IFA Pre-MLS Deliver Strong Easter Weekend
Intercontinental Football Academy of New England (IFA) Pre-MLS boys' squads enjoyed a successful weekend competing at the Easter International Cup in Orlando, Florida and the Scorpions Easter Invitational in Massachusetts.
"Over the past week, we had a total of seven Pre-MLS teams representing IFA at the Easter International Cup in Orlando and the Scorpions Easter Invitational in Massachusetts," said Jamie Ovens, IFA Pre-MLS Director. "Players were selected from seven regional IFA teams to represent the club at the highest level. One of the key principles of our Pre-MLS program is to expose players and teams to elite competition. Throughout the week, we were able to compete against top teams from across North America and locally. The weekend was filled with success, growth and valuable learning experiences."
Easter International Cup: Orlando, Florida (April 1-4)
The sixth annual Easter International Cup brought together over 400 teams from more than 24 states alongside academies from Liga MX and MLS at venues across Kissimmee and Orlando. IFA entered four Pre-MLS squads in the Super Group and Blue divisions.
U9 Pre-MLS: Super Group Semi-Finals
The U9s competed well in the Super Group, finishing 1-1-2 in group play. They opened with a 3-3 draw against EJE7, then beat Miami Stars Deportivo Cali 1-0 before drawing 2-2 with Fort Lauderdale United (Future ECNL). In the Silver Semi Final, they ran into Miami Stars again and lost 6-1.
U10 Pre-MLS Blue: Super Group Semi-Finalists
The U10 Blue squad went 1-2-0 in group play. After a 2-1 loss to Tru Tekkers and a 4-1 defeat to Florida Premier, they bounced back with a 5-1 win over Galacticos Soccer Academy. They reached the Silver Semi Final where they drew 3-3 with Florida Kraze Krush before going out 4-3 on penalties.
U10 Pre-MLS Gold: White Division Semi-Finals
The U10 Gold team went 1-1-1 in group play, beating Miami Athletic Club 3-1, drawing 2-2 with Orlando City Soccer School Lake Nona and losing 3-1 to Miami Futbol Academy Rush. They were eliminated 8-3 by Doral West in the Bronze Semi Final.
U11 Pre-MLS: Super Group Finalists
The U11s produced the standout run of the tournament. Drawn into a Super Group bracket alongside Inter Miami CF Academy, South Carolina Surf and Florida Premier (Pre-ECNL), IFA topped the group at 2-0-1 with seven goals scored and five conceded. They opened with a 3-2 win over South Carolina Surf, followed up with a 3-2 victory against Florida Premier, and drew 1-1 with Inter Miami CF Academy to secure first place. In the semi-final, they dismantled South Carolina Surf 4-1 in a dominant display to reach the final, where they came up against Futboltech and fell short at the final hurdle.
Scorpions Easter Invitational: Massachusetts (April 3-4)
Closer to home, IFA fielded three Pre-MLS boys' squads at the Scorpions Invitational, alongside the girls.
U9 Pre-MLS: Top Flight Champions
The U9s stormed through the Top Flight division, scoring 21 goals and conceding just three across three matches. They opened with victories over Scorpsions SC Metro West and Scorpions SC South 6-0 and drew 3-3 with New England Force in their only dropped points of the tournament.
U10 Blue Pre-MLS: Top Flight Runners Up
The U10 Blue squad went 2-1-0 with nine goals scored and four conceded. They beat Scorpions SC South 2-1 in the opener, then FC Stars in match two before a narrow 3-2 loss to New England Force in the decider.
U10 Gold Pre-MLS: Second Flight Champions
The U10 Gold team were perfect, winning all three matches without defeat. They beat Scorpions Soccer Club RI and South Shore Select before closing out with a 5-1 win over New England Surf Metro Boston.
About IFA's Pre-MLS Program
IFA's Pre-MLS program provides a competitive pathway for boys aged U9 to U12 across the club's regions, identifying and developing players for the MLS NEXT program. The Elite Player Pathway (EPP) provides the equivalent track for girls, preparing players for IFA's Girls Academy. Both programs emphasize elite competition, player development and exposure to high-level opponents.
For more information on the program please contact Jamie Ovens at jovens@ifanewengland.com
Take the Next Step with IFA
IFA has opened our environment to players who are ready to compete and train at the highest levels.
Rather than attending a traditional tryout, players are invited into a session based on their level and location. This allows players and families to experience the IFA environment firsthand through training with current teams and working directly with our coaching staff.
Following the session, our staff will outline the most appropriate pathway within the club.
