Everton is officially planting a new flag in North America, announcing a strategic partnership between its prestigious International Academy and Las Vegas youth powerhouse, Vegas United Soccer Club.
The deal brings the Nevada-based club into the fold of Everton’s International Academy Affiliate Programme (EIAAP), meaning the young players and coaches in Summerlin will now be training under the exact same curriculum, tactical analysis, and sports psychology methods used at Finch Farm.
It is a massive move for the grassroots setup in Las Vegas.
By joining the EIAAP, Vegas United gets direct, behind-the-scenes access to the Premier League club’s coaching hierarchy, effectively bridging the gap between a Nevada junior club and one of English football’s most historic institutions.
Cultural connection between two clubs
Eyal Dahan, Director of Coaching & International Sports Director at Vegas United, believes the cultural connection between the two cities is just as important as the footballing expertise:
“We are extremely excited to be joining forces with an English Premier League club with the prestige, history and stature of Everton.
“This is a partnership that we feel is a natural fit.
“Everton is known as being the People’s Club on Merseyside, and we definitely share that identity here in Las Vegas.
“Our aim in partnering with Everton is to elevate the quality of Las Vegas Youth soccer, while creating pathways for advancement to the highest level through the comprehensive Everton FC International curriculum.”
For Everton, the move is part of a deliberate global strategy to export their development philosophy. Mark Thompson, International Technical Coaching Manager at Everton, noted:
“We are delighted to welcome Vegas United Soccer Club as our newest affiliate partner and excited to work with Eyal and Club President Ryan.
“North America is a thriving base for youth soccer and this is a great opportunity to share Everton’s values and training philosophy in a vibrant football environment.
“We look forward to supporting the Club and building a strong relationship with the coaches and players at Vegas United to support their journey in youth development.”
What This Means for the Players
Vegas United, which supports between 150 and 200 young players annually across its Club, Academy, and Elite pathways, will now benefit from a dedicated Everton Academy coach.
This is an integrated development system that includes technical support from Finch Farm and even business and marketing guidance from Everton’s Royal Liver Building headquarters.
Since the programme launched in 2020, Everton has been aggressively expanding its reach, with affiliates already operating across the US, Canada, South America, Africa, Australia, and Ireland.
With this latest Nevada connection, Everton is further cementing its reputation as a global leader in grassroots development, proving that the reach of the “People’s Club” is growing far beyond the streets of Liverpool.
