CITY’s Boys Academy continues to establish itself as one of the strongest development environments in the region. Based out of the Bridgeview Sports Complex, our Academy 1 and Academy 2 teams benefit from a consistent, high performance training environment that has become a major part of the program’s continued growth and success.

This past season, two CITY teams won their ECNL Regional League divisions, one finished as runner up, and two additional teams qualified for the ECNL Regional Playoffs, highlighting the continued progress and competitiveness across the Academy pathway.

Two of our Academy 2 teams also qualified for the Elite Academy League Nationals, providing another important opportunity for our players to test themselves against strong competition from across the country. In addition, five CITY players were selected for the league’s All Star international trip to Spain, further recognizing the individual quality developing within the program.

To cap off a busy and successful summer, one of our High School Boys teams also reached the final of Surf Cup, further demonstrating the growing depth and quality within the Academy.

These results reflect more than team success. They demonstrate the consistency, ambition and strength of the CITY environment across multiple levels.

Alongside league competition, our players continue to gain exposure through Elite Academy events, ODP opportunities, international competition and collaboration with the Chicago Fire Academy, including training opportunities and high level friendly matches designed to challenge our players and continue raising the standard.

CITY’s international pathway continues to grow, giving our players opportunities to compete against some of the most recognizable clubs in world soccer.

This summer, our boys competed against Tottenham Hotspur, with other leading academies including Manchester United and Aston Villa also taking part. Our players also continued to make an impact beyond team competition, with four CITY players earning trial opportunities in Spain and Hungary, as well as national team opportunities with Mexico and the Philippines.

These experiences are becoming an increasingly important part of the CITY player pathway. In summer 2027, our U9, U10 and U11 Academy Boys will travel to Southampton Academy for a week long development camp, giving our youngest Academy players the opportunity to train within a professional academy environment and experience the standards of the game internationally.

Together, these opportunities reflect CITY’s commitment to creating a pathway that goes beyond local competition and gives players genuine exposure to different environments, cultures and levels of the game.