With May turning into June, the USSF Development Academy schedule is closing in on its final weekend before the Playoffs begin in the final week of June.

Spots in the playoffs are already sewn up by a handful of teams, and plenty of other clubs across the country are in the hunt to try and lock down one of those over the coming weekend.

Here’s a look at the matchups with major implications:

Central Conference

Currently holding first place at both age groups in the Frontier Division, Shattuck St. Mary’s faces a critical trip to Colorado, where a pair of wins would all but sew up the division. Two wins against the Colorado Rush and Real Colorado would lock up a playoff spot for the U16s, while the U18s only need to win one of two in order to officially clinch a top two spot.

Another club looking to solidify its spot at the top is the Chicago Fire. Both the U18s and U16s continue to hold onto first place in the Great Lakes Division, and take to the road with a chance to almost officially clinch against FC Milwaukee and Sockers FC on the road.

The Fire’s U18 will be without the services of Victor Pineda this weekend, who was called up to the U.S. U20 camp in Houston this week.

East Conference


The playoff picture in other conferences is more or less coming into focus, while out in the east there’s still a lot to play for

One side that’s jumped out in front early on is Baltimore Bays Chelsea. The U18 side, led by the talents of Michael Gamble, Jeremy and Michael DeGraffenreidt, haven’t lost since December and sit in first place ahead of this weekend’s matchup with Potomac.

The results haven’t been quite the same for the U16s, although it’s a tight race in the Atlantic Division with NJSA 04, FC Delco, PA Classics and D.C. United all within range of first. NJSA 04 is set to pay a visit to Delco and Classics this weekend, while D.C. United takes on Potomac.

There’s plenty of other action around the conference as well. New York Red Bulls can climb the ranks in the Liberty Division, taking on Met Oval and NY Cosmos. Brandon Allen continues to bang in goals for the Red Bulls U18 side, with 17 in 20 games this year.

Empire United’s U18s can jump into first place in the Northeast Division with two wins against Oakwood Soccer Club and South Central Premier. New England Revolution, currently sitting in first, heads outside the division for games against FC Westchester and Albertson SC.

South Conference

For the first time since February, McLean Youth Soccer is back in action and there’s much at stake for the U18 squad. Currently unbeaten in the Atlantic Division, McLean has two games in hand to Charlotte Soccer Academy and with two wins over North Meck and Charlotte this weekend, can secure first place in the division.

Looking to still have a say in the division is CASL Chelsea. While it trails McLean at the U18 age group by 12 points, CASL’s U16s hold first place in the division ahead of two games against Richmond Kickers and the Virginia Rush.

Weston FC has the most at stake this weekend in the Southeast Division. The U16s are seven points back with a game in hand behind South Carolina United Battery and get the chance to close the gap even more against Kendall this weekend. It’s not only a big game for the U16s, as the U18s also can draw level with second place Concorde Fire with a full three points.


West Conference

One final game remains on the schedule for the LA Galaxy Academy, and it’s a chance for both the U18 and U16 teams to win the SoCal Division outright.

For the U16 squad, it’s already in a tie for first with Real Salt Lake-AZ with 34 points. A point or win against Nomads SC will do the trick. The U18 squad could win the division with a win, loss or draw, depending on the outcome of Chivas USA’s matchup against Arsenal FC, as Chivas trails the Galaxy in the U18 standings by a single point.

Also out west, Whitecaps FC can put the exclamation point on its division schedule against the Sounders FC this weekend. Vancouver’s U18s have first place in the Northwest Division locked up, and can snatch the U16 title with a win against Seattle’s Academy this coming weekend.