Club Soccer in Northern New Jersey: A Complete Guide for Parents (2026)
TL;DR: Northern New Jersey has 120+ club soccer programs across Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Union, Sussex, and Warren counties. TSF Academy (Lincoln Park) competes in MLS NEXT and is a Red Bulls affiliate. PSA SDFC (Randolph) fields ECNL Boys teams. Sporting Athletic Club (Newark) plays in Girls Academy. Ironbound SC (Newark) competes in DPL and USL Academy. Cedar Stars Academy (Carlstadt) fields Girls Academy and USL Youth teams. EDP Soccer is the dominant regional league, with 60+ Northern NJ clubs competing. This guide covers every club in the region with factual information only — no rankings, no subjective claims.
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How This Guide Works
We're not ranking these clubs or making subjective judgments about quality. Every family's situation is different — what matters is finding the right fit based on your location, your child's age and competitive level, and your family's budget and schedule.
For each club, we list factual information: location, leagues, and gender. Use this as a starting point, then visit clubs, watch practices, and talk to other parents. Our guide on how to choose a club covers what to look for, and our coach evaluation guide has specific questions to ask.
For families new to club soccer, our recreational vs. travel soccer guide explains the differences, and our age-by-age guide covers what to expect at each stage. If cost is a factor, see our club soccer budget guide. For a statewide view, our NYC Metro guide covers the broader metro area including Northern NJ clubs that draw from NYC.
Northern NJ Clubs at a Glance
These are the clubs competing in the top national and regional leagues. For the full list organized by county, scroll down.
| Club | Location | Top League(s) | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSF Academy | Lincoln Park | MLS NEXT | Coed |
| PSA SDFC | Randolph | ECNL Boys, EDP | Boys |
| Sporting Athletic Club | Newark | Girls Academy, EDP | Girls |
| Ironbound SC | Newark | DPL, USL Academy, EDP | Coed |
| Cedar Stars Academy | Carlstadt | Girls Academy, USL Youth, EDP | Coed |
| The Football Academy NJ | Parsippany | Girls Academy ASPIRE | Girls |
| FC Motown STA | Morristown | USL Academy Boys | Boys |
| Morris Elite SC | Madison | USL Academy Boys | Boys |
| New Jersey Copa FC | Ramsey | USL Youth | Coed |
| PASCO Soccer Club | Paterson | EDP, NPL, USL Youth | Coed |
For a primer on what these league names mean, see our guides to ECNL, MLS NEXT, DPL, EDP, Girls Academy, and NPL. For head-to-head league comparisons, see MLS NEXT vs ECNL, DPL vs ECNL, ECNL vs Girls Academy, and Girls Academy vs DPL.
National-Level Clubs
These clubs compete in the top national leagues — MLS NEXT, ECNL, Girls Academy, or DPL — and represent the highest competitive tier in Northern NJ.
TSF Academy
Location: Lincoln Park, NJ (Morris County) Leagues: MLS NEXT Gender: Coed
TSF Academy is one of the few independent (non-MLS-affiliated) clubs in the MLS NEXT pathway. Located in Morris County, the club is an affiliate of both the New York Red Bulls and NYCFC, giving players exposure to two MLS academy scouting networks. For more on how MLS academies operate in this region, see our NYC Metro guide.
View TSF Academy on ClubScout →
PSA SDFC
Location: Randolph, NJ (Morris County) Leagues: ECNL Boys, EDP Gender: Boys
PSA SDFC competes in ECNL for boys, the largest national competitive league. The club also fields teams in EDP for additional age groups. ECNL clubs participate in national showcases and playoffs, providing a pathway for players pursuing college soccer.
Sporting Athletic Club
Location: Newark, NJ (Essex County) Leagues: Girls Academy, EDP, The National League Gender: Girls
Sporting Athletic Club is the only Northern NJ club in Girls Academy, the national girls-only competitive league. The club also competes in EDP and The National League. For how Girls Academy compares to other national leagues, see our ECNL vs Girls Academy and Girls Academy vs DPL comparisons.
View Sporting Athletic Club on ClubScout →
Ironbound SC
Location: Newark, NJ (Essex County) Leagues: DPL, USL Academy Boys, USL Youth, EDP Gender: Coed
Ironbound SC competes in the Development Player League (DPL), USL Academy (boys), and USL Youth — one of the most league-diverse clubs in Northern NJ. The club is also a New York Red Bulls affiliate. Based in Newark's Ironbound neighborhood, the club draws players from across Essex County and beyond. See our DPL vs ECNL comparison for how these pathways differ.
View Ironbound SC on ClubScout →
Cedar Stars Academy
Location: Carlstadt, NJ (Bergen County) Leagues: Girls Academy, USL Youth, EDP Gender: Coed
Cedar Stars Academy fields Girls Academy teams from its Carlstadt location and also competes in USL Youth and EDP. The club operates multiple locations across the metro area — the Carlstadt facility serves Northern NJ families. Cedar Stars also has a separate Monmouth County location.
View Cedar Stars Academy on ClubScout →
The Football Academy NJ
Location: Parsippany, NJ (Morris County) Leagues: Girls Academy ASPIRE Gender: Girls
The Football Academy NJ competes in Girls Academy ASPIRE, the development tier of the Girls Academy pathway. This provides a stepping stone for players working toward the full Girls Academy level.
View The Football Academy NJ on ClubScout →
USL Academy and USL Youth Clubs
These clubs compete in USL's development pathway, which connects to the professional USL Championship and USL Super League structures.
FC Motown STA
Location: Morristown, NJ (Morris County) Leagues: USL Academy Boys Gender: Boys
FC Motown STA fields USL Academy teams for boys. The club is connected to FC Motown, which competes in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) at the adult level.
View FC Motown STA on ClubScout →
Morris Elite SC
Location: Madison, NJ (Morris County) Leagues: USL Academy Boys, USL Youth Gender: Boys
Morris Elite SC competes in USL Academy (boys) and USL Youth. The club is also a member of the Mid-Atlantic Premier League, part of the NPL pathway.
View Morris Elite SC on ClubScout →
New Jersey Copa FC
Location: Ramsey, NJ (Bergen County) Leagues: USL Youth Gender: Coed
New Jersey Copa FC competes in USL Youth from its Bergen County base, serving families in the northern tip of NJ.
View New Jersey Copa FC on ClubScout →
PASCO Soccer Club
Location: Paterson, NJ (Passaic County) Leagues: EDP, NPL, USL Youth Gender: Coed
PASCO is one of the most league-diverse competitive clubs in Passaic County, competing across EDP, NPL (via the Mid-Atlantic Premier League), and USL Youth.
View PASCO Soccer Club on ClubScout →
EDP and NPL Clubs by County
EDP Soccer is the dominant regional league in Northern NJ. The vast majority of competitive clubs in the region play in EDP. Some clubs also compete in NPL through the Mid-Atlantic Premier League, or in The National League (a qualifying league within EDP's structure). For details on how EDP fits into the broader league landscape, see our EDP guide.
Bergen County
Bergen County sits along the Hudson River and the NY state line, giving families access to both NJ and NYC soccer markets.
| Club | City | Leagues | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Stars Academy | Carlstadt | Girls Academy, USL Youth, EDP | Coed |
| New Jersey Copa FC | Ramsey | USL Youth | Coed |
| HEX FC | Hackensack | EDP, National League | Coed |
| FC Berna Legacy | Garfield | EDP, National League | Coed |
| Bergenfield United SC | Bergenfield | EDP | Coed |
| Fort Lee Soccer League | Fort Lee | EDP | Coed |
| Ridgefield FC | Ridgefield | EDP | Coed |
| SC Vistula Garfield | Garfield | EDP | Coed |
| Jersey Crew SC | Midland Park | EDP | Coed |
| Stateline SC | Mahwah | NPL | Coed |
| Quickstrike FC | Hackensack | NPL | Coed |
| RCD Espanyol de Barcelona NJ | West New York | EDP | Coed |
| Elmwood Park Crew SC | Elmwood Park | — | Coed |
| Euro Futbol Academy | Wallington | — | Coed |
| Hackensack Royals FC | Hackensack | — | Coed |
| Maroons Soccer Club | Ridgewood | — | Coed |
Browse all Bergen County clubs on ClubScout.
Essex County
Essex County — anchored by Newark and Montclair — has the densest concentration of clubs in Northern NJ, including two national-level programs.
| Club | City | Leagues | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sporting Athletic Club | Newark | Girls Academy, EDP, National League | Girls |
| Ironbound SC | Newark | DPL, USL Academy, EDP | Coed |
| Bloomfield SC | Bloomfield | EDP, National League | Coed |
| Sporting AC New Jersey | Newark | EDP, National League | Coed |
| FC Brasil | Newark | EDP | Coed |
| American Soccer Club of NJ | Newark | EDP | Coed |
| NESA | Nutley | EDP | Coed |
| SFL Club | Millburn | EDP, NPL | Coed |
| LTG NJ | Livingston | NPL | Coed |
| Ironbound Soccer | Newark | NPL | Coed |
| Brazilian Soccer Academy NJ | Bloomfield | — | Coed |
| Montclair FC | Montclair | — | Coed |
| Essex International Select | Montclair | — | Coed |
| NJ Pride FC | Montclair | — | Coed |
| Passaic FC Academy | Montclair | — | Coed |
| Soccer Domain FC | Montclair | — | Coed |
| Newark Soccer Club | Newark | NPL | Coed |
| Den Of Lions SC | Newark | — | Coed |
| Sport Club Portuguese | Newark | — | Coed |
| Sporting NJ Soccer Academy | Verona | — | Coed |
Browse all Newark clubs and Montclair clubs on ClubScout.
Hudson County
Hudson County's proximity to Manhattan makes it one of the most accessible NJ soccer markets for NYC families. Several clubs draw players from both sides of the Hudson River.
| Club | City | Leagues | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey City SA | Jersey City | EDP | Coed |
| Hoboken United | Hoboken | EDP | Coed |
| Harrison SC | Harrison | National League, EDP | Coed |
| RCD Espanyol Academy NJ | Jersey City | NPL | Coed |
| Inter NJ Soccer Club | Kearny | EDP | Coed |
| Kearny Thistle United FC | Kearny | EDP | Coed |
| Kearny FC | Kearny | NPL | Coed |
| Bayonne Youth SA | Bayonne | EDP | Coed |
| Red Bull New York | Harrison | — | Coed |
| Global Soccer Academy | Jersey City | — | Coed |
| Hans Soliz Soccer School | Jersey City | — | Coed |
| The Soccer Learning Center | Jersey City | — | Coed |
| Edge Hoboken | Hoboken | — | Coed |
| Global Soccer Experience | Hoboken | — | Coed |
| Hive Athletic | Hoboken | — | Coed |
| Jersey Stars SC | Kearny | — | Coed |
| US Soccer Heroes | Guttenberg | — | Coed |
| Union City Stars FC | Union City | — | Coed |
Browse all Jersey City clubs and Hoboken clubs on ClubScout.
Morris County
Morris County is home to three nationally-affiliated programs — TSF Academy (MLS NEXT), FC Motown STA (USL Academy), and The Football Academy NJ (GA ASPIRE) — plus a strong cluster of EDP and NPL clubs.
| Club | City | Leagues | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSF Academy | Lincoln Park | MLS NEXT | Coed |
| FC Motown STA | Morristown | USL Academy Boys | Boys |
| The Football Academy NJ | Parsippany | GA ASPIRE | Girls |
| Morris Elite SC | Madison | USL Academy Boys, USL Youth | Boys |
| Morris United SC | Morristown | NPL | Coed |
| Parsippany SC | Parsippany | EDP, National League | Coed |
| East Hanover SC | East Hanover | EDP | Coed |
| East Hanover SC (NPL) | East Hanover | NPL | Coed |
| Florham Park SC | Florham Park | EDP | Coed |
| Hanover Soccer Club | Hanover | EDP | Coed |
| Fox Soccer Academy | Parsippany | NPL | Coed |
| Jersey Elite SA | Parsippany | EDP | Coed |
| Parsippany SC (NPL) | Parsippany | NPL | Coed |
| Chatham United SA | Chatham | EDP | Coed |
| Sticks N' Kicks Academy | Fairfield | EDP | Coed |
| Cedar Stars Academy Wayne | Wayne | — | Coed |
| Jersey Knights SC | Wayne | EDP | Coed |
Browse all Morristown clubs and Parsippany clubs on ClubScout.
Passaic County
| Club | City | Leagues | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| PASCO Soccer Club | Paterson | EDP, NPL, USL Youth | Coed |
| Clifton United FC | Clifton | EDP | Coed |
| Jersey Rangers SA | Clifton | EDP | Coed |
| NJ Stallions | Clifton | EDP | Coed |
| Passaic Youth Soccer | Passaic | EDP | Coed |
| Southside Soccer Club | Haledon | — | Coed |
| Sportfriends SC | Wayne | — | Coed |
Browse all Clifton clubs and Paterson clubs on ClubScout.
Union County
| Club | City | Leagues | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community SC | Linden | NPL, EDP, National League | Coed |
| Elite SC Plainfield | Plainfield | National League, EDP | Coed |
| Springfield SC | Springfield | EDP, National League | Coed |
| FC Europa | Elizabeth | NPL | Coed |
| NJ Santos FC | Elizabeth | EDP | Coed |
| NJ Santos Rush | Elizabeth | NPL | Coed |
| Elizabeth Youth Soccer | Elizabeth | EDP | Coed |
| SCP Youth Soccer | Kenilworth | EDP | Coed |
| Berkeley Heights YSC | Berkeley Heights | EDP | Coed |
| Cranford SC | Cranford | EDP | Coed |
| Clark SC | Clark | EDP | Coed |
| Rahway Youth Soccer | Rahway | EDP | Coed |
| JAE Academy Plainfield | Plainfield | EDP | Coed |
| Union County FC | Union | NPL | Coed |
| Union Soccer Club | Union | — | Coed |
Browse all Elizabeth clubs on ClubScout.
Sussex and Warren Counties
The northwestern corner of NJ has fewer club options, but families here are within driving distance of Morris County programs.
| Club | City | Leagues | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Jersey SC | Phillipsburg | — | Coed |
Families in Sussex and Warren counties often travel to Morris County clubs like TSF Academy, Morris Elite SC, or Morris United SC for competitive play. The Parsippany area also has several options within reach.
Understanding the Northern NJ Soccer Landscape
League Structure
Northern NJ's competitive soccer landscape is layered:
- MLS NEXT: TSF Academy is the only Northern NJ club in this professional development pathway. The New York Red Bulls Academy (based in Whippany, NJ) also competes in MLS NEXT but operates as a fully funded professional academy rather than a traditional club program.
- ECNL: PSA SDFC fields ECNL Boys teams. ECNL also operates a Regional League (ECNL RL) with a dedicated New Jersey conference that launched for the 2025-26 season, adding more ECNL pathway options in the state.
- Girls Academy / DPL: Sporting Athletic Club (GA) and Ironbound SC (DPL) provide the top national girls pathways in Northern NJ. Cedar Stars Academy and The Football Academy NJ add GA and GA ASPIRE options.
- USL Academy / USL Youth: FC Motown STA, Morris Elite SC, Ironbound SC, and others connect to the USL professional pyramid.
- NPL: The Mid-Atlantic Premier League — formed in 2024 as part of the NPL pathway under US Club Soccer — includes several Northern NJ clubs. Members compete for berths at the NPL Finals held annually in Colorado.
- EDP Soccer: The dominant regional league. The majority of competitive clubs in Northern NJ play in EDP across multiple age groups. EDP also operates The National League as a higher qualifying tier within its structure.
MLS Academy Connections
Northern NJ sits between two MLS academy territories:
- New York Red Bulls Academy (Whippany, NJ): Fully funded. Scouts across NJ. Affiliate clubs in the region include TSF Academy, Ironbound SC, and others.
- NYCFC Academy (Orangeburg, NY): Also scouts Northern NJ players. Runs the City Select League scouting pipeline.
Some clubs, like TSF Academy, are affiliates of both academies. Being affiliated doesn't guarantee a pathway to the academy — but it does mean academy scouts regularly attend practices and games. For more detail, see our NYC Metro guide which covers both academy networks.
Tryout Season
Most Northern NJ clubs hold tryouts in late April through June for the following fall season. Some clubs offer winter or spring tryouts for mid-season openings. Check individual club websites or the ClubScout tryout calendar for specific dates. For tips on preparing, see our tryout guide.
Cost Considerations
Club soccer costs in Northern NJ vary widely by level. Clubs competing in national leagues (MLS NEXT, ECNL, Girls Academy, DPL) typically cost $3,000-$6,000+ per year including tournament travel. EDP-level clubs generally range from $1,500-$4,000. Town travel programs can be under $1,000. For a detailed breakdown of what goes into these costs, see our travel soccer cost guide and budget guide. Families managing multiple players should also check our multiple kids in club soccer guide.
What to Do Next
- Narrow by county and level. Use the tables above to find clubs near you that match your child's competitive level.
- Check ClubScout profiles. Each linked club name takes you to their full profile with parent reviews, contact info, and more detail.
- Attend tryouts. Most clubs hold tryouts in May-June for the following fall season. See our tryout guide for what to expect.
- Talk to current families. Ask about practice schedules, travel expectations, and the actual costs beyond published fees.
- Read reviews. Parent reviews on ClubScout give you an unfiltered look at what it's actually like to be part of a club.
If you're new to club soccer entirely, start with our guide on recreational vs. travel soccer and our age-by-age breakdown to understand when and whether to make the move. If your child is already playing and considering a switch, that guide covers what to watch for.
More Resources
- How to Choose a Club Soccer Club
- How to Evaluate a Youth Soccer Coach
- Your First Travel Soccer Tournament
- College Soccer Recruiting Guide
- Club Soccer in Central New Jersey
- Club Soccer on Long Island
- Club Soccer in Westchester and the Hudson Valley
- Club Soccer in the NYC Metro Area
- Club Soccer in New Jersey — Statewide Guide
- Browse All New Jersey Clubs on ClubScout