Sideline Budget

How Much Does Club Soccer Cost?

Updated October 2026 · 3 min read · Sources at the end
The short answer

Most club soccer families spend $3,800 to $6,700 a year per player once tournaments, travel and gear are added. The top national leagues, ECNL, MLS NEXT and Girls Academy, run $10,000 to $14,000. Either way, the club fee you're quoted is usually only about half of the real cost.

Here's what each level costs, where the money goes, and how to pay less.

What club soccer costs by level

The two big jumps are from rec to club, where you start paying a club fee, and from regional to national play, where travel costs double.

Level Typical leagues Ages 9–12 Ages 13 and up
Recreation Town or city rec league $300 $400
Competitive club State leagues $3,800 $4,400
Travel / regional NPL, DPL, NAL, ECNL Regional League $5,200 $6,700
Elite / national ECNL, MLS NEXT, Girls Academy $10,400 $13,800

Estimates are per player for a full year and include the club fee, uniform kit and gear, tournament entries, hotels at $150 a night, gas and food, and training extras. ECNL and MLS NEXT start at 13U; for ages 9–12 the elite row reflects the pre-academy and pre-ECNL teams that feed them. These are U.S. averages for a suburban family.

Where the money goes

For a typical 12U travel player, the club fee is about half the bill. Tournament travel is the next biggest line.

Cost Typical 12U travel player Share
Club fee $2,600 50%
Hotels, gas and food (3 overnight tournaments) $1,650 31%
Training extras (camps, futsal, private sessions) $400 8%
Uniform kit, cleats and gear $350 7%
Tournament entry share $240 5%
Total $5,240

Watch for kit cycles: many clubs require a new uniform kit every two years, so the gear line is higher in year one.

How costs vary by region

New England is the most expensive place to play top-level club soccer; the South and West run close to the national average.

Area Top-tier annual total (ECNL, MLS NEXT, Girls Academy)
New England $8,000–$15,000+
Maryland $6,000–$11,000+
California $5,500–$11,000+
North Carolina $5,500–$10,000+
Texas $5,000–$10,000+
Georgia $5,000–$9,500

These ranges come from ClubScout's state cost guides, which are modeled estimates because most clubs don't publish full fee schedules. Within any state, big-city clubs cost more and small-town programs much less: Aspen Institute data shows rural families spend about 40% less than suburban ones.

Free and cheaper paths

The most expensive league isn't the only route to good soccer.

  • MLS club academies can be free. Some pro clubs fully fund their academy teams, so families pay only travel and gear. Charlotte FC's academy, for example, charges no fee from U13 up. Ask any MLS-affiliated academy near you.
  • The regional tier costs about half. ECNL Regional League runs about $2,000–$5,000 a year versus $5,500–$12,000+ for ECNL, with much less travel.
  • Rec soccer is a bargain. A season typically costs $160–$215 plus a uniform; Charlotte Soccer Academy's fall 2026 rec fees are one example.
  • Ask about financial aid and volunteer credits. Many clubs offer need-based aid, and some let parents work paid volunteer shifts that count toward fees. Aid often covers only the club fee, not team fees or travel, so ask what it applies to.

How to keep club soccer affordable

  • Ask for the all-in number. A club quoting $1,800 plus tournaments can cost more than one quoting $2,500 all-in.
  • Split hotel rooms on overnight tournaments. On three two-night trips at $150 a night, that saves about $450 a season.
  • Reuse kit pieces in the second year of a uniform cycle instead of buying new.
  • Buy cleats and training gear used, or swap with families on older teams.
  • Set aside a fixed amount each month. At $5,200 a year, that's about $440 a month.

Want your own number? The free True Season Cost calculator estimates your season by league level, age and where you live, and shows which months will cost the most.

Sources

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