Does FC Cincinnati hold academy tryouts?
FC Cincinnati Academy · Cincinnati, Ohio · Checked October 16, 2026
No open tryouts. FC Cincinnati scouts local club games and asks club technical directors for recommendations, then invites players to its Discovery Program. Spring 2026 was for boys born 2014 and 2015. Older players can send a recommendation letter and game video to the Academy to ask for a trial.
Got a tryout? How to prepare your child, including MLS NEXT → How MLS NEXT tryouts work, in one guide →How recruitment works
Scouting or recommendation, then Discovery Program or a trial, then Pre-Academy or Academy teams.
- 01Discovery Program
An invite-only program for boys the Academy staff identified. It also acts as an early identification tool for future Pre-Academy teams. Invitations usually go out within seven days and at least 10 days before the first session.
Official page ↗ - 02Regional Discovery Programs (Cincinnati and Dayton)
Entry point for boys born 2016 and 2017, found at community camps, clinics and local clubs. The club page has player recommendation forms.
Official page ↗ - 03Ask for a trial (U13 to U18)
Send a letter of recommendation and recent game footage to academy@fccincinnati.com. If staff see the right level, they start talking with your club and family to arrange a trial.
Official page ↗
- Cincinnati and Dayton
- Local club games and technical director recommendations
- 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
What parents ask about FC Cincinnati
How does FC Cincinnati find academy players?
Academy staff scout local club games and ask club technical directors for recommendations. Players who are scouted or recommended get an invitation to the Discovery Program.
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.