Red Bulls Expand Youth Development Program to Include U-10 and U-11 Teams

The New York Red Bulls have announced the formal expansion of their academy structure to include U-10 and U-11 teams, establishing a new “Academy Foundation Phase” that links these younger age groups with the existing U-13 through U-18 MLS NEXT teams.

The move is designed to integrate early-stage player development into the club’s established academy system based in Harrison. According to a press release from the team, the change builds on its regionally based Pre-Academy program and is expected to offer young players access to professional-level facilities, training environments, and support services.

“We have made great strides in developing players in these age groups over the last few years,” said Academy Director Sean McCafferty in the release, noting that current Homegrown players Adri Mehmeti and Matthew Dos Santos both began in the U-10 setup. “We firmly believe that this significant evolution will only help us to accelerate that development even further.”

The Red Bulls Academy has become a significant contributor to the club’s first team, with 12 academy products currently on the roster. Three of those players were starters in the team’s 2024 MLS Cup appearance.

Open identification events for the new U-10 and U-11 teams are scheduled in the coming weeks. More information is available at newyorkredbulls.com/youth/academy/teams/u11andu10.