With the announcement of Forward Madison as the club’s USL affiliate, Minnesota United has added a vital piece to its team structure. In past seasons, MNUFC has set up agreements with USL teams like the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Las Vegas Lights and Tulsa Roughnecks to get minutes for young players or those rehabbing from injuries, but each of those agreements was set up on a case-by-case basis. Having the newly launched Forward Madison as an affiliate presents a wealth of opportunities for both clubs to benefit as MNUFC takes steps to better establish a pathway for professional soccer in the Upper Midwest from its Pre-Development Academy all the way through the first team in MLS.