2025-2026 Charlotte FC Academy mid-season update

By Rylee McKinney

Charlotte FC Academy kicked off its 2025-2026 season last September and has already made headlines. The first half of their season featured regular-season play in addition to MLS NEXT Fest, one of the largest youth scouting and recruiting events in North America. 

The rest of the season will return in just a few weeks. In addition to regular-season play, Academy teams will also participate in the Generation adidas Cup, MLS NEXT Flex, and MLS NEXT Cup. 

Here’s a quick look at Charlotte FC Academies’ performance so far and pressing headlines:

Standings

Currently, Charlotte FC Academy U19s are sitting in 7th place in the Southeast Division. Out of only eight matches played so far, the squad has a 2W-4L-2D record in regular-season play. Orlando City Academy leads the top of the division with a 7W-0L-1D record. 

As for the U17s, they are also holding 7th place in the Southeast Division. Out of eight matches played, the U17 squad has a 2W-5L-1D record. Consequently, the U-17 team has only eight points in the table halfway through their season. The division’s leaders, Atlanta United Academy, earned 16 points, revealing the noticeable performance gap. 

Charlotte FC Academy’s U16s are following suit with the U17s and U19s, landing in 7th place in their standings. Out of five matches played, the U16s have earned a record of 0W-4L-1D. Granted, the first-place team, Houston Dynamo FC, has played in two more matches, which shifts the table in their favor. 

Unlike their counterparts, the U14s are currently leading the Southeast Division. Having played 15 matches so far, the squad has an attacking score of 89.1 points and a defending score of 83.4 points. Their overall quality of play ranks at 87.4 points. 

CLTFC Academy News

The hottest headline regarding Charlotte FC’s Academy centers around Nimfasha Berchimas. 

On February 2, Tom Bogert took to social media, announcing that Bayern Munich is in advanced talks to sign Berchimas from Charlotte FC. Although the deal is not official just yet, it looks as though Berchimas will likely move to Germany over the summer after he turns 18 years old. 

Back in 2020, Berchimas joined Charlotte FC’s academy at 12 years old from NC Fusion. He signed a homegrown contract with Charlotte FC back in November of 2022 at just 14 years old. His contract with Charlotte FC made him the sixth-youngest player in MLS history to sign professionally at the time. 

Across the 2023 to 2025 seasons, Berchimas has been a key forward for Crown Legacy FC, Charlotte’s MLS NEXT Pro team. Appearing in over 40 matches, Berchimas has scored 10 goals. 

Internationally, Berchimas has made several appearances across five U.S. Youth National Team squads. This past year, Berchimas was called up for the U17 Men’s National Team for the U17 FIFA World Cup. He earned starting spots during their matches against Burkina Faso and Tajikistan. 

Despite his impressive resume and the striking of a new deal on the horizon, Berchimas is not the only academy star. 

Marcus Chairez, youth soccer advisor, writer, and scout at US Soccer Collective, contends Berchimas’ rise. According to Chairez’s Top 50 USMNT Prospects rankings released in December 2025, Nimfasha lands in 34th. However, Chairez ranks current U-16 academy player Daniel Brown higher, in 32nd place.

Brown currently plays as a midfielder/forward for Charlotte’s U-16 roster and was most recently named to the U-15 Boys National Team's February Camp Roster. He will travel to Cyprus later this week for the international training camp.

*See Chairez’s Top 50 USMNT Prospects rankings here.

Looking to 2026

As the Charlotte FC Academy prepares to resume play, the first half of the 2025-2026 season paints a picture of both challenge and promise. While results for the U16, U17, and U19 squads reveal growing pains within the Southeast Division, they are simply markers of the academy's potential. 

The academy’s commitment to long-term player development is leading to the emergence of elite talents like Berchimas and Brown. After all, their journeys are drawing national and international attention. 

With marquee events like the Generation Adidas Cup and MLS NEXT Cup still ahead, the second half of the season offers Charlotte FC’s academy teams a chance to recalibrate and showcase growth.

The spring also offers opportunities for players to move upwards through different age levels as Crown Legacy FC's season is about to kick off, and with it, more academy prospects will be getting a look with professional minutes.

*Team rankings and stats from MLS NEXT