Toronto FC Academy: tryouts, ages and how to get scouted
BMO Training Ground, Downsview Park · Toronto, Ontario · Checked October 20, 2026
Yes, once a year. Toronto FC Academy runs one open tryout for boys born 2009 to 2013. The 2026 dates were July 20 to 23. The fee is $50 CAD, and there is no fee once a player is in the Academy. Players who already play for an Ontario Player Development League (OPDL) club cannot enter it. The club finds those players through Ontario Soccer's provincial screening instead. The 2027 dates are not published yet.
Got a tryout? How to prepare your child, including MLS NEXT → How MLS NEXT tryouts work, in one guide →How recruitment works
One open tryout each year for non-OPDL players. OPDL players are scouted through the provincial screening. Once selected, the Academy fee is zero.
- 01Open tryouts, once a year
Boys born 2009 to 2013. Players must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in Ontario, the Atlantic provinces or the territories listed on the club page. They must not be registered with an OPDL club. 2026 dates were July 20 to 23. The fee was $50 CAD. First cuts come the evening of the second session. Parents cannot watch.
Official page ↗ - 02Provincial screening for OPDL players
The club says players at OPDL clubs are scouted through the Provincial Screening and its partnership with Ontario Soccer. They do not use the open tryout. This includes I-Model players at OPDL clubs.
Official page ↗ - 03Recommendation from a club coach
Club technical directors and coaching staff may recommend players by emailing the Academy. The email address is on the club's open tryouts page.
Official page ↗
Where the Academy trains and where players go next
The Academy trains at the BMO Training Ground in Downsview Park, Toronto. Toronto FC played its U15, U16 and U18 teams in MLS NEXT in 2026. MLS NEXT is the top youth league run by Major League Soccer (MLS).
The club names Toronto FC II as the next step. Toronto FC II is the second team. The Academy director said in May 2025 that a small share of players go on to pro soccer and most go on to school. School here means college and university soccer.
Source: Toronto FC: busy season, big opportunities (May 2025) ↗
What the club does not publish
We could not find these on the club's own pages: the full age ladder, 2027 tryout dates, boarding, and school links. We have not guessed. We will add them when the club publishes them.
- Ontario OPDL clubs, through the provincial screening
- Non-OPDL clubs in Ontario, the Atlantic provinces and the territories, through the open tryout
- MLS NEXT games, where TFC plays other MLS academies
- Ask which route this is: open tryout, provincial screening or a coach recommendation. They work differently.
- If your child plays at an OPDL club, do not sign up for the open tryout. The club says it is not open to OPDL players.
- Ask what the Academy costs once your child is selected. The club says there is no fee for Academy players.
- Ask about school and travel. The club page we checked does not say anything about either.
What to check before you agree
What parents ask about Toronto FC Academy
How much are Toronto FC Academy tryouts?
The 2026 open tryout cost $50 CAD. The club says there is no fee for players once they are in the Academy. Source: torontofc.ca/academy/open-tryouts, checked 20 October 2026.
When are the next Toronto FC Academy tryouts?
The 2026 open tryout ran July 20 to 23. The club says it holds the open tryout once a year. 2027 dates are not published yet. Source: torontofc.ca/academy/open-tryouts, checked 20 October 2026.
Is the Toronto FC Academy a path to the first team?
The club's own news shows players moving from the Academy to the second team, Toronto FC II, and then the first team. The Academy director has also said most players go on to school and college soccer, and a small share turn pro. Source: torontofc.ca news, May 2025, checked 20 October 2026.
Practice reading the game while you wait
Soccer IQ is how a player decides what to do before the ball arrives. Our Soccer IQ game shows short match moments and asks your child to choose. It is a free early version. It is for practice and talking together. It does not predict whether a child will be picked.
League and college numbers: Youth soccer in the US: the numbers.
- Toronto FC, Academy open tryouts ↗
- Toronto FC, Academy home ↗
- Toronto FC, busy season news (May 2025) ↗
- Toronto FC Development, camps and clinics ↗
Last verified October 20, 2026. Spotted a change? Tell us so we can check the page.
Compare every club: Canadian MLS academies, club by club, or read how MLS NEXT tryouts work. Looking at the US too? See the US MLS academy guides.