The U.S. Soccer Player Status Department ensures the processes and requirements involving player eligibility and registration are adhered by all organization members. U.S. Soccer Bylaws and Policies and the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) outline the rules and regulations regarding player eligibility - minor, amateur and professional – and the processes to participate in U.S. Soccer affiliated clubs and leagues.
The annual registration process and clearance requests outlined on this page apply specifically to players wishing to register for affiliated clubs/leagues solely based in the United States, regardless of player’s nationality.
Players wishing to participate in clubs/leagues outside the United States should contact the local Member Association (MA) / Federation to inquire about the processes and forms required to register and request clearances locally. The international clearance requirements are the same as these are regulated by the FIFA RSTP. A list of FIFA Member Associations can be found HERE.
All organization members of U.S. Soccer are required to register players annually as outlined in USSF Bylaw 212, section 1(4) (B). The initial registration of the player generates a FIFA Player ID. This is the unique number which identifies the player throughout their soccer career – both domestically and internationally - from grassroots to amateur to professional.
DEFINITION | COMPLETE REGISTRATION
The FIFA RSTP defines a player registration record as: the act of making a written/electronic record containing details of a player that include:
Complete player registration records provide current and accurate player information which facilitate the processing of clearances and aligns with requirements as outlined in FIFA and U.S. Soccer policies. Failure to annually send complete registrations can lead to possible fines and/or sanctions from FIFA and U.S. Soccer.
In accordance with FIFA RSTP, the clearance process is required when a player over the age of 10 is attempting to register with an affiliated club/league in the United States, regardless of that player's soccer ability. It is the responsibility of the registering club to verify a player’s registration history in order to ascertain whether a clearance may be required. A determination is made by the registering club personnel on which type of clearance the player requires based on the below listed criteria:
FIFA imposed a general ban on the international transfer of minor players (age 10-17). Despite the ban, FIFA has identified a few exceptions which minors can apply for an International Transfer Certificate or First Registration. For more information on minor exception applications please refer to the Protection of Minors – Guide to Submitting a Minor Application published by FIFA.
The steps for a club to request a clearance for a registered player which meets one of the above stated clearance criteria is outlined below:.
1. The registering club must submit the appropriate clearance form along with the required documents to the Player Status Department for review and processing.
a. Clubs are responsible to ensure the player is cleared and eligible to activate for affiliated competition
b. A player(s) activation prior to obtaining the clearance will be considered ineligible.
c. The only permitted participation for a player awaiting clearance are
i. Pre-season scrimmages
ii. Team trainings
iii. Non-affiliated organized soccer matches/leagues.
2. The home association, U.S. Soccer, is responsible for requesting the clearance from the appropriate parties on behalf of the registering club for the requested player.
a. Player Status reviews the applications and notifies the applicant of application status
i. Application complete and moved to next step OR
ii. Application incomplete/inaccurate and withdrawn from process
b. The clearance is processed as required by the FIFA RSTP
c. Applicant is informed of player eligibility upon completion of process
Failure to request and obtain a clearance in accordance with the U.S. Soccer and the FIFA Regulations may lead to disciplinary sanctions being issued against U.S. Soccer, the relevant Member Association of U.S. Soccer, Club and/or the player. Should U.S. Soccer incur sanctions and or fines as a result of a member actions, these will be passed to the member.
The below chart lists the seven (7) clearance form types and the criteria for each type. The information is outlined to assist the club in selecting the appropriate form based on the players’ circumstance at the time of clearance submission. It is the responsibility of the club/league to determine which clearance is required for the player.
Each form can be downloaded and lists the specific required documents that must be submitted with the completed form to the Player Status Department when requesting a clearance. Club representatives are required to complete the Club information section of the form.
MINOR CLEARANCE FORMS | PLAYER AGED 10 to 17 |
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FORM |
APPLICATION CRITERIA |
International clearances and first registrations for any player nine (9) years of age and younger at the time of registration regardless of citizenship
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U.S. Citizen · U.S. citizens born outside the United States · Have never been registered at any level to play soccer with an affiliated* club/league in any other country. (*Meaning | affiliated to the foreign Federation as members are affiliated to USSF)
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Awaiting U.S. Citizenship · Does not currently hold physical proof of U.S. citizenship and is in the process of obtaining citizenship · Have never been registered at any level to play soccer with an affiliated* club/league in any other country. (*Meaning | affiliated to the foreign Federation as members are affiliated to USSF)
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FIFA MINOR EXCEPTIONS |
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FORM |
APPLICATION CRITERIA |
· Club statement required for all below exception clearance types |
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· Parent Statement ONLY required with Parent Move Exception |
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Exception: Art. 19 pars 3 and 4 of the RSTP · Player is registering for the first time · And has lived continuously for the last five years in the country of intended registration prior to this request
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Exception: Art. 19 par. 2 c) of the RSTP · Both the player’s residence and the new club are within 50 km of their common border and the distance between the two is no greater than 100 km
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Exception: Art. 19 par. 2 a) of the RSTP · The player’s parents have moved to the country where the player wants to register for reasons not linked to football · Includes United States citizens returning to the U.S. after studying abroad and/or playing abroad with an affiliated* club/league at any level. (*Meaning | affiliated to the foreign Federation as members are affiliated to USSF)
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Exception: Art. 19 par. 2 e) of the RSTP · The player is moving temporarily without their parent(s) for academic reasons in order to undertake an exchange program · Duration of the player’s registration will not exceed one year · Registering U.S. club is purely amateur and hasno pro affiliation
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Accompanied Exception: Art. 19 par. 2 a) of the RSTP · The player is moving due to humanitarian reasons with their parent(s) and could not be expected to return to their country of origin
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Unaccompanied Exception: Art. 19 par. 2 d) of the RSTP · The player is moving due to humanitarian reasons without their parent(s) and could not be expected to return to their country of origin
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ADULT CLEARANCE FORMS – PLAYER AGED 18 and older |
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FORM |
APPLICANT REQUIREMENT |
· Player is aged 18 or older · Not born in the United States · Never registered with an affiliated* club/league at any level outside the United States (*Meaning | affiliated to the foreign Federation as members are affiliated to USSF)
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· Player is aged 18 or older · Regardless of citizenship · Previously registered and participated with an affiliated* club/league at any level outside the United States · And player is requesting to register with an affiliated* club based in the U.S. (*Meaning | affiliated to the foreign Federation as members are affiliated to USSF)
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To ensure the timely processing of all clearance applications the following instructions must be adhered to:
All clearance requests submitted will be acknowledged by the Player Status department with an automatic email response. The Player Status department will contact applicants to provide updates on applications when available and/or required.
Due to the high volume of applications received, Player Status will not respond to emails which solely request a status update of submitted application.