Player Pathways Through the Toronto Athletic F.C. Academy
At the Toronto Athletic F.C. Academy (TAFC), we are intentionally building a complete range of pathway options and development opportunities for our competitive athletes. As players progress into their high school years, long-term development becomes a central focus. Our objective is to create meaningful success opportunities across both the academic and high-performance soccer landscapes; pathways that position our athletes to reach their highest potential in the game and beyond.
We are actively developing the TAFC Player Pathway: a structured network of programs, partnerships, competitive environments, and exposure experiences designed to support continued growth and advancement. Through strong connections and intentional planning, we aim to ensure our players are prepared for the opportunities that come with elite performance.
TAFC Academy athletes have already progressed through a variety of competitive environments and post-secondary programs, and we remain committed to expanding the experiences and relationships that open doors at the next level.
TM17 Pro
European experiences offered through TM17 Pro: Based in the United States, TM17 Pro provides camps, scouting and European experiences for youth players aged 13+. TM17 Pro connects young players from the U.S. and Canada with high-caliber training, competitive matches, and authentic European football experiences. They offer opportunities for players from youth camps and residency/immersion programs in Germany to academy programs at RC Lens’ Youth Academy in France. Pursuing one of the options offered through TM17 Pro is unique as they offer trusted advice, personalized programs, and a clear path forward for young players who dream of playing soccer in Europe,
The Ontario Premier League (OPL): formerly League1 Ontario
Ontario Premier League Pathway: The OPL is Ontario’s semi-professional league, established in 2014, that continues to provide players a development platform bridging the gap between high-level youth competition and professional leagues. The league consists of three divisions with a promotion and relegation system between them. This structure allows clubs to ascend or descend based on performance, ensuring competitive balance and opportunities for growth. The OPL is FIFA sanctioned through the Ontario Soccer Association and Canadian Soccer Association, and plays a vital role in Canada’s development pathway. Players have opportunities to move into this system with an OPL club either by being scouted in IModel or Local District Leagues, or attending tryouts or through the Talent on Location Day (ToLD) Player Recommendation Process.
The Toronto FC Academy
The Toronto FC Academy is the youth development system for Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC. The Academy contains teams from U14 to U19 and competes in MLS Next – the youth development soccer league controlled by the MLS. This academy offers a development pathway for players directly to Toronto FC II in MLS Next Pro and then to the senior team in MLS. Similar to the OPL pathway, players can also be identified and selected for the TFC Academy through open tryouts or by being scouted through TAFC Academy’s connections.
