinnati United – as well as many of the other youth clubs in the area – to determine and implement the optimal youth structure for the region as we launch the FC Cincinnati Academy this fall,” FCC president and GM Jeff Berding said in a statement.
“FC Cincinnati has a responsibility to drive youth soccer to a higher level in the Tri-State area, in a program that will ultimately bear first-team FCC players in MLS and into the US national teams. We certainly appreciate the cooperation from all the youth clubs and the patience from parents and players as we have worked through this build-up while fielding a first team for MLS in record time.”
Like most MLS academies, Cincy’s will be fully funded, with no fees charged to players and their families and costs like equipment, facilities and travel covered by the club.
FCC say they’ve already begun conversations with local youth clubs about potential academy prospects and will announce their coaching staff, tryout dates, locations and other specifics in the coming weeks.
The Development Academy has 197 member clubs in all, and presently operates league competitions in six total age groups for boys: U-12, U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16/17, and U-18/19.
