Seacoast United and the Boston Bolts face off this past fall in a Development Academy match. (Evan Scales/NESJ)
After nearly a week of rumors, U.S. Soccer announced Wednesday that the Development Academy would be ceasing operations, ending the federation’s top youth league and leaving local clubs sorting out their next steps.
Simultaneously, Major League Soccer announced a new competition platform that's designed to provide year-round high-level matches for MLS club academy teams and non-MLS academy teams that were previously in the DA.
There will be domestic and international competition, and they're also weighing future competition opportunities for girls.
