US Club Soccer to significantly expand id2 Program in coming years

CHARLESTON, S.C. – US Club Soccer will substantially expand the id2 Program over the next several years, greatly increasing the number of players involved in youth soccer’s leader in player identification and development pathways.

While the id2 Program has historically targeted a single age group – U-14 boys and girls – in accordance with former U.S. Soccer youth scouting priorities, US Club Soccer’s new id2 programming will expand to include multiple age groups to accelerate its impact in creating more opportunity for late developing players.

This expansion will be supported by building the largest scouting network in the country – established in collaboration with member leagues / competitions – and a new id2 Interregional Camp, all while being supported by US Club Soccer’s continued commitment that id2 is free to participate. Beyond expanding to more age groups every year for the next several years, the id2 Program will also begin to include coach and referee education within its scope.

The age group cycle for the id2 Program in 2025-26 will target boys and girls born in 2012 – the final year of single age group programming. And while past years have targeted one age group before moving on to the next age group the following year, the 2025-26 season will approach the 2012-born players with a longer-term methodology of identification, development and tracking, expecting to impact this age group for several more years of their youth career.

(+READ: ECNL Spotlight Games to highlight top U14 players, starting in 2025-26 season)

“US Club Soccer has a big vision for id2,” said Ross Paule, US Club Soccer Sr. Director of Player Identification & Development. “We intend to serve the soccer community through id2, identifying and developing more players to their full potential, including players that will one day represent our country on the national teams.

“And while we have ambitious plans for the 700,000+ players in US Club Soccer and the millions beyond that, we also recognize that a proper player development environment is one that takes a holistic approach. So that’s why we’ve aligned id2 with our Players First philosophy and will implement coach and referee education into id2 programming. We have a tremendous opportunity to benefit the entire youth soccer ecosystem, and we’re eager to take it on.”

What does the 2025-26 id2 season look like?

Next season’s (Aug. 1, 2025-July 31, 2026) id2 programming will include an id2 Interregional Camp and an id2 National Training Camp for the 2012 boys and girls age group. Players will be invited to the id2 Interregional Camp based on local and regional scouting at events like Player Development Programs (PDP); events within the NPL, ECNL Regional League and ECNL; targeted showcases; and more. The id2 Interregional will feature an exciting new format with players placed in teams based on their region to compete amongst and against each other.

New this year are the introduction of “ECNL Spotlight Games” to provide more opportunity for scouting and inclusion in the id2 Program to players at ECNL and ECNL Regional League U-14 events. Beginning with the 2025-26 season, top 2012 players from participating teams will be invited to compete in the ECNL Spotlight Games, to be held on the second day of the event under the lights and live streamed. Players will be invited to play in the Spotlight Games by id2 scouts, who will be on-site to scout every U-14 player.

What is US Club Soccer’s 3-year plan for id2?

While the 2025-26 season is focused on U-14 (2012 birth year) players, it will also be building a talent pool of U-13 (2013 birth year) players. This will be accomplished by taking a regional approach to talent identification. Mirroring U.S. Soccer’s talent identification regions, US Club Soccer will formalize 6-8 regions of the country and establish lead and supplemental scouts in each region. The alignment with U.S. Soccer scouting is significant, as id2 becomes a “reserve” program for U.S. Soccer Youth National Teams. This robust and diverse scouting network is intended to identify players in all areas of the country, no matter whether they are in traditional or non-traditional pathways.

The 2026-27 season will then include programming for both 2013- and 2012-born (U-14 and U-15) players, while building the talent pool of 2014-born (U-13) players. The 2027-28 season will expand the program further to another age group, hosting programming for 2014s, 2013s and 2012s (U-14 through U-16), while again building the 2015s (U-13) player pool.

Specific programming is subject to change as needs of the players evolve, including the potential reallocation of the id2 National Selection International Tour to older age groups. Regardless of specific programming, expansion to older age groups allows for longer evaluation periods, better integration with participating players’ clubs and coaches, and recognizes the non-linear nature of player development and the need to identify players later in their growth.

Launched in 2004, the id2 Program has identified and developed players across the country, helping to unlock the potential of players across the country. The id2 Program maintains its original guiding principles: there is no cost to be scouted or participate, the program is open to all players regardless of U.S. Soccer affiliation, and players should initially be scouted within the environment they are most comfortable.