US Club Soccer

What US Club Soccer does

US Club Soccer is a South Carolina-incorporated nonprofit founded in 2001 and a National Association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation, headquartered in Mount Pleasant, SC with approximately 40-50 staff. It governs competitive youth soccer in the United States through league platforms (the National Premier Leagues, now transitioning into the National 1 League under a 2026-27 joint structure with U.S. Youth Soccer, plus the sanctioned Elite Clubs National League), cup-based championships (National Cup with Regionals and Finals held at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park), player identification programs (the id2 Program established in 2004 as a U.S. Soccer/U.S. Olympic Committee-recognized Olympic Development Program, and the regionally organized Player Development Programs), coach education, and safeguarding and compliance services. Member acquisition is executed through five regional general managers covering Southeast, West, North Central, South Central, and Northeast, supported by the GotSport online platform for player/staff registration, passcard issuance, rostering, background screening, and competition sanctioning.

The organization's revenue mechanics are diversified across per-player and per-staff registration fees, tournament sanctioning fees, background screening fees ($27.55 per adult participant effective August 1, 2025, inclusive of Homeland Security Search), and sponsorship/partner revenue from flagship brands including Nike (exclusive athletic apparel and equipment supplier, renewed August 2026), DICK'S Sporting Goods (official sporting goods retail partner and Finals host), Gatorade (official sports fuel provider), IOA (official insurance broker), and IMG Academy/NCSA College Recruiting (exclusive college recruiting partner, announced December 2025). The Players First branded philosophy, built on five to six pillars covering club, coaching, player, and referee development plus parent engagement and player health and safety, anchors member-facing value. Five regional GMs provide field distribution with no state-boundary restrictions on participation, and the member base spans hundreds of leagues, thousands of teams, and hundreds of thousands of players annually across all 50 U.S. states, plus adult leagues eligible for U.S. Open Cup qualifying.

Key customer segments include competitive youth soccer clubs (primary), recreation and community programs, adult soccer programs, elite youth players targeted by id2/PDP, and coaches/administrators. Notable recent strategic actions include the formation of the National 1 League from the NPL/US Youth Soccer merger, the NCSA/IMG Academy partnership, Nike renewal, the 2022 appointment of CEO Mike Cullina, and an ongoing safeguarding and compliance centralization initiative in response to the 2023 Sally Q. Yates report.

Name

US Club Soccer

Legal name

US Club Soccer

Website

https://usclubsoccer.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

US Club Soccer is a nonprofit National Association of U.S. Soccer that governs competitive youth soccer in the U.S. through league and cup platforms (National 1 League, National Cup, ECNL), the id2 player identification program, coach education, and safeguarding services for hundreds of leagues and thousands of clubs across all 50 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Soccer Governance and Competition

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (71121), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs) (MPAKAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional) (MPAKACAD), Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE), Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK)

Keywords

• Youth soccer leagues
• Soccer club registration
• Player identification programs
• Competitive soccer tournaments
• Soccer member services

Headquarters

HQ city

Charleston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Registration Fees: Fees collected from player and staff registrations. Player registration fees and staff registration requirements for coaches, managers, and administrators who have regular contact with minor athletes.
2. Insurance Coverage: Insurance coverage provided to member clubs, including liability and medical insurance for registered league administrators, member teams, and participants. IOA is the official insurance broker.
3. Tournament Sanctioning: Sanctioning fees for tournaments, with supplemental tournament insurance available for additional fees. Both US Club Soccer teams and teams from other U.S. Soccer affiliates can participate in sanctioned tournaments.
4. League Sanctioning: No additional league sanctioning fee beyond player and staff registration. US Club Soccer provides leadership and a vehicle for clubs and technical leaders to work together.
5. Background Screening: Domestic background screenings required for all Adult Participants. Cost increased from $26.85 to $27.55 on August 1, 2025. International background screenings now include Homeland Security Search.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

US Club Soccer is a nonprofit National Association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation that provides competitive youth soccer league platforms, cup-based championships, elite player identification programs, coach education, and member services to youth soccer clubs across the United States. Its core offerings include the National Premier Leagues/National 1 League, the National Cup series, the ECNL, the id2 Program, and Player Development Programs, all supported by registration, insurance, background screening, and safeguarding/compliance services accessed through the GotSport platform.

Product overview

US Club Soccer operates as a multi-platform youth soccer organization offering league-based competitions (National Premier Leagues/National 1 League, ECNL), cup-based championships (National Cup with Regionals and Finals), player identification programs (id2 Program, PDP), coach education, and member services. The organization uses GotSport as its online registration platform for player/staff management, passcards, and rosters. Key programs include safeguarding & compliance services, NCSA college recruiting partnership, and recreation/adult leagues. The Players First philosophy underpins all programming with pillars covering club development, coaching development, player development, referee development, parent engagement, and player health & safety.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Players First: A branded, holistic club soccer experience emphasizing individual player development and helping parents make informed decisions about their children's soccer participation.
• id2 Program
• National Premier Leagues (NPL)
• National Cup

Products and services

• National Premier Leagues (NPL) A collection of top US Club Soccer member leagues providing a unified national developmental platform. NPL facilitates meaningful games, reduces travel, and provides a pathway to postseason competition for member leagues.
• National 1 League The top team-based competition in US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer, created by combining the National Premier Leagues and US Youth Soccer's National League. Provides a unified national platform integrated with the ECNL across eight conferences beginning with the 2026-27 season.
• National Cup US Club Soccer's cup-based championship series featuring regional and state qualifiers culminating in National Cup Finals held annually at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park. Open to U-13 through U-18/19 boys and girls age groups with Super Group and Premier Group divisions.
• Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) Top league-based platform sanctioned by US Club Soccer for both girls and boys players. Founded in 2009, the ECNL represents the epitome of excellence in youth soccer with platforms for competition, player identification, club/coach development, and health education.
• id2 Program Elite youth soccer player identification and development program providing opportunities for players to be scouted for inclusion in U.S. Soccer's National Team programs. Includes national scouting, a recommendation system, id2 Training Camps, and international tours.
• Player Development Programs (PDP) Regionally-based identification and developmental programs under the id2 Program umbrella, focused around NPLs in specific geographic areas. Invitations are based on scouting within NPL, club scouting, and recommendations from Directors of Coaching.
• Youth Competitive Leagues Hundreds of additional leagues throughout the country for various age groups and competitive levels including Carolina Champions League, Ohio River League, Texas Club Soccer League, and others. No league sanctioning fee with flexible rules and procedures.
• Recreation & Community Programs Recreational membership for youth clubs and leagues primarily in-house or intramural in nature. Benefits from easy registration, reduced fees, and same rights as competitive members including insurance coverage and tournament sanctioning.
• U-23 and Adult Leagues Adult soccer programs for age groups U-20 and older, allowing members to maintain membership from youth to adult. Adult teams may be eligible for open qualifying of U.S. Soccer's Open Cup.
• Sanctioned Tournaments Tournament sanctioning program allowing both US Club Soccer teams and those registered with other U.S. Soccer affiliates to participate. Travel permissions not required for members, and tournament insurance is offered.
• State Championships State-based or geographic market-based cups that qualify for National Cup events. State championship events allow hosting members flexibility to develop events formatted based on specific state or regional needs.
• Safeguarding & Compliance Services Participant health and safety/risk management resources including policy statements, reporting obligations, prevention policies, prohibited conduct guidelines, background screening requirements, SafeSport training, head injury protocols, goal safety, and AED resources.
• Coach Education Coaching development resources including U.S. Soccer Education courses, the Education Center, and resources for coaches to grow. The organization believes better coaches develop better players and better clubs develop better coaches.
• Insurance Coverage (via IOA) Insurance coverage provided to member clubs, including liability and medical insurance for registered league administrators, member teams, and participants. IOA is the official insurance broker.
• NCSA College Recruiting Partnership Exclusive college recruiting partnership providing event technology, recruiting education software, and educational resources at US Club Soccer events. All US Club Soccer athletes receive a three-month free trial of IMG Academy+ Essentials.

Quantifiable outcome

• National 1 League created from NPL and US Youth Soccer National League merger, consolidating youth soccer landscape
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• IMG Academy/NCSA College Recruiting/SportsRecruitscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2025NCSA College Recruiting and SportsRecruits, both part of the IMG Academy network, announced a multi-year partnership. NCSA serves as US Club Soccer's exclusive college recruiting partner, providing event technology, recruiting education software, and educational resources at US Club Soccer events impacting hundreds of thousands of players annually. All US Club Soccer athletes receive a three-month free trial of IMG Academy+ Essentials.
• NikeflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerNike is the Exclusive Athletic Apparel and Equipment Supplier for all US Club Soccer programs including National Cup and the id2 Program. In addition to supplying apparel for players and staff, balls, bags and other equipment, Nike provides resources for continued growth. Partnership was renewed in August 2026.
• DICK'S Sporting GoodscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Sporting Goods Retail Partner of US Club Soccer. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, DICK'S is a leading omni-channel sporting goods retailer offering authentic, high-quality sports equipment, apparel, footwear and accessories. Hosts National Cup Finals and NPL Finals at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO.
• IOA (Insurance Office of America)coreOthersOfficial Insurance Broker of US Club Soccer. IOA is the 13th largest privately-held insurance agency nationally with headquarters in Longwood, FL. Has over 50 offices coast-to-coast with 1200+ employees.
• GatoradecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Sports Fuel Provider of US Club Soccer. Provides Gatorade Thirst Quencher for rehydration and electrolytes, and Gatorade Recover Protein Bars for muscle recovery.
• Siete FoodsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Mexican-American Snack of US Club Soccer. Founded in 2014 in Austin, Texas, Siete is on a mission to inspire inclusivity by sharing heritage-inspired foods.
• VeocoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial Video Capture, Analysis & Streaming Solution of US Club Soccer. Veo is an AI-powered sports camera used to capture and analyze soccer games. Partnership allows US Club Soccer members to leverage Veo technology for coaching and player development, and provides enhanced viewing experience. Veo is also the official league exchange platform of NPL.
• GotSportflagshipTechnology or IntegrationOfficial Sports Management Technology Provider of US Club Soccer. GotSport is the leading provider of soccer software in the USA, developing tools to help get players on the field since 1996. Provides registration, event management, and background screening technology.
• Tournament Housing Services (THSweb)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial Travel Partner of US Club Soccer. Offers teams and parents a seamless reservation process using live inventory and proprietary technology since 1998.
• Rated Sports Group (RSG)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of the most influential youth sporting event organizers in North America. US Club Soccer acts as the sanctioning body for annual tournaments hosted by RSG.
• Positive Coaching AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting partner providing research-based training and resources for coaches, parents, athletes, and leaders to ensure positive youth development experience.
• Soccer.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner providing soccer equipment and information. Founded in 1984 by the Moylan family in Hillsborough, NC to provide American soccer players with equipment and information.
• WeCOACHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 2011, WeCOACH focuses on recruitment, advancement and retention of women coaches through professional growth and leadership development. All US Club Soccer women coaches receive complimentary membership and access to scholarships for the annual Youth & High School Women Coaches Academy.
• U.S. Soccer FederationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS Club Soccer is a National Association member of U.S. Soccer Federation. Together both organizations are committed to development and support of youth soccer including coach education, player development and identification. id2 and PDP programs are Olympic Development Programs recognized by U.S. Soccer Federation and U.S. Olympic Committee.
• U.S. Youth SoccerflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational 1 League is the result of bringing together US Club Soccer's National Premier Leagues and US Youth Soccer's National League, beginning with the 2026-27 season. New league represents collaboration benefiting players and families across the country.
• ECNL (Elite Clubs National League)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS Club Soccer sanctions ECNL as a top league-based platform for both girls and boys players. Founded in 2009, ECNL has become the epitome of excellence in youth soccer. The National 1 League integrates with ECNL Regional League for promotion pathway.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• US Youth Soccer: National Association member of U.S. Soccer Federation operating parallel youth soccer leagues (National League), cups, and state associations. Now a co-founding partner with US Club Soccer in the National 1 League, US Youth Soccer is the most direct organizational peer in terms of mission, member base, and competitive offerings.
• MLS NEXT: Elite youth soccer league platform operated by Major League Soccer featuring professional-club-affiliated academies. MLS NEXT competes with US Club Soccer's ECNL and National 1 League for top-tier competitive players, offering a parallel pathway to professional soccer.
• Elite Clubs National League (ECNL): Top league-based platform for elite girls and boys youth soccer, sanctioned by US Club Soccer. ECNL operates as both a peer (independent league platform competing for elite clubs) and an integrated partner via the National 1 League pathway.
• American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO): One of the largest youth soccer organizations in the U.S., operating a recreational and competitive league structure nationwide. AYSO competes for the same youth soccer households and club memberships as US Club Soccer, although it leans more recreational.
• Soccer Association for Youth (SAY): National youth soccer organization offering recreational and competitive programs. SAY operates as a smaller-scale alternative to US Club Soccer and AYSO, primarily serving community-based leagues.

Emerging players

• IMG Academy: Multi-sport training academy and parent organization of NCSA College Recruiting (US Club Soccer's exclusive college recruiting partner). IMG Academy represents an adjacent commercial pathway for elite youth athletes that competes for player development mindshare and recruiting dollars.

Broad incumbents

• USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association): National multi-sport governing body that operates youth soccer alongside baseball, basketball, and other sports. USSSA competes for the same club membership and tournament sanctioning dollars as US Club Soccer but across a broader multi-sport portfolio.
• U.S. Soccer Federation: National governing body for soccer in the United States and the parent federation of which US Club Soccer is a National Association member. U.S. Soccer sets overarching policy for youth development, Olympic Development Programs, and National Team pathways that US Club Soccer executes against.

Others

• GotSport: Official sports management technology provider for US Club Soccer since 1996, powering registration, event management, rosters, and background screening. GotSport is an enabling technology partner rather than a competitor, but its platform underpins US Club Soccer's entire registration and membership workflow.
• U.S. Soccer Development Academy (legacy):

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/USClubSoccer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about US Club Soccer