Texas Club Soccer Tryouts 2027: Dates, Timeline and What to Expect

By the CleatPal team · Updated 2026-10-27 · How we check facts

Short answer: most competitive club soccer tryouts in Dallas–Fort Worth happen from mid-April to early July, and they pick teams for the following fall. In the 2026 cycle, Dallas Surf started elite tryouts on April 15, FC Dallas Youth's ECNL-family tryouts and several other clubs started the week of May 11, and FC Dallas select tryouts ran July 1–3. Expect 2027 to follow a similar pattern. None of the clubs we track had posted 2027 tryout dates as of late October 2026, so check each club's site from March.

Key takeaways

Spring 2027 tryouts form 2027–28 teams. Your child tries out for next year's age group, not this year's.
In 2026, clubs with MLS NEXT, Girls Academy and ECNL teams were among the first to hold tryouts, in April and May. Other teams kept tryouts open through June and into July.
MLS NEXT sets formal windows for when players can move clubs. In its Homegrown Division, a roster freeze runs April 18 to June 13, 2027.
Younger academy players (U7–U10) often have different timing, including fall open training for spring rosters.
Register online before you go. FC Dallas Youth, for example, requires a parent to register every player in advance, including current members.

When are club soccer tryouts in Texas?

There is no single statewide tryout day. Each club sets its own dates. In DFW, most clubs hold tryouts between late April and early July. In 2026, clubs with top-tier teams were among the first to start.

The table below shows the most recent tryout timing we could verify for DFW clubs in our directory. These are 2026 dates. Treat them as a guide to when 2027 tryouts will likely open, not as confirmed 2027 dates.

Club	City	Most recent tryout timing (2026 cycle)
Dallas Surf Soccer Club	Dallas	Elite tryouts started April 15; competitive tryouts (U6–U19) started May 11
Atletico Dallas Academy	Dallas	Evaluations ran April 6 to May 22, 2026
FC Dallas Youth	Frisco	ECNL, ECNL RL, ECNL RL NTX and Pre-ECNL tryouts began May 11 at Toyota Soccer Center; select (USYS) tryouts ran July 1–3, 2026
Texas Lightning Soccer Club	Arlington	Open ID sessions for all competitive teams began the week of May 11
North Texas Celtic FC	DFW	ECNL RL NTX tryouts were open through June 30, 2026
Coppell FC	Coppell	Select (U11–U19) open training for 2026–27 is complete; academy (U7–U10) open training in early November for spring 2027 rosters
Texas Spurs FC	Allen	2026–27 tryouts are over; some teams list open roster spots

For any club not listed here, check the club's site. We add 2027 dates to program pages as clubs announce them.

What does the 2027 tryout timeline look like, month by month?

November to January: plan and research

Academy open training. Some clubs fill spring rosters for younger players now. Coppell FC holds academy (U7–U10) open training in early November.
High school season. For older players, high school soccer takes over the winter. In 2025–26, UIL soccer practice opened December 1 and state finals ran April 9–11. Expect a similar calendar in 2026–27.
College ID camps for older players. Sting North Texas holds a College ID Camp in Carrollton on January 23–24, 2027, for birth years 2008–2013.
MLS NEXT movement window. In MLS NEXT's top division, January 1–31, 2027 is the one mid-season window when a released player can register with a new club.

February and March: shortlist clubs

Ask current families and coaches about the clubs on your list. Use our 12 questions to ask a club.
Spring break camps are a low-pressure way to see a club's coaching. Coppell FC's spring break camp is March 15–19, 2027.
Dallas Cup runs March 21–28, 2027. It is a good chance to watch older teams from many clubs.
Watch club websites and social media. Tryout announcements often go up a few weeks before sessions start.

April: the first tryouts open

In 2026, Dallas Surf's elite tryouts began April 15 and Atletico Dallas evaluations began April 6.
For 2026–27, MLS NEXT's Homegrown Division has a roster freeze from April 18 to June 13, 2027. In that window, players can't trial with or register for a new club in that division.

May: peak tryout month

In 2026, FC Dallas Youth, Dallas Surf (competitive teams) and Texas Lightning all started the week of May 11.
Before you go, ask each club when offers go out, how long you have to accept, and whether a deposit is due.

June: second-round tryouts and open spots

In 2026, North Texas Celtic FC kept ECNL RL NTX tryouts open through June 30.
MLS NEXT's open period for 2027 runs June 14 to July 12. Players can train and trial with any club in that division during that time.
Coppell FC's competitive summer camp runs June 7–11, 2027.

July and August: late tryouts and the new season

FC Dallas select tryouts ran July 1–3 in 2026, for U11–U19.
Many teams still have open spots after the main window. Ask coaches directly.
The 2027–28 soccer year starts August 1 for most U.S. youth leagues. See our age group guide.

What age group is my child trying out for?

Spring 2027 tryouts are for the 2027–28 season. Most U.S. youth leagues now group players by a school-year cutoff of August 1 to July 31. So a child born between August 1, 2015 and July 31, 2016 plays U11 in 2026–27 and U12 in 2027–28.

MLS NEXT's Homegrown Division is the main exception. It stays on calendar birth years (January 1 to December 31). Our birth year chart covers both systems.

How do club soccer tryouts work?

Most DFW tryouts follow the same basic steps.

Register online. Clubs use their own forms or registration systems. FC Dallas Youth requires parent registration in advance, and filling in the form does not guarantee a spot.
Show up early. FC Dallas asks players to arrive 20 minutes early.
Play. Expect warm-ups, small-sided games and scrimmages, grouped by age and gender.
Parents wait outside. At FC Dallas tryouts, only players and staff are allowed past the gate.
Offers. Each club handles offers its own way. Ask for the timing, the acceptance deadline and the full fee sheet.
Ongoing trials. Some clubs let players keep trying out with individual teams after the main sessions. FC Dallas notes this on its tryout page.

For a packing list and what coaches watch for, read what to bring to soccer tryouts.

Should we try out for more than one club?

Many families do. It gives you choices and a backup if a first-choice team is full. Just keep track of offer deadlines, and don't accept an offer you aren't sure about. Club commitments usually come with fees that are hard to get back.

If your child is in MLS NEXT, check that league's movement rules first. Its windows control when a player can trial with or join another club in the division.

What should we budget for?

Club fees are only part of the cost. Ask each club for the full-year total, including uniforms, tournaments and travel. Our DFW club soccer cost guide lists every fee we could verify from club websites.

Next step

Browse all DFW programs and open each club's page to see its leagues, ages and latest tryout notes. Run a club? List your program and send us your 2027 tryout dates.