BRADENTON, FL - JANUARY 11: Bryang Kayo of the United States dribbles the ball at IMG Academy on January 11, 2020 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
In the void left by the Development Academy, MLS’ Elite Youth Development Platform will face competition from other leagues. That competition only brightens U.S. soccer’s future.
In place of the now-defunct U.S. Development Academy, U.S. Youth Soccer, the largest youth sports organization in the country, now partners with Major League Soccer to organize and support soccer players and communities throughout the country. This collaboration will manage 95 separate academy clubs, 30 of which are represented by the soon-to-be 30 MLS teams.