Find out about the USL Championship Tryouts in 2025 and how to join a team or attend Open Trials.
The USL Championship continues to organise tryouts for players who are interested in seeking a pathway through the team. As you already know, the USL Championship and USL League One are professional soccer competitions, and some of the member clubs pay a decent salary.
Also Read: MLS Next Pro Soccer Tryouts
If you are in doubt, you can check out the structure of the USL Championship salary on what players get on average. Let us head straight to the main area where we'll discuss how to go about it.
The USL Open Tryouts in 2025
Teams that would conduct the USL Open Tryouts between December 2024 and January 2025 even though the schedule is subject to change includes;
Eastern Conference
- Birmingham Legion FC
- Charleston Battery
- Detroit City FC
- Hartford Athletic
- Indy Eleven
- Loudoun United FC
- Louisville City FC
- Miami FC
- North Carolina FC
- Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Rhode Island FC
- Tampa Bay Rowdies
Western Conference
- Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
- El Paso Locomotive FC
- Las Vegas Lights FC
- Monterey Bay FC
- New Mexico United
- Oakland Roots SC
- Orange County SC
- Phoenix Rising FC
- Sacramento Republic FC
- San Antonio FC
- FC Tulsa
Here is how to go about the tryouts with the respective teams above:
1. Contact USL teams directly
Ahead of the soccer season in 2025, several USL teams have announced open trials would be conducted. Your best bet is to contact these clubs directly for a chance to be at their open trials. You could do so by visiting their official website or social media platforms.
Alternatively, you could send an email indicating your desire to join the team during the tryouts window.
Contacting clubs is the easiest way to get the chance of earning a place during tryouts, and USL teams have made it much easier for players to begin their professional careers with them.
So if you plan to play for a USL team, then you should avail yourself of the opportunity and contact them directly without hesitation. Trust me, it would work, and it is because December and January are the months for tryouts ahead of the new season.
2. Affiliate clubs
This is an alternative pathway for you if you are unable to go through the tryouts. You could sign for an affiliate club, which helps you stand the chance of getting picked. Some USL teams have affiliate clubs locally that are acting as development pathways for players.
Affiliate clubs are an essential part of every professional soccer team in terms of technical exchanges and player recommendations. They play a key role in how bigger teams recruit players at the local level.
3. Visit the venue for the tryouts or club training session
You could get in touch with clubs by visiting during tryout sessions or training sessions. That way, you are closer to making contacts with an insider.
Although you could be faced with restrictions, you have an opportunity to make your voice heard. You could speak to the team handlers and coaches who will direct you on what to do and the next steps to take.
4. Have an agent
Although there are costs that come with working with an agent while you are not yet a professional, it is worthwhile and worth the money.
Agents have direct links and contact with soccer teams that are willing to offer you a chance for trials. You could sign a short- or long-term contract with an agent or agency to facilitate your recruitment process.
They will single-handedly apply or reach out to clubs that are looking for players to fill in positions in their teams.
Things to expect during open trials
Warm up
Players would be involved in a series of warm-up exercises aimed at keeping the body fit and stable for the task ahead.
One of the most important aspects of soccer is fitness, and you must keep fit to be at your best. So basically the trainers would engage everyone in a ten- or twenty-minute warm-up exercise.
The warm-ups could be hands-free or training with machines or sports equipment, depending on what facilities are available for you.
Practice
Players would then be allowed to touch the ball on the basis of teamwork or group training.
You will be grouped alongside other players for a chance to be on the main team. Meaning, mini practice would be held where the best legs will be selected for the main practice.
How to succeed during tryouts
1. Regular training
One of the most important areas of self-development in soccer is indulgence in a regular training exercise. It is important to do as it helps to keep your body in shape.
Today some of the most successful soccer players have mentioned routine training as one of their keys to success. A perfect example is Cristiano Ronaldo, who continues to play at the highest level of the game even after clocking 30 years.
You should develop a schedule that would keep your fitness at the forefront if you plan to develop your game in the long run. Training would help you stay competitive.
If you find out your schedule could not accommodate your fitness session, you could organise it periodically. Training is important because of the added advantage it gives you.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, and David Alaba are some of the best players in their positions. And what makes them stand out is their unique abilities and performance.
If you want to succeed in soccer, then you must identify a position you are good at and can easily play or adapt to.
2. Be a genius in your preferred position
When I say be the genius, I'm not referring to a soccer wonder kid, but a simple player who is comfortable with his position on the pitch.
Finding the perfect soccer position to play is crucial as it gives you a competitive edge over others. If you are good with your position, chances of getting picked would increase.
I'm sure that before you make the decision to head for trials, you are already familiar with the position you want to play. It is better to identify a preferred position before attending a trial.
Remember, soccer scouts are very sensitive about this when it comes to picking players during tryouts. They want to see you play and convince them at your position. The main positions and roles in soccer include centre backs, midfielders, centre forwards, and wingers.
If you are undecided regarding the position you could play, you could access yourself or talk to a coach to find a solution. There are also resources you could pick that would help you decide the best position for you.
3. Be straightforward
Soccer is not for wonder kids who are good at every position, but rather it is a team sport. The majority of the soccer coaches globally are in favour of teamwork rather than a one-man show.
Your focus should be on helping your team win by playing side by side with your teammates. You should be good at delivering at your position.
You should be able to communicate with your teammates when necessary, especially when your team is under pressure from the opposition.
Remember that soccer coaches, agents, and training staff are always on the lookout for players who possess the ability to play as a team. They are keen on your ability to interact and contribute to the team in crucial moments.
4. Be a good soccer player
You need to have basic knowledge and skills to be considered a good soccer player. You need to focus on improvement by knowing the basics that would help you grow your game.
Soccer is one of the most popular globally; thus, having a basic understanding of it should be the least of your worries, as there are different resources that would help you grow your game.
USL Championship Teams and their location
Eastern Conference
Birmingham Legion FC
Birmingham Legion competes in the USL Championship as a member of the Eastern Conference. The club is located in Birmingham, Alabama. The club was founded in 2017 and began to play in the USL Championship in 2019.
Charleston Battery FC
Charleston Battery is based in Charleston, South Carolina. The club was founded in 1993 and is one of the most successful lower division clubs in the United States.
Detroit City FC
Detroit City FC is based in Detroit, Michigan, and competes in the USL Championship as a member of the Eastern Conference.
Detroit City FC was founded in 2012 and began to play in the USL Championship in the 2022 season after confirming their participation the previous year.
Hartford Athletic
Hartford Athletic is based in Hartford, Connecticut. The club was founded in 2018 and joined the USL Championship in 2019.
Indy Eleven
Indy Eleven is based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The club was founded in 2013 and started to play in the USL in 2018.
Loudoun United FC
Loudoun United FC is based in Leesburg, Virginia. The club was founded in 2018 and started to play in the USL Championship in 2019.
Louisville City FC
Louisville City Football Club is based in Louisville, Kentucky. The club was founded in 2014 and started to play in the USL in 2015.
Miami FC
Miami FC is based in Miami, Florida. The club was founded in 2015 and started to play in the USL in 2020.
North Carolina FC
North Carolina FC is in Cary, North Carolina, a suburb of Raleigh. It was founded in 2006 and has played in the USL Championship since 2024.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The club was founded in 1998 and plays in the USL Championship.
Rhode Island FC
Rhode Island FC is based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. It was founded in 2019 and began to play in the USL Championship in 2024.
Tampa Bay Rowdies
The Tampa Bay Rowdies is based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The club was founded in 2008 and began to play in the USL Championship in 2017.
Western Conference
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It was founded in 2014 and plays in the USL Championship as a member of the Western Conference.
El Paso Locomotive FC
El Paso Locomotive FC is based in El Paso, Texas. The club was founded in 2018 and began to play in the USL Championship in 2019.
Las Vegas Lights FC
Las Vegas Lights FC is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The club began to play in the USL Championship in 2018.
Monterey Bay FC
Monterey Bay Football Club is based in Monterey County, California. It was founded in 2021.
New Mexico United
New Mexico United is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was founded in 2018 and began to play in the USL Championship in 2019.
Oakland Roots SC
Oakland Roots Sports Club is based in Oakland, California. The was founded in 2018.
Orange County SC
Orange County Soccer Club is based in the Orange County, California city of Irvine. The club was founded in 2010.
Phoenix Rising FC
Phoenix Rising Football Club is based in Phoenix, Arizona. It was founded in 2014.
Sacramento Republic FC
Sacramento Republic FC is based in Sacramento, California. The club was founded in 2012.
San Antonio FC
San Antonio FC is based in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 2016.
FC Tulsa
FC Tulsa is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.