EL PASO, Texas (March 8, 2024) – El Paso Locomotive FC Academy has announced that it will join the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) for the 2024/2025 season. Beginning this fall, El Paso Locomotive FC Academy will join over 200 teams competing in one of the most prominent youth leagues in the nation with opportunities to provide players exposure to hundreds of college coaches and scouts throughout the year.
“We at El Paso Locomotive FC believe that taking this step will cement our resolve to compete at the top of the ECNL pyramid and garner larger interest in the youth development project being built in the Borderplex region,” Academy Director Ivan Militar said. “The talent in our region is some of the best I’ve ever seen and our ambitions for youth development aim high, so the ever-evolving ECNL felt like the right move to make to welcome new challenges and opportunities.”
Founded in 2009 and sanctioned by US Club Soccer, the ECNL is highly regarded for its top-level national competition, player development and college recruitment track record.
“Our unveiling of El Paso Locomotive FC as new members of the ECNL Boys reinforces our commitment to identifying tangible and direct pathways for clubs willing to prove their competitive level while recognizing the country has talented players deserving of the very same opportunities even when not previously represented with national league structures,” ECNL Boys Commissioner Jason Kutney said.
Locomotive will become a member of the Mountain Conference when it enters ECNL later this year. By joining the ECNL, the Locomotive Academy is confident the competition it will face will increase significantly, challenging players as they look to develop to their fullest potential. In addition to the several national showcases organized around the country every year, the Academy is determined to navigate teams toward the highest level of success in league play ahead of Locomotive’s inaugural season in the ECNL.
“As part of the Academy’s leadership, we will work hard to become not only a competitive club in the ECNL ecosystem, but to become a national championship contender organization as well,” Militar said.
The jump to a league as big as the ECNL is a demonstration of a continued effort by the Academy to place players in the best position to showcase themselves on a national stage and optimize the Youth Soccer experience, no matter the level of play.
El Paso Locomotive Youth Soccer will host Academy ID Camps in April. Those interested in registering ahead of time can click here to complete registration and secure a spot. More information regarding the April Academy ID Camps will be announced in the following days.
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