More than a league. A platform for development, competition, and opportunity.
National League Official Academies is a formative soccer league created to bring together, organize, and strengthen the official academies of Liga MX and MLS clubs under one regional and national competitive structure.
Who We Are
A community of official academies, built to grow together.
We were born with a clear vision: to build a solid community of academies that officially represent their clubs' identity, with an organized competitive space, institutional recognition, and real opportunities for growth.
We're not here to be just another league. Our purpose is to build a platform that strengthens the work official academies are already doing, creates constant competition among institutions that share the same development philosophy, and gives more young players access to quality competitive experience.
Our Identity
Official academies only.
One of our main goals is to recognize, strengthen, and distinguish academies that have an official, current relationship with their clubs.
We believe in the value of institutional identity, the backing of the clubs, and the commitment that comes with being part of an official structure. That's why National League is open exclusively to the official affiliate academies of Liga MX and MLS clubs that meet the league's requirements.
We want to build a solid network of institutions that share a commitment to developing players, strengthening their athletic projects, and proudly representing their clubs' colors and identity.
Our Mission
Strengthen competition and player development.
Our mission is to bring the official academies of Liga MX and MLS clubs together under one competitive structure, so players train and compete at a consistently higher level throughout the season.
Every match, tournament, and category is organized to support real player development — not just results — alongside the academies and coaching staffs already doing that work every day.
Our Vision
A clear path from academy to projection.
We want the National League to become the reference competitive structure for official academies in the United States — one where competing at a high level and being seen by scouts and coaches go hand in hand, supported by the tools Wame Sports brings to the league.
How the League Works
A regional and national structure.
Official Academies Only
Every participating team belongs to the official youth academy of a Liga MX or MLS club — there is no open/independent-club path into this competition.
Regional Competition
Academies compete first within their region, keeping travel reasonable while raising the week-to-week level of play.
National Structure
Regional results feed into a national structure that brings the strongest academy teams together across categories.
Four Mandatory Categories
U17, U15, U13, and U11 — every official academy is required to enter all four, so players compete against others at the right age and stage of development.
A Solid Competitive Structure
U17 · U15 · U13 · U11
A league's solidity is built through the commitment of its participants. That's why our model requires every official academy to enter all four age categories: this guarantees continuous competitive growth for the academy's teams and makes the academy itself more solid and stronger, season after season.
- U172010–2011
- U152012–2013
- U132014–2015
- U112016–2017
Our competition begins with a regional phase, split into groups that reduce travel distances and support every academy's participation. As the league grows and new regions come online, national stages will open up, with finals between the champions of each group or region.
Technology & Innovation
Built with Wame Sports.
Through ProyecTal, our own platform built with our technology partner Wame Sports, every match a team plays as the home side is recorded — giving players match video, a personal highlight reel, and an individual sports profile that tracks their history, stats, and progress across seasons. These tools help put young talent in front of scouts, agents, and institutions looking for players.
See how Wame Sports worksOur Commitment
One league. Great academies. One shared vision.
We believe in soccer as a tool for development, formation, and growth. We believe in the academies working every day to build players — and people. We believe in competition as a way to raise the level of play, and in technology as a way to open new possibilities.
Talent unites us. Competition drives us. The future belongs to us.
Frequently asked questions
Who can join the National League?
Participation is open to the official youth academies of Liga MX and MLS clubs. Individual players register through their academy's team; players who are not yet part of an official academy can start at the player registration link on the Join page, which is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
What are the age categories?
Four categories: U17, U15, U13, and U11 (Sub 17, Sub 15, Sub 13, and Sub 11).
Do academies need to enter all four age categories?
Yes. Every official academy is required to enter all four categories — U17, U15, U13, and U11 — to guarantee continuous competitive growth and to make the academy itself more solid and stronger.
When does the season start?
The season is scheduled to start in February 2027.
Is there a cost to register?
Yes. Registration fees aren't published on the site — once your academy's or player's registration form is submitted and you meet the league's eligibility requirements, the fee is communicated to you directly. See the Refund Policy page for how refunds work.
What is Wame Sports?
Wame Sports is the league's technology partner, providing analytics tools, match video, and player profiles that support player development and projection. See the Wame Sports page for details.