FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (September 4, 2025) – Fort Lauderdale United FC is set to kick off its inaugural season as a full-fledged youth academy, offering a true pathway to the professional level for players across South Florida. In its opening season, the club will feature more than 700 players across 46 competitive teams – 32 boys’ teams and 14 girls’ teams – ranging in age from 9 to 19.
“We’re thrilled to launch our academy’s first season,” said Jonathan Palmer, Technical Director, Youth. “This is a major step in establishing a true professional pathway in Fort Lauderdale, and we’re committed to providing an environment where every player can grow on and off the field. The culture we’re building was already on display at the women’s pro team home opener, and this inaugural season marks the beginning of something special for our community.”
On the boys’ side, the academy will compete in ECNL, ECNL Regional League and NPL.
“I am extremely excited for the inaugural season of our youth pro soccer academy,” said Thiago Oliveira, Academy Director. “With the incredible pool of talent here in South Florida, we believe we can provide the right structure and environment to help maximize the potential of our youth soccer community.”
On the girls’ side, the academy will compete in NPL and SEFPL.
For interest in joining the Fort Lauderdale United FC Academy, please contact:
- Jonathan Palmer – jonathan@ftlutd.com
- Thiago Oliveira – thiago@ftlutd.com
To learn more about Fort Lauderdale United FC’s Youth programs, click HERE or visit www.ftlutd.com/youth/.
To follow along with updates on Fort Lauderdale United FC’s inaugural academy season, follow us on Instagram HERE or @ftlutdacademy!
About Fort Lauderdale United FC
Relentlessly striving for greatness at every level – from nurturing our youth talent to embodying the enduring values of Fort Lauderdale – our club stands as a beacon of global competition, unifying our community under the banner of soccer. Through our dedication to excellence both on and off the pitch, and our unwavering pursuit of success, we create a pathway from aspiring youth to professional mastery, ensuring that passion meets opportunity. Fort Lauderdale United FC fields two professional soccer teams: a women’s team in the Division One Gainbridge Super League, a USL property, and a men’s USL League One team (arriving in 2026). The club also operates men’s and women’s pre-professional teams in USL League Two and the USL W League, respectively. For more information, please visit www.ftlutd.com or follow @FTLUTD on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Twitter.
