Cal North X2 will allow players to participate in both high school and Cal North X2, providing one of the most elite soccer platforms for development in Northern California.
Launching in 2024, Cal North X2 platform will amplify the current MLS NEXT Clubs to enhance player development in the Northern California region. Cal North X2 platform is exclusively for existing MLS NEXT clubs to enhance the development pathway for their players in a platform that mirrors the standards, expectations and integrity of the highest level platform of soccer in North America. The founding member MLS NEXT clubs and the League Operations Cooperative (LOC) have come together to be nimble in the market place to create this platform. With the continuing evolution of the soccer landscape, it was important that Cal North became a facilitator to continue to grow the game with leaders in Northern California.
Cal North X2 platform will be led by Marley Wilson, Cal North Executive Director, who has an unmatched background and administrative experience, previously serving US Youth Soccer and overseeing all programing across the country, including National League and all Cup competitions.
"Three years ago when I arrived at Cal North we were not in a position from a governance and operations standpoint to be in these type of conversations to serve our Northern California soccer membership," said Marley Wilson, Cal North Executive Director. "Our governance and operations have been transformed to meet the needs of our evolving soccer community. The decision to align our brand with the leadership of these organizations is a testament to our soccer community and the direction that this will go for the growth of the game," he added.
Kicking off in fall 2024, all founding member MLS NEXT clubs will participate in a club v club format to allow clubs with the resources and tools to perform without coaching conflicts and enhance player movement for development. These are examples of the standards in place that are advantageous for this platform. Over 80 teams will participate with ages ranging from U11 through U19.
"I would like to thank everyone that has been involved in this process with the commitment and passion brought to the table, it would not be possible without these founding members," said Wilson.
Each founding member is committed to fostering elite player development with a local community framework aimed at nurturing well-rounded individuals. All fourteen clubs will begin play in the fall of 2024.
The fourteen founding MLS NEXT clubs who will debut in 2024-25 are:
Albion SC Merced (Merced, CA)
Atletico Santa Rosa (Santa Rosa, CA)
Ajax United (Modesto, CA)
Ballistic United Soccer Club (Pleasanton, CA)
Bay Area Surf (San Jose, CA)
Breakers Football Club (Santa Cruz, CA)
De Anza Force (Cupertino, CA)
Diablo Valley Wolves (Concord, CA)
Lamorinda Soccer Club (Moraga, CA)
Napa United (Napa, CA)
Sacramento United (Sacramento, CA)
San Francisco Glens Soccer Club (San Francisco, CA)
Silicon Valley Soccer Academy (Palo Alto, CA)
Woodside Soccer Club Crush (Woodside/Redwood City, CA)
Cal North X2 - Founding Member Clubs
ALBION SC Merced (Merced, CA)
ALBION SC was formed under the Peninsula Soccer League in 1981. ALBION SC was one of the first competitive clubs in San Diego and the top program in San Diego. In the late 80’s early 1990’s many competitive clubs in the area started emerging and heavily competing. In 1998 ALBION SC hired Technical Director, Noah Gins to take over and professionalize the club, develop a clubwide curriculum and develop players and teams to play at the highest level in the US. Learn more about ALBION SC Merced here.
Atletico Santa Rosa (Santa Rosa, CA)
Atlético’s staff and curriculum provide professional club training for players seeking the next level. We are dedicated to providing children and young adults in our community with the resources and knowledge necessary to improve their soccer skills and education. Learn more about Atletico Santa Rosa here.
Ajax United (Modesto, CA)
AJAX United represents the competitive program of the Modesto Youth Soccer Association. With over 40 years of history, we are one of the premier competitive soccer clubs in Northern California. AJAX United has developed players who have played professionally both domestically and internationally including USMNT players Cade Cowell and Heath Pearce and USWNT player Tisha Venturini. Learn more about Ajax United here.
Ballistic United Soccer Club (Pleasanton, CA)
Founded over 50 years ago, Ballistic United Soccer Club has continued to be one of the top youth soccer organizations in the United States. The Club won its first California State Championship in 1972, and our under-12 championship team was hosted by California Governor Ronald Reagan. Since then, BUSC has won multiple state, regional and international tournament titles. Learn more about Ballistic United Soccer Club here.
Bay Area Surf (San Jose, CA)
Bay Area Surf serves over 1000 competitive players in our Boys and Girls programs with access to all platforms. Bay Area Surf is a top development program for soccer players of all ages and levels in the Bay Area. Bay Area Surf is the number one provider of players to the San Jose Earthquakes Academy and has former players in various professional leagues and college programs. With a positive and developmental environment with highly experienced and licensed coaches, Bay Area Surf is a great club for any boy or girl wanting to play and achieve success in soccer. Learn more about Bay Area Surf here.
Breakers Football Club (Santa Cruz, CA)
Breakers F.C. is an elite youth development academy whose roots reach from Santa Cruz to Europe. From our first incarnation as Santa Cruz County Youth Premier Futbol Club in 1992, Breakers F.C. has fostered an inclusive environment focused on developing complete coachable players capable of succeeding on and off the pitch. Learn more about Breakers Football Club here.
De Anza Force (Cupertino, CA)
De Anza Force is dedicated to inspire and educate players at every level to excel in athletics, academics, and life while becoming contributing members of their community. We will achieve these goals by relentlessly emphasizing and executing on our core values. Learn more about De Anza Force here.
Diablo Valley Wolves (Concord, CA)
Diablo Valley Futbol Club is an East Bay Area-based non-profit soccer organization focused exclusively on developing and empowering youth on and off the pitch. We achieve this with a top-tier professional coaching staff, a complete pathway of competitive programs/leagues, a defined development methodology, and close collaboration with our members and the greater community. DVFC supports boys and girls teams from U8 to U19 with training and competition fields in Concord, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Pittsburg, and Antioch. Learn more about Diablo Valley Wolves here.
Lamorinda Soccer Club (Moraga, CA)
LMSC has a deeply-held conviction and commitment to teaching high-quality possession soccer. Our vision is to achieve a level of play in all of our competitive age-group teams that sets the benchmark and earns our teams the reputation for this style-of-play locally (Northern California), regionally (West Coast), and Nationally (USA). Learn more about Lamorinda Soccer Club here.
Napa United (Napa, CA)
The mission of Napa United is to provide quality programs for our players, coaches, and families. We will provide the leadership and opportunities to build character and empower our members to be responsible citizens while allowing them to participate and experience success at many levels. The youth soccer experience is our priority, emphasizing safety, fun, fair play, communication and development. Learn more about Napa United here.
Sacramento United (Sacramento, CA)
Since 1977, Sacramento United has been dedicated to creating a family-friendly environment while nurturing players’ technical, tactical, physical, and psychological growth to help them achieve their utmost potential. Our competitive youth soccer program offers year-round training with a strong focus on player development. We aim to deliver the highest standard of competitive play within the region and nation, with a track record of successfully developing players who go on to excel at collegiate and professional levels. Learn more about Sacramento United here.
San Francisco Glens SC (San Francisco, CA)
We take pride in giving opportunities to their players to maximize their potential at the highest levels available. Whether that means promoting players from our Glens Academy or Second, Third, or Fourth Teams in the SFSFL up to our First Team in USL League Two, or sending them from our First Team to MLS and the professional ranks, we are all about development and paving a pathway to success. Learn more about San Francisco Glens SC here.
Silicon Valley Soccer Academy (Palo Alto, CA)
Silicon Valley Soccer Academy (SVSA) is a non-profit* academy with a mission to engage, empower, and showcase soccer players for advanced college and professional opportunities. Through competitive soccer, the SVSA provides mentorship and development for personal growth for all players, including underprivileged at-risk youth. Learn more about Silicon Valley Soccer Academy here.
Woodside Soccer Club Crush (Woodside/Redwood City, CA)
Player development is at the heart of WSC’s coaching and playing philosophy. Our primary purpose is to bring out the best in every player, regardless of skill, ability, or playing level. We offer multiple pathways, from beginner and recreational players to Premier level players seeking the highest level of competition for their age group. Learn more about Woodside Soccer Club Crush here.
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About Cal North X2 Platform
Launched in 2024, Cal North X2 platform will amplify the current MLS NEXT Clubs with a blank canvas to enhance player development in the Northern California region. The founding member clubs and the League Operations Cooperative (LOC) have come together to be nimble in the market place to create this platform. With the continuing evolution of the soccer landscape, it was important that Cal North became a facilitator to continue to grow the game with leaders in Northern California. Cal North X2 platform will be led by Marley Wilson, Cal North Executive Director, who has an unmatched background and administrative experience, previously serving US Youth Soccer and overseeing all programing across the country, including National League and all Cup competitions. Starting fall 2024, all founding member clubs will participate in a club v club format to allow clubs with the resources and tools to perform without coaching conflicts and enhance player movement for development. These are examples of the standards in place that are advantageous for this platform. Over 80 teams will participate with ages ranging from U11 through U19.
About Cal North Youth Soccer Association
Cal North is the original youth soccer organization in Northern California, who has served generations of players, coaches, leagues, and clubs with storied histories since 1969. Cal North is a member of a much larger soccer community, and as a member, you are also a member of this world community. Players register to play with one of the more than 200 clubs or leagues formed by Cal North. Through affiliation, our leagues and clubs are also members of US Youth Soccer, US Soccer, and US Futsal. US Soccer, along with over 197 other national soccer organizations, are members of FIFA, the Federation Internationale de Football Association. FIFA serves as the international governing body for soccer and US Soccer has been a member since 1913. Together, local, national and international organizations form a family of support for the young soccer players of Cal North.
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