September 5, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Cincinnati News Release
The FC Cincinnati Academy had a banner year in 2023-2024. The young organization in just its fifth year of operation has begun to find its footing in the nationwide scene in terms of recruitment, and is continuing to promote youth soccer in the area at the highest levels.
The ultimate goal of the academy is to augment the first team and be a constant provider of talent to The Orange and Blue as the club continues to compete for trophies in MLS. In 2024 those pieces continued to contribute and new names and faces were added to the talent pool as the academy – now in its fifth season after initially hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic – began to show just how formidable it can be. The continued effort for 2024-2025 continues with some changes to the organization, both in terms of structure and mindset.
The biggest structural change for the upcoming season isn’t all that big. FC Cincinnati, along with the rest of the MLS academy apparatus (called MLS NEXT) has reorganized its age groups to better align with player pathways through soccer. This year FCC will be having teams compete in the U13, U14, and U15 levels as well as U16 and U18 levels. The change comes from a U17 and U19 model. Last season the higher level sides also competed in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) to better align with the U19 age group, now all teams will compete under the MLS umbrella. The format more similarly aligns with academy systems abroad and makes for simpler integration.
The 2024-2025 season is just around the corner now. Two age groups recently traveled to Nashville, Tennessee for a preseason competition where they competed against Academy sides from all over the nation, including games against NYCFC and Atlanta United FC. The resounding goal for the season is to continue to grow under new expectations and continue to perform at the highest levels.
Last season was the first statement season for the Academy as a whole. The U17 and U15 sides made deep runs in the Generation adidas Cup for the first time. The U14 side won the Patterson Cup in a massive step for the club.
Major steps were taken that shows the continued development of not only the organization, but the players who have been in it all this time. Now attention has been turned to them on the national stage, with several news and coverage outlets highlighting how they feel the academy is becoming one of the dominant players in the youth soccer…
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