The LAFC academy launched in 2016 — two years before the senior team ever played a competitive match, and a little more than a year after the world knew LAFC was coming.
The project began as a single under-12 team with the goal of growing organically, adding players and age groups throughout the academy's progression.
"We decided to start organically, from the bottom, with a group of under-12s in 2016." LAFC Co-President and General Manager John Thorrington explained regarding the academy’s inception, "To think what the academy now has achieved in all of the national team players and the homegrown signings and the recognition they have earned through the buildout."
By growing organically, the Black and Gold looked to avoid stepping on the toes of other teams, while making a name for themselves as the academy grew. Forming respectful relationships with youth clubs can certainly be aided by his move, which was a goal for LAFC. Ultimately though, LAFC recognizes the bigger picture. The youth academies don't just produce talent for the club, but also for the country.
“We did not feel right coming in, and then by definition taking players from other clubs.” Thorrington made clear. “I’m a firm believer that if it's us fighting against our neighbor — then what chance have we got [of] beating Germany and Spain?”
Fast forward to 2023, LAFC has built a structure incorporating seven teams ranging from U-11 to U-19, with the original academy team players now old enough to vote. Players from that inaugural class have signed professional contracts, scored first-team goals, and become recognizable names. From Christian Torres, the first academy player to play, start, and score for the first team, to Erik Dueñas, the third-youngest player to start a match in MLS history — the Black and Gold have finally scratched the surface of what LAFC Academy Director Todd Saldaña describes as "the number one goal," which "will always be to develop players for the first team.”
How has LAFC reached this milestone?
Getting away from 'pay-to-play'
From the jump, Thorrington and company were certain that a pay-to-play structured academy — a system present throughout American youth soccer — would be a detriment to the ultimate goal.
"The barrier of cost has now been removed," Thorrington said of moving away from pay-to-play - a system Thorrington experienced himself growing up in Southern California. "Due to the generosity of our ownership," he continued, "there is not a dollar paid by a family or a player at LAFC academy to compete. That just opens up the funnel now, where it might have been restricted on a pay-to-play model, whereas now we're getting and trying to capture as much of our talented pool of players as we possibly can."
While most MLS academies have also moved away from the pay-to-play model, there are exceptions such as D.C. United. Travel and lodging at tournaments, which is often where scouting occurs, is not factored into "paid academies." This is the distinction Thorrington is making when he stated that players will not pay a dollar to compete with the LAFC academy. Arguably of most importance, the vast majority of club teams across the country still run pay-to-play systems, which makes LAFC and MLS academies in general extremely appealing.
This issue is a rather common complaint among American soccer fans, many of whom believe a pay-to-play system is the biggest hindrance to the United States competing on an international level. The argument is, if soccer were as accessible as basketball in the United States, with a field every couple of blocks, the USMNT would be capitalizing on the immense talent in the third-most populated country in the world. With easy access to basketball hoops in parks and driveways across the country, every drop of talent is captured. One day, the same could be true for American soccer.
Anyone in that camp would be extremely happy with the LAFC academy, which is completely free if you’re talented enough to get invited.
Scouting the best talent in Southern California
Those coveted academy spots are not just given away, nor are they for sale. The LAFC academy has a five-person scouting team responsible for scouting the best talent across Southern California. Situated in downtown Los Angeles, LAFC has easy access to many of the surrounding areas. Los Angeles itself, of course, is also a hotbed for athletic talent.
Each scout is responsible for a specific area, in which they are tasked with attending games on a weekly basis to spot the next rising star. Crucially, the goal is never to steal another team’s player, whether that be the LA Galaxy academy or other youth club teams. Instead, the goal is to provide the best opportunities for youth players, whether at LAFC or not.
"We want this to be the most competitive landscape." Thorrington proclaimed, "Anything we can do to build up these other clubs to make it more competitive for our academy — to increase the level of talent in LA — will only benefit LAFC and U.S. soccer in general."
Following their scouting, if the club believes LAFC is the best place for a player, the individual is likely to be invited to join the team for training. At this time, the player will be assessed to determine if they are a good fit for the group. If so, they will be offered a coveted spot in the fully-funded LAFC academy.
Another path into the LAFC academy comes from LAFC So Cal Youth (formerly Real So Cal Soccer Club). This is a recreational and competitive youth development system beginning as early as two years old, ranging all the way up to the professional level. For some, switching over to the LAFC academy once old enough is the best option. Others will stick with LAFC So Cal Youth, advancing into their elite teams (ages 13-18) which compete in the Elite Club National League and Regional League — the highest level of competitive youth soccer in the country. Whichever path these teenagers choose, LAFC is providing them with a potential pathway to becoming professional players.
Nathan Ordaz is a perfect example, as a player who originally came through Real So Cal Soccer Club before joining the LAFC academy, and eventually signing a professional contract.
Thorrington notes the work and success in the LAFC scouting department is being noticed league-wide as well, with scouts from the best academies in MLS — including Philadelphia Union and Real Salt Lake — regularly scheduling trips to Los Angeles. Everyone is eager to see the talent the City of Angels can produce.
Training with your dreams in sight
While the foundations built were strong, what makes a great organization is constant improvement. LAFC, along with MLS, ascribes to this “never be satisfied” mentality.
On the league side, MLS has created the MLS Next Pro league, a competition for the second teams of nearly every MLS club. What makes this so special is the opportunity it provides for graduating MLS academy players to get their first professional experience. The focus is still on development but within a professional setting. After gaining valuable pro experience, the ultimate goal is to implement the player into the first team, completing the pro player pathway from the academy to the first team.
READ MORE: MLS Next Pro: Completing the pro player pathway while embracing unconventional approaches
On the club side, the LAFC first team has always trained at the LAFC Performance Center on the campus of Cal State LA. However, in the past, the academy trained off-site while the second team — which before MLS Next Pro was Las Vegas Lights in the USL Championship — was forced to commute between L.A. and Vegas on a weekly basis, which, per LAFC Academy Director Todd Saldaña, was unsatisfactory for players and coaches alike.
In 2023, the LAFC academy, second team, and first team all train at the LAFC Performance Center. Saldaña referred to this adjustment as a “game-changer” due to the motivation it provides and the increased level of connection throughout the club. Motivation is heightened as the youngsters quite literally train directly across the street from the first team. “It also just makes it in sight for our players.” Saldaña explained, “They look across the field at night and the ‘LAFC’ just glows from the building.” Crucially, that street separating the new secondary field from the Performance Center is not one-way traffic. Steve Cherundolo and the rest of the first team coaching staff often migrate over to get updates, take a look at the next generation, or impart some wisdom of their own.
Just as on the pitch, the more connected individuals are, the more successful the club will be.
Tuesday night in Seaside was a full circle moment, capturing just how far the LAFC academy has come. With a CONCACAF Champions League Final on the horizon, Cherundolo opted to play essentially the entire LAFC2 squad in the first team’s U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 match against USL Championship team Monterey Bay FC. Goalkeeper Eldin Jakupović was the only player on the pitch without playing time for LAFC2 in 2023 while seven of the starters made first-team debuts, along with another four off the bench.
Some saw this rotation as surrender. Others believed it was disrespectful to Monterey Bay FC.
Steve Cherundolo and his team knew differently. After a grueling 120-minute, 2-2 stalemate, the second team shedded any LAFC2 "stigma," pulling off a classic U.S. Open Cup “cupset” for the first team.
Looking back, beating Monterey Bay FC may stand as a turning point in how the LAFC academy is viewed. The goal is no longer just producing a few players good enough for first-team soccer. The goal now is to produce entire rosters that are good enough for first-team soccer.