The Inter Miami CF Academy presented by Baptist Health announced today that its newly incorporated U-19 team will compete in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) in its inaugural season. Inter Miami now becomes the ninth Major League Soccer (MLS) club to have an academy team competing in the league.
“Part of our mission at the Inter Miami CF Academy to develop the best youth players in South Florida is to provide each player and team with the right platform and level of competition,” said Inter Miami CF Academy Director Craig Dalrymple, “We feel as if the UPSL will provide our U-19 team players with the right competitive challenge as they strive to make their final steps before the professional level in the club’s development pathway.”
“We are excited to welcome the Inter Miami CF Academy to the UPSL. This is an exciting new MLS club, and we are happy to be able to welcome them to the league. We have always had a good relationship with the staff at Inter Miami CF Academy and they are joining one of the strongest conferences in the UPSL. As we welcome this club to the UPSL, we look forward to continuing working towards our mission of providing a pathway to the pros all over the country,” said UPSL Vice President Christian Vallejos.
About UPSL and Competition Format
The UPSL was formed in 2011 and occupies the unofficial fourth tier of U.S. Soccer. Across its Premier, Division 1 and Women’s leagues there are more than 400 teams competing nationwide. The UPSL is now the largest Pro Development League in North America and is a National Affiliate member of the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF). n
The league operates year-round, comprising two seasons each calendar year, with the Spring season in the first half of the year and the Fall season in the second half of the year. Both seasons each year culminate with playoffs to determine the national champion.
UPSL teams are eligible to participate in the U.S. Open Cup Qualifying Rounds through the league's affiliation with USSF.
The Inter Miami CF Academy U-19 team will be part of the UPSL’s highly competitive Florida Central Premier Conference, but will play its inaugural season in the Fall in the Florida South Premier Conference.
Schedule
The Inter Miami U-19 team will play 13 regular season matches throughout the 2022 UPSL Fall Season, with the team’s first match taking place one Sept. 3, when the team hosts PSG Academy USA at the Inter Miami CF Training Center at 4 p.m. ET, and its final regular season fixture scheduled for Nov. 26, when the team is set to host Altitude Academies.
Coaching Staff
On the coaching front, former U-15 Academy head coach Victor Pastora will be at the helm of the U-19 team. Last season, Pastora helped guide the Inter Miami U-15 team to a national title, winning the MLS NEXT Cup.
Roster
The inaugural Inter Miami CF Academy U-19 team currently consists of 21 players, including seven new players who were recruited by the Academy ahead of the 2022 UPSL Fall Season, with the rest being returning Inter Miami CF Academy members.d
New Recruits: Markus Steinhauser (Juventus Academy Miami), Jonathan Nabaka (Weston FC), Lorenzo De’Agostino Weston FC), Denjamin Donato (Tampa Bay United), Gabriel Leal (Tropical SC), Ian Nuñez (Miami Rush Kendall SC), Ricardo Montenegro (Miami Milan)
Download the Academy’s U-19 team full roster for the 2022-23 season below.
