FC Cincinnati announces new academy teams

FC Cincinnati will expand its academy programming during the 2020-21 club soccer season, adding Under-13, Under-14 and Under- 19 teams.

“Adding these three programs to our established Under-15 and Under-17 teams provide increased opportunities for players to aspire to, and train for, a different level of soccer,” FC Cincinnati Director of Player Development Larry Sunderland said in a press release. “We’ve always held the belief that we need to be the ones to push soccer to a higher level in our region. Expanding our development pyramid allows greater access to our system for more players, families and coaches in our region.

We're growing!

We're proud to announce the addition of an Under-19 team and launch of the Pre-Academy!

📰: https://t.co/r5y6LWxOOd

— FC Cincinnati Academy (@FCCincyAcademy) May 20, 2020

“Adding these age groups gives more players the opportunity access to the FC Cincinnati system, our culture, our playing style and our values. It not only creates a longer player development runway for FC Cincinnati, but also gives so many more players a great opportunity for identification and involvement in our programs,” Sunderland added.

All five teams will compete in the newly lanching Major League Soccer youth league. The U19 teams will be fully funded, while families will be required to cover travel costs -- but nothing else -- for U13 and U14 teams.