There’s a new club in Major League Soccer, the San Diego FC (SDFC), which joined the league this season and it’s already planning for the future.
They created a free soccer academy in their $150 million training facility, which according to @pechefootball will combine residency and private schools.
They held free tryouts last year and 4,000 players showed up in San Diego and Tijuana. Players born between 2010 and 2014 could register to apply.
FIFA has a rule that teams within 50 kilometers of an international border are eligible to register players under the age of 18 who also reside within 50 kilometers of the same border.
San Diego will be the only MLS team that will be able to recruit players from Mexico.
“We’re excited to continue to make history as we host the first-ever free open tryouts for SDFC’s Right to Dream Academy in San Diego and Tijuana,” said Joaquin Escoto, executive vice-president of SDFC’s Right to Dream Academy, at the time of the tryouts. “This is a significant step in our mission to connect with the community, discover and develop the best young talent in North America, providing opportunities for young players to shine. We look forward to welcoming the next generation of footballers and offer them the resources and support to achieve their dreams on and off the field.”
According to the academy's website, it will open in August 2025 with an inaugural class of boys born between 2012 to 2014 years. They will enroll in sixth and seventh grades and form a single team. They state the plan is for the academy to grow to include grades six through 12, with boys and girls, and will have competitive teams ranging from the U12 to U16 ages.
For now, the team counts experienced Mexican player Hirving “Chucky” Lozano in its roster. Still, the club is clearly looking ahead by recruiting young talent and providing a free academy for them, which is what some fans are calling “a game changer.”
San Diego FC plays against LA Galaxy tomorrow at 1:45 p.m.
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