We help families figure out the right U.S. Soccer registration / clearance pathway, gather the right documents, and get the request submitted.
Players born outside the United States, and players who have previously been registered with an affiliated club or league outside the United States, may need an international clearance or related registration before they can play in affiliated competition. Umoja will identify the likely pathway and confirm the current U.S. Soccer requirements before anything is submitted.
Age, place of birth, citizenship, prior soccer registration, and how the player came to the United States determine the likely route.
We do not want families chasing documents that are not part of their pathway. The checklist below changes with your answers.
Families provide the documents to Umoja through the club process. The club confirms the clearance type and submits the application.
Answer only what applies. The finder stops as soon as it has enough information.
This finder is guidance, not an eligibility decision. Umoja confirms the current U.S. Soccer form and supporting-document requirements before submission. View U.S. Soccer's current International Clearance guidance →
Do not invent a reason or provide a story you are not required to provide. U.S. Soccer has told Umoja that a parent or guardian may provide a written statement when a birth certificate is unavailable, and U.S. Soccer will review the documentation submitted.
This is the wording Umoja uses. Add the parent/guardian name, player name, signature, and date when the statement is requested.
We review the player’s situation and make sure the current clearance form matches it.
Umoja sends the family the club’s clearance request through PlayMetrics so the documents stay with the player record.
We check for missing or inconsistent items before submitting anything.
The club sends the clearance request through the required U.S. Soccer process and tracks the response.
Once eligibility is confirmed, Umoja updates the player’s registration and lets the family know.
U.S. Soccer permits a player awaiting clearance to participate in team training, preseason scrimmages, and non-affiliated organized soccer. The player cannot be activated for affiliated competition until the clearance is complete.
No. The route depends on age, citizenship, prior registration history, residence history, and the circumstances of the player's move. Players age nine and younger use the P10 registration process; players age 10–17 may use a first-registration form or one of the FIFA minor exceptions; adults use separate forms.
No. U.S. Soccer told Umoja that the 5-Year Exception must be supported by school records, such as report cards, official transcripts, or attendance records signed by the school registrar. A parent statement does not replace that requirement.
There are accompanied and unaccompanied Humanitarian Exception pathways. A U.S. Department of State document may satisfy the birth-certificate, identity/nationality, and refugee-status requirements in an accompanied humanitarian application. An appropriate Employment Authorization Document may satisfy identity/nationality and refugee-status requirements. Umoja will confirm the rest of the current application requirements with you.
Tell Umoja. You do not need to invent a reason. U.S. Soccer has told the club that a parent or guardian may provide a written statement that the birth certificate is unavailable. U.S. Soccer reviews the complete documentation and determines whether it is sufficient.
They may train with the team and participate in the limited activities U.S. Soccer permits while a clearance is pending, but they cannot be activated for affiliated competition until clearance is complete.
As early as possible. U.S. Soccer instructs clubs to submit complete applications at least 30 days before official league or club play begins, and notes that 30 days does not guarantee completion because processing time varies by pathway and case.
No. The registering club is responsible for selecting the clearance type and submitting the application. Families provide the required information and documents to Umoja; Umoja handles the club submission.
If we have told you that your player needs international clearance, use the clearance request sent through PlayMetrics. If you have not received one yet, contact us and we will start the right process.
Clarkston, Georgia · Umoja Soccer Club