It’s not easy to say who the best youth soccer clubs in Florida are because there are so many! After researching different leagues / rankings from all ages, both boys and girls I had to put 10 clubs. Another resource used was a local A-license coach [Alvin] who’s been there for about 20 years and has coached D1 college.
A few unique things about Florida is that the top clubs are spread out among all the major cities. From Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville and Tampa Bay. In addition, they have their own rec programs, which is different than most places.
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So many great soccer clubs in Florida
Just because these youth clubs listed below are ranked nationally, doesn’t mean every age/team is “the best.”
Therefore, some of the most talented teams/clubs [coaches & players] are not listed below.
For instance, some of the smaller clubs have fantastic teams and culture.
How to choose the right soccer club in Florida
Florida has one of the deepest youth soccer talent pools in the United States.
Because the state is so large, top clubs are spread across Miami, Orlando, Tampa Bay and Jacksonville.
Parents often assume the biggest club is always the best option. In reality, the best youth soccer club depends on coaching, development philosophy and competition level.
Here are a few things to evaluate when choosing a club:
- Coaching quality — strong technical coaching matters more than club size.
- League level — MLS Next, ECNL and Girls Academy are the highest national leagues.
- Player development — look for clubs that develop players instead of only recruiting talent.
- Pathway to college — competitive clubs often produce dozens of college commitments each year.
If you’re researching clubs across the country, you may also want to read our guide on where the best youth soccer in America is played.
Top youth soccer leagues in Florida
Most of the strongest clubs in Florida compete in one or more of these leagues:
- MLS NEXT — the top development league for elite boys clubs.
- ECNL — one of the strongest leagues for both boys and girls.
- Girls Academy (GA) — top national league for girls development.
- National Premier League (NPL)
- Florida Club League
Players in these leagues often go on to play NCAA Division 1 college soccer or professionally.
Florida Rush
Florida Rush is based in Orlando, but also has a branch in Miami… The Rush are arguably the largest club in America, initially starting in Colorado. They operate in many cities across the U.S. and even abroad.
Cadet Training Academy (Ages U6-U8): pre-competitive professional skills training combined with recreational play
Boys and Girls Competitive (U9-U18)
Competitive / Leagues: MLS Next Elite Youth Soccer Academy (U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U19)
Main Locations: Orlando, FL [towns south, north and west of the downtown]
Florida Kraze Krush
FKK has become one of the most popular soccer clubs in Florida…
Competitive / Leagues: ECNL, FCL, GCF ages 7-10 and 11-19. Girls and Boys
Rec programs (ages 9 – 19) and skill based programs for ages 3-8.
Location: Oviedo, FL [20 miles northeast from Orlando]
Orlando City SC
Orlando City SC was established in 1981
Competitive / Leagues: (Girls and Boys) MLS Next, ECNL, ECRL, NAL, Florida Club League, Greater Central Florida League
Locations: Orlando and Sanford, FL
Jacksonville FC
Jacksonville FC was established in 2010 and they also have a very organized website.
Competitive / Leagues: (U9 – U19) Girls compete in ECNL, ECRL, NPL, Florida Club League… Boys compete in MLS Next, National Academy League, Florida Academy League, Florida Club League
College commits: 20 – 30 per year
Rec opportunity is for U7-U19 and U5-U6
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Tampa Bay United Rowdies
Tampa Bay United Rowdies offers opportunity for youth, adult and semi-pro players.
Competitive / Leagues: (U8 – U19) Girls compete in ECNL, ECRL Boys compete in MLS Next,
Rec: Ages U5-U10 will play in-house league while, TBUR North and South U12-U19 age groups play in the Tampa Area Recreational Soccer Association (TARSA).
Location: Tampa Bay, FL
IMG
IMG was founded in 1978 primarily for tennis and then grew into many sports. The athletes live and go to school on campus.
Known for being the world’s most advanced sports and educational institution with ten month holistic individual and team development. Both the boys and girls do well in national competitions.
Girls: GA and DPL… GA invited IMG Academy to be one of 14 elite clubs in the Champions League. (U13-U19)
Boys: MLS Next and USYS Sunshine Academy Conference. (U13-U19)
Location: Bradenton, FL [45 miles south of Tampa]
Florida Elite Soccer Academy
Florida Elite Soccer Academy mission is ‘the relentless pursuit of excellence’.
Competitive / Leagues: (ages 9 – 19 girls and boys) who compete in state, regional and national leagues. It isn’t clear which leagues…
Rec ages 4 – 19
Location: Jacksonville, FL
West Florida Flames
West Florida Flames was founded in 1975.
A big organization with over 5,000 players.
Competitive / Leagues: MLS Next for boys, Girls Academy (GA)
Rec program is for ages 4 – 19… Volunteer coach with 1-2 practices per week. Younger ages play games within the club, while older ages play other associations.
Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Weston FC
Weston FC was Established in 1998
Approximately 1,100 players range in ages from 7-19 from all over South Florida. Weston FC has approximately 70 teams that play a ten month season in the area, nationwide and internationally.
The Boys were invited to be a founding Member of the new MLS Elite Program.
The Girls program was similarly recognized by being a founding member of top women’s league in the US, the DPL. Both programs replace the DA as the top youth programs in America.
Main Location: 20 minutes west of Fort Lauderdale and 30 minutes north of Miami
Chargers SC
Chargers SC was established in 1975 with a very well organized website – easy to get info.
Massive club with approximately 70 competitive teams, Development Academy Program, three recreational programs totaling about 2,500 players utilizing 50 soccer fields.
Competitive / Leagues: MLS Next, ECNL, USYS, Florida Academy League (boys and girls)
Location: Clearwater, FL [near Tampa Bay]
Florida Premier
Florida Premier has over 5,000 members, 300 teams, 250 staff.
It’s a club that has been having success on both the boys and girls side.
Competitive / Leagues: Boys and girls compete in ECNL, ECNL-R, NPL, FPL, CDL
College commits: 30+ girls in the 2025 class that committed to play in college. Only a few boys each year.
Location: Odessa, FL [near Tampa Bay]
Do players need a big club to succeed?
Not necessarily.
Some of the best soccer coaches in America work at smaller academies.
At younger ages especially, technical development and playing time matter far more than club size.
Many college coaches actually prefer players who developed strong fundamentals rather than those who simply played for large organizations.
Regardless of which club you play for, individual training outside team practice is what separates top players.
Players from many of the clubs listed above train their ball control outside team practice.
Many players in top clubs train their ball control at home.
In conclusion, as I’ve said before… Make sure you don’t buy into the bigger is better mindset.
Some of the best teachers of the game are with small academies. Especially at younger ages.
FAQ: Youth soccer clubs in Florida
What is the best youth soccer league in Florida?
For boys, MLS NEXT is widely considered the highest development league in the United States.
For girls, ECNL and Girls Academy are the top national leagues.
However, strong teams exist in many leagues depending on the age group.
What city in Florida has the best youth soccer?
Orlando, Tampa Bay, Miami and Jacksonville all have strong youth soccer clubs.
The talent is spread across the state rather than concentrated in one city.
Do you need to play for a top club to get recruited?
No. College coaches recruit players from many different leagues.
Strong technical ability, athleticism and game intelligence are usually more important than the club name.
What age should players join competitive soccer clubs?
Most competitive clubs begin at U9 or U10.
Before that age, players should focus on developing strong ball control and enjoying the game.
Best soccer clubs in each state
- Where is the best youth soccer played in America?
- Best youth soccer clubs in North Texas
- Best youth soccer clubs in Southern California
- Best youth soccer clubs in Ohio
- Michigan
- Best youth soccer clubs in New Jersey
- Best youth soccer clubs in Massachusetts
- Florida
- Virginia
- Best youth soccer clubs in New York
You can also see our full national rankings of the best youth soccer clubs in America.
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