Irish players are well respected in US college soccer. Coaches like their technical level, competitiveness and work rate, and there are Irish players on rosters at every level from NCAA Division I to junior college.
Where Irish players get noticed
- League of Ireland academies: the U15, U17 and U19 national leagues.
- Schoolboy and schoolgirl leagues, and strong school teams.
- Senior football: Leinster Senior League and other senior amateur football, if you've already left school.
You don't need to be in a top academy. One of our players went from local football in Ireland to a Division I offer at Northeastern University on the strength of his highlight reel.
Timing around the Leaving Cert
US college soccer is played in the autumn, and new players usually arrive in early August for pre-season. For Irish students, that means:
- Transition Year and 5th year: build your footage and profile, and start contacting coaches. 5th year is usually the main recruiting year.
- 6th year: compare offers, apply to universities, sign and sort your visa.
- Leaving Cert results usually come out in late August. Universities often admit you on your results so far, predicted grades and a school reference, so plan this with each university early.
More detail is in our recruiting timeline by age.
Grades and eligibility
Your Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert results are used for NCAA or NAIA eligibility, university admission and any academic scholarship on top of your athletic offer. See our guide to grades for a US scholarship.
The student visa
Once you've accepted a place, the university sends you a form called the I-20. You then pay the SEVIS fee, apply for an F-1 student visa and attend an interview at the US Embassy in Dublin. Leave plenty of time, as appointment waiting times vary.
What it costs
Most soccer scholarships are partial, and athletic money can often be combined with academic awards. Our guide to what a US football scholarship really costs explains how to compare offers.
How we help Irish players
We work with players across Ireland on the full process: an honest assessment, a highlight reel and profile, coach outreach, and support with eligibility, offers and the move. It starts with a free evaluation.