Youth soccer clubs in West Virginia
West Virginia youth soccer is spread thin across mountains and small cities, and the competitive clubs are few.
Club soccer in West Virginia
The biggest group sits around Charleston and the Kanawha Valley, where West Virginia Futbol Club bills itself as the state's largest youth program and operates out of Hurricane. Morgantown has BVB International Academy West Virginia, which began life as Mountaineer United and says it started in 1986. In the Eastern Panhandle, West Virginia Soccer in Shepherdstown became the state's first MLS NEXT club for the 2023-24 season.
The state association is the West Virginia Soccer Association, which reports more than 16,000 registered players a year. It runs the West Virginia State League, the State Cup, the Presidents Cup, the United Cup and the Open Cup, plus ODP and TOPSoccer. Its site also points to the US Youth Soccer National League and its Great Lakes division as a travel option for strong teams. The State Cup has been held in Beckley, and in 2025 the final matched a Legacy team against WVFC's 2011 boys.
The terrain shapes everything. Drives between Charleston, Morgantown, Wheeling and the Panhandle can run two or three hours, so many clubs build their schedules around a handful of weekends at a central complex. The Shawnee Sports Complex in Charleston and the Barboursville Soccer Complex have hosted US Youth Soccer regional events, which says something about how much the state works to bring tournaments home.
There's no ECNL or Girls Academy club in West Virginia that we could confirm, so families chasing those leagues usually look to Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania or Ohio. West Virginia United plays USL League Two out of Charleston and is tied to the WVFC organization, which gives local players a senior team to watch.
With so few choices, the best approach is to contact each club near you and ask about coaches, travel and fees. The three below are the ones we could confirm on official sites.
Popular clubs in West Virginia
These are the clubs West Virginia families ask about most. League badges show what we could confirm for the 2025-26 season, so check each club's own site for current teams, tryout dates and fees.
West Virginia Soccer
West Virginia Soccer was the first club in the state to join MLS NEXT, starting with U13 and U14 teams in 2023-24. Its 2025-26 listings show Tier 1 and Tier 2 age groups, a separate boys and girls academy, and free open training sessions. The club also runs a winter futsal academy and MLS NEXT ID clinics. It is run by the Major League Development Association, with Brett Teach as club director, and uses venues that include Hood College and Washington High School.
BVB International Academy West Virginia
The Morgantown club is the former Mountaineer United Soccer Club, renamed after joining the BVB International Academy network in partnership with Borussia Dortmund's academy program. Its site says it started in 1986 and calls itself the oldest club in the state. It claims more than 100 state titles and 200 college players. Programs include academy teams, a girls academy, the Mountaineer United recreational program, summer tryouts and guest play with affiliated teams.
West Virginia Futbol Club
West Virginia Futbol Club, or WVFC, lists an Academy, Travel teams, a recreational program called Kanawha Valley United and WV United in USL League Two. Its site shows a mailing address in Hurricane and says it teaches to US Youth Soccer grassroots standards. In 2020 it became the first West Virginia club accepted into the Club Champions League. It also runs the WVFC Capital Cup and describes itself as the largest youth club in the state.
From West Virginia clubs to college soccer
For a lot of West Virginia families, club soccer is also the road to playing in college. These pages cover the next step, from ID camps close to home to emailing college coaches.
College ID camps in West Virginia
Every college soccer program in West Virginia, with a link to its official camp page.
See the camps ›Recruiting guideHow college recruiting works
Timelines, divisions, scholarships, coach emails and showcases, explained for players and parents.
Read the guide ›RecruitlyEmail college coaches from your own inbox
Find programs by division and conference, reach every coach, and see who opens your email and watches your film.
Meet Recruitly ›Choosing a club in West Virginia
Distance is the biggest factor in West Virginia, more than league tier. Pick the club you can reach for training twice a week, then see what level it offers. WVFC is in the Kanawha Valley around Charleston and Hurricane, BVB International Academy West Virginia is in Morgantown, and West Virginia Soccer draws from the Eastern Panhandle.
If you want the highest national platform, West Virginia Soccer's MLS NEXT teams are the most visible option, with Tier 1 and Tier 2 age groups listed for 2025-26 and a separate girls academy. Expect weekend trips into Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
For girls hoping for ECNL or Girls Academy, plan on traveling out of state, or ask each club whether it has a pathway partner. Whichever club you pick, ask when its next tryout is. Dates vary and clubs usually post them on their sites well before the season starts, and the State League and State Cup run through the spring.
New to all this? Start with how the youth leagues fit together, then read our tryouts guide before West Virginia clubs start holding evaluations.
West Virginia club soccer FAQ
Is there an MLS NEXT club in West Virginia?
Yes. West Virginia Soccer in Shepherdstown joined MLS NEXT in 2023-24 as the state's first club, starting with U13 and U14 teams. Its site lists Tier 1 and Tier 2 age groups for 2025-26, and the MLS NEXT Academy Division member list for that season includes the club.
What does the West Virginia Soccer Association run?
The WVSA is the state's US Youth Soccer member and reports over 16,000 players a year. It runs the West Virginia State League, State Cup, Presidents Cup, United Cup and Open Cup, along with ODP, TOPSoccer, coaching courses and a referee program.
Where does the West Virginia State Cup get played?
The 2025 State Cup was held in Beckley, with a final between a Legacy team and WVFC's 2011 boys. The state has also hosted US Youth Soccer regional events at Shawnee Sports Complex in Charleston and the Barboursville Soccer Complex.