ORANGE COUNTY, Cal. —The United Soccer League has announced that West Coast FC will field a team in the upcoming 2024 USL Academy League season. A founding member of the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), the club currently serves over 800 members in Orange County, California.  

West Coast FC has won five National Championships and 14 Regional Championships since it was founded in 1997 with the mission to develop leadership, integrity, teamwork, and respect for players growing in the game. The club has produced players that have won multiple State Championships, earned hundreds of college scholarships, and produced over 41 National Team players in that time. 

“We are excited for West Coast FC to be joining the USL Academy,” said Neil Armour, WCFC Technical Director. “The opportunity to play against full-time Academy clubs is a great opportunity. This will give our players much more exposure to both collegiate and professional pathways.” 

The USL Academy structure provides the platform for talent to develop in their local environment before moving to the higher pre-professional and professional ranks in the USL. West Coast FC players will experience an elevated day-to-day training environment and play in league games against other regional professional team academies like Orange County SC of the USL Championship. 

“We are thrilled to welcome West Coast FC to the USL Academy for the upcoming league season,” said Jason Collister, USL Director of Men’s Pre-Professional Pathway. “With the goal of eventually fielding a team in USL League Two, the club is a leader in identifying local talent and we look forward to the level of play that WCFC will provide to its members and bring to its competition.”