Minnesota Thunder Academy

Founded in 2008 with the merger of two elite Minnesota youth clubs and a legacy of excellence, Minnesota Thunder Academy (MTA) is the premier youth soccer development program in Minnesota. Established in the mid-2000s as the official youth affiliate of the former professional Minnesota Thunder team, MTA was created to provide the state’s most talented players with a pathway to the highest levels of the sport. The club provides advanced training opportunities for ages 6-20 and has developed more players that compete at the collegiate, professional, and national team level than any other club in the Upper Midwest.  From its inception, MTA has been guided by a simple but powerful mission: to develop players to their fullest potential and prepare them for success on and off the field. The club has consistently attracted top coaching talent, many with professional and international playing experience, and offers a structured environment focused on long-term player development. Over the past two decades, MTA has earned recognition both locally and nationally: 

● Player Advancement: MTA has produced more NCAA Division I athletes, professional players, and U.S. National Team representatives than any other Minnesota club. 

● Elite League Participation: MTA competes in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) and National Premier Leagues (NPL), placing its players among the best in the country. 

● National Recognition: MTA has been ranked among the top clubs nationally for player recruitment and college placement, including a top-10 ranking in NCAA women’s soccer recruiting classes. 

Centrally located in Richfield, Minnesota, Minnesota Thunder Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. With an emphasis on holistic development, MTA’s programs integrate technical training, tactical education, sports performance, and character development to provide a high-performance environment to both support and challenge athletes to become technically skilled, brave, solution-oriented soccer players. Minnesota Thunder Academy is the only soccer club in Minnesota to compete in the ECNL on both the boys and the girls side, and is the only Minnesota Club ranked in the Top 100 Clubs in the US by SoccerWire.com;  ranked #34 as of May 2021. Approximately 900 players compete on MTA teams annually, with many more joining MTA for skill- and-auxiliary training.