Pickup and park football
Turn local matches into the first organised opportunity and a route into the system.
USA
Create your footballer and begin in pickup football, a travel club, an MLS NEXT academy, college or USL. Navigate Homegrown rights, the draft, trades and enormous journeys before aiming for MLS, Europe and the US national side.
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STEP 1 OF 2
The American route does not follow one pyramid. Academies, college football, the SuperDraft, MLS NEXT Pro and USL can all lead to the professional game, while roster rules and trades can redirect a career without a transfer window.
Start a career in the USAYou train and play while managing registration, roster status, contracts, travel and transfer choices. The game contains 56 American career events about academies, college, USL, MLS rules, cup football and overseas opportunities.
Turn local matches into the first organised opportunity and a route into the system.
Use weekend tournaments and recruiting exposure while managing a demanding youth schedule.
Develop in a professional pathway and chase NEXT Pro minutes and Homegrown status.
Balance education and a shorter season before trials or the SuperDraft.
Build senior professional minutes outside MLS and create a domestic or overseas move.
Academy, college, the draft, NEXT Pro and USL all move forward differently.
Homegrown rules, U22 places and allocation mechanisms can shape a move beyond the contract number.
A roster decision may change club, city and time zone without the usual transfer story.
Build league form towards Decision Day, handle the play-off format and use the US Open Cup as a stage where lower-division players can meet MLS. Leagues Cup adds more travel and a different opponent pool.
An academy player weighs a professional contract against education and another development timeline.
Read more: The Homegrown path: from academy to MLSThe move is registered before the player has understood the new city and role.
Read more: Trade alert: you are moving three time zonesFor a lower-division footballer, one knockout tie becomes the season's largest stage.
Read more: Open Cup upset: the night the badge across from you is MLSPublic expectation arrives while eligibility and the decision are still being checked.
A combine report and another player's decision change where clubs expect you to go.
The contract shows one number while the roster meeting discusses another.
An academy or reserve chance becomes an immediate packing and selection decision.
Transfer pressure builds before an overseas club submits a firm offer.
An academy place can lead toward NEXT Pro minutes and an MLS contract, but college timing, club rights and the first-team roster still shape the route.
The transaction is complete before you finish reading the message. A new club, city, coaching staff and time zone now sit between you and the next match.
The venue is familiar, but the opponent's badge brings more cameras, scouts and noise. For a lower-division player, one cup tie can become the season's largest stage.
Change MLS clubs through a trade, use a USL loan for minutes or move overseas after strong form. Compare roster status, promised role, playing chance and international visibility.
Regular professional football, important play-off and Open Cup performances and success abroad can bring selection. Dual-national decisions and competition between domestic and overseas players affect the timing.
Create your footballer and begin an American career through academy, college or USL.
Start a career in the USA