Carolina Football Club is committed to offering the youth of central North Carolina the very best in developmental, competitive and elite soccer opportunities.
- Ages
- U6–U19
- Plays
- Boys & Girls
- Programs
- 17
Where on the ladder
Level 5 to Level 6
Each level below lists the leagues this club plays in. Your kid's level depends on the team they make. The six levels are our own reading of public league play. They are not an official ranking.
Sanctioned by North Carolina Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer). The club’s site also lists US Club Soccer. We have not confirmed that from the body’s own member list, so we do not call the club sanctioned. It also lists Carolina Premier League, United Premier Soccer League, Women's Premier Soccer League, United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA), United States Soccer Federation (USSF). We have not placed those leagues on the ladder, so they do not count above.
See how the whole ladder worksPrograms
The programs, age by age
These come from the club's site, grouped the way the club groups them. Your kid starts in the one that fits their age.
MLS GO
5-12 (U6-U12)
MLS GO with CFC Swarm is designed to be a fun, affordable, and welcoming introduction to soccer for children ages 5-12 (U6-U12).
Junior Academy
5-8 year olds
Carolina FC Junior Academy is a fun "Train & Play" Program for 5-8 year olds that includes 6-week seasons with weekend training sessions plus a game at the end of the session.
Youth Academy Select
U8–U10
Youth Academy Select is a competitive, development-focused program for players seeking a step up from recreational soccer without an overwhelming time commitment. Teams play 6–8 games per season with limited travel.
feeds into Classic level and beyond
Youth Academy Premier
U8–U10
Youth Academy Premier builds on the Select Program, offering additional competitive opportunities for players ready for a higher level of play and commitment. Teams also compete in 2–3 festivals or tournaments each season.
feeds into Classic level and beyond
Challenge
Challenge is the introductory competitive league within the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association. It offers local competition, two in-season trainings per week, and a 10 week season in Fall and Spring.
NCYSA
Classic
Classic is the top youth soccer league within the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association. It offers individual development, professional coaching, and local and regional competition.
NCYSA
National 1 League
U13-U19 Boys & Girls
The National 1 League platform provides a unified national developmental league opportunity across North Carolina, with professional standards and oversight, meaningful games, and a pathway to postseason competition.
NPL
National Academy League
U13-U19 Boys
The National Academy League provides highly-competitive games within the NAL Carolinas Division. Carolina FC Swarm will produce one team per age group U13-U19 Boys.
NAL
USL - Academy
USL - Academy is an elite youth platform offering a pathway to Pro. Its regular season runs from June to September with approximately 8-10 regular season games.
USL Academy
WPSL
The club's Women's WPSL team trains 3 nights a week with professional coaching staff, performance coaches, injury prevention coaches, and speed/agility training. The team plays an 8-game league schedule in the WPSL South Conference.
WPSL
UPSL
The club offers a Women's UPSL-W team that trains 3 nights a week with professional coaching staff, performance coaches, injury prevention coaches, and speed/agility training.
UPSL
Summer Camps
8-18 years
Carolina FC Swarm Summer Camps provide a fun, energetic, and development-focused environment for players of all skill levels. Cost is $175 per week.
Summer HIVE Training & 7v7 Games
8-10 Yrs · 7v7
Summer HIVE combines individual and group-oriented skill work with small-sided play and a Saturday 7v7 league structure. Players can choose from a 10 pack or the full program.
Summer HIVE Training & 7v7 Games
11-12 Yrs · 7v7
Summer HIVE combines individual and group-oriented skill work with small-sided play and a Saturday 7v7 league structure. Players can choose from a 10 pack or the full program.
Summer HIVE Training & 7v7 Games
13-14 Yrs · 7v7
Summer HIVE combines individual and group-oriented skill work with small-sided play and a Saturday 7v7 league structure. Players can choose from a 10 pack or the full program.
Summer HIVE Training & 7v7 Games
15-19 Yrs · 7v7
Summer HIVE combines individual and group-oriented skill work with small-sided play and a Saturday 7v7 league structure. Players can choose from a 10 pack or the full program.
Winter League
The Carolina FC Winter League includes 1 weekday training session and 1 weekend game per week, with a primary focus on technical skill development and tactical understanding of a small-sided game.
Tryouts
2026/27 season
Tryouts decide which travel team a kid plays on. Confirm the details on the club’s page before you go.
Free
Within 3 days of final tryout date
- · Soccer Ball
- · Cleats
- · Water Bottle
Coaching
Who coaches here
6 names from the club's own staff page. The titles and licenses are what the club lists.
Sean O'Connor
CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
18 YRS EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP; PROFESSIONAL: NASL
BELMONT ABBEY
Matt Livingston
HOLLY SPRINGS AREA DIRECTOR
Pedro Baez
SANFORD AREA DIRECTOR
Andrew Bradham
CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
18 YRS EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP; PROFESSIONAL: USL LEAGUE 1
LIBERTY/CLEMSON
Chloe Link
SOUTH REGISTRAR
Chris Rittle
FAYETTEVILLE AREA DIRECTOR
Where they play
8 fields
The fields the club lists as its own. Directions open in Google Maps, so you can check the drive before you sign up.
Seymour Athletic Fields @ Apex Nature Park
2500 Evans Road, Apex NC
Trinity Sports Complex
6112 Rex Rd Holly Springs
Lee County Athletic Park (Field #8)
1304 Broadway Rd, Sanford, NC 27332
New Life Camp
9927 Falls of Neuse Rd, Raleigh, NC 27614
Rassie Wicker Park
10 Rassie Wicker Park Pinehurst
Jordan Soccer Complex
445 Treetop Dr, Fayetteville
National Athletic Village
201 Airtool Dr Southern Pines, NC
Carolina FC Indoor
146 Rand St, Sanford
2 fields aren’t located on the map yet.
Fees
What it costs
What the club charges, from its own price list.
Add-ons
$300 commitment fee, Optional CFC Juniors Shirt available for purchase.
Is Carolina FC the right move for your kid?
Tell us about your kid and we’ll rank this club against every other option inside your drive time, on level, cost, and where its players end up.