Neither Inter Miami nor Austin FC have kicked a ball in MLS, but that's not stopping either from developing their stars of the future.
Both clubs will be adding teams to the U.S. Soccer Boys' Development Academy for the 2019-20 season. Both Miami and Austin have made their academies fully-funded. In addition, LAFC and Real Salt Lake will be adding additional teams -- more age groups in LAFC's case, and the return of RSL's Arizona academy after the club's main academy moved to Herriman, Utah.
"The opportunity for the current Academy clubs to expand their pathway for players is a result of the daily work of leaders and staff to create optimal environments," Jared Micklos, U.S. Soccer Youth National Teams Director, said in a statement. "The addition of a new market in Phoenix, Ariz. and two new cost-free MLS Academies will drive development at the highest level and create more opportunities for top talents."
The boy's Development Academy will grow from 509 total teams across all age groups in 2018-19 to 535 in 2019-20. The news comes a month after announcing that the girl's Development Academy will grow from 251 total teams to 342 in 2019-20.
