Does D.C. United hold academy tryouts?
D.C. United Academy · Washington, D.C. area · Checked October 16, 2026
Mostly scouted, with Talent ID events. D.C. United scouts watch games every week and always contact a player's current club first. Players the club picks out may be offered a trial, extended training or a place at a Talent Center or tryout. Talent ID events are listed as monthly in spring and fall.
Got a tryout? How to prepare your child, including MLS NEXT → How MLS NEXT tryouts work, in one guide →How recruitment works
Scouting, then a match visit, extended trial or Talent ID event.
- 01Scouted at games
Scouts attend games each week. They must contact the current club first. Contact with a player or parent on the field is not allowed.
Official page ↗ - 02Ask a scout to attend your match
Families can fill in a form. The club then discusses options: a scout at a match, an extended trial with an Academy team, or a Talent Center or tryout.
Official page ↗ - 03Talent ID Events
Listed as monthly in the spring and fall. Ask your coach or director to contact the scouting director, or complete the form on the page.
Official page ↗
- Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia
- Weekly youth league games
- Ask who is inviting you: the academy itself, or a camp or paid program run by the club's youth department.
- Ask whether the invitation is for one trial, a training pool or a team place. Pools can run for months.
- Ask in writing about cost, travel and school before you agree to anything.
- Tell your child's current club. MLS academies usually contact the current club first.
What to check before you agree
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.
Last verified October 16, 2026. Spotted a change? Tell us so we can check the page.
Compare every club: MLS academy tryouts 2026-27, club by club, or read how MLS NEXT tryouts work.
Looking for a local youth club? Find a youth soccer club in New York or New Jersey or see the tryouts calendar.