Last updated: October 2026
D.C. United hires interns in three separate waves a year, and the nearest one is open right now. On 3 October 2026 the club's TeamWork Online portal listed three spring 2027 internships: Partnerships, Ticket Sales & Service, and Brand Marketing. Summer 2027 roles aren't posted yet; last year's summer wave went up on 9 and 10 February.
In plain words: you can apply now for spring 2027, or apply in February 2027 for summer 2027. Either way, move fast. Last year the summer 2026 Business Strategy & Analytics internship closed eight days after it was posted.
The club is an original MLS franchise with four MLS Cups and plays at Audi Field in Washington, DC. Its internships are unpaid and require that you can earn college credit.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | D.C. United on TeamWork Online; turn on TeamWork job alerts for the club |
| Application window (summer 2027) | Spring 2027 cohort: open now (3 reqs posted 18 to 23 Sep 2026). Summer 2027: expected ~early to mid Feb 2027. Fall 2027: expected ~late Jun to early Aug 2027 |
| Rolling? | Short window. Summer 2026 listings closed 8, 9 and 21 days after posting; no deadline is stated on the reqs |
| Eligibility | Active college or graduate student able to earn academic credit; available for home matches, including weekends; background check |
| Duration | Spring 2027: late January or February to April or May 2027, about 25 hours a week. Summer: May to August |
| Compensation | Unpaid. The spring 2027 Partnerships and Ticket Sales reqs say "This is an unpaid internship"; every req requires college credit |
| Return offers | Conversion rate not published |
| Locations | Hybrid: in person Tuesday to Thursday at Audi Field, Washington, DC, plus match days; other days virtual |
| # Programs | 3 cohorts a year (spring, summer, fall) across 10+ departments, including Partnerships, Ticket Sales, Brand Marketing, Analytics, Social Media and Operations |
Spring 2027 internships are open now. Summer 2027 applications are expected around early to mid February 2027, and some close within about a week.
Externships are short, remote programs where you finish a real project for a real company, most commonly over 8 weeks. The Khan Academy Strategic Partnerships & Earned Revenue Externship builds the partnership skills D.C. United's Partnerships interns use, and the TikTok Social Media Content & Brand Strategy Externship fits its Brand Marketing and Social Media tracks. Explore all Externships.
What Is a D.C. United Internship?
A D.C. United internship is an unpaid, for-credit placement in one department of the MLS club's front office, such as Partnerships, Ticket Sales & Service or Brand Marketing, working about 25 hours a week during a spring, summer or fall term. Interns join a "D.C. United Internship Cohort" that works on interdepartmental projects, and they staff home matches at Audi Field.
The work is hands-on. Partnerships interns help prepare partner decks and recaps, Ticket Sales interns make sales calls and run matchday sales tables, and Brand Marketing interns support promotional campaigns. Some reqs also include matches for DC Power FC, the women's team that shares the club's hiring portal.
When Do D.C. United Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?
D.C. United posts each cohort separately, one to four months before it starts. On its own TeamWork records, the summer 2026 wave went up on 9 and 10 February 2026, the fall 2026 listings between 30 June and 6 August 2026, and the spring 2027 listings between 18 and 23 September 2026. That last wave came about two months earlier than spring 2026's, which posted in late November and early December 2025.
The summer 2027 date below is a projection from one clean prior cycle. The summer 2023 listings were posted later, in March to June, so the calendar has been moving earlier.
Spring 2027 internships are open right now: Partnerships, Ticket Sales & Service, and Brand Marketing. Applications for summer 2027 aren't posted yet. If you can earn credit in spring, apply now rather than waiting.
Spring 2027 listings can close at any time without a stated deadline. Last year's spring 2026 listings closed in early and mid January 2026, about six weeks after posting.
The spring 2027 cohort starts, running to April or May 2027 on a hybrid schedule at Audi Field.
Applications for summer 2027 expected to open, based on the 9 to 10 February 2026 summer wave. Last year two departments closed their summer listings in 8 and 9 days, so apply the week they appear.
The summer 2027 cohort runs from May to August 2027, including home matches. Applications for fall 2027 are expected between late June and early August 2027.
How to read this page: our dates come from tracking previous recruiting cycles and daily posting data. Treat them as informed estimates based on historical patterns, not confirmed dates. The company's official careers page is always the most current source. If a role is posted there, go by that, even if this page suggests the window hasn't opened yet.
Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open
D.C. United runs short windows, not rolling ones. None of its reqs states an application deadline, but on the club's own TeamWork records the summer 2026 Business Strategy & Analytics internship closed eight days after posting and Corporate Partnerships closed after nine. Brand Marketing lasted 21 days.
The club also reaches the end of a listing on its own schedule. TeamWork shows expiry dates on the live spring 2027 reqs (20 November 2026 and 15 January 2027), but those are listing settings, and D.C. United closed several 2026 listings well before theirs. Set a TeamWork job alert for the club so you see the February summer wave the day it posts.
Which D.C. United Internship Programs Should You Target?
Each department posts its own req for each cohort. These tracks appeared on the club's TeamWork board between November 2025 and October 2026:
| Track | Focus | Cohorts seen | Key details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partnerships | Partner activations, decks and recaps, prospect research | Spring 2026, summer 2026, spring 2027 (open) | Cover letter must name one focus: Activation, Sales or Solutions/Strategy; Photoshop preferred |
| Ticket Sales & Service | Sales calls, lead generation, matchday sales tables, grassroots events | Summer 2026, spring 2027 (open) | At least 25 office hours a week; Spanish a plus |
| Brand Marketing | Promotional campaigns, matchday and fan experience | Summer 2026, spring 2027 (open) | Up to 25 office hours a week, January to April 2027 |
| Business Strategy & Analytics | Data visualizations, reports and surveys on ticketing, digital and partnership data | Summer 2026 | Listed as remote, 30 hours a week; closed 8 days after posting |
| Content and media | Social media, photography, videography, digital marketing, match presentation | Summer and fall 2026 | Game-day heavy, including evenings |
| Operations and other | Business operations, events, guest experience, grounds, community impact, talent acquisition | Spring, summer and fall 2026 | Grounds ran May 15 to August 15, 2026 |
There's no standalone internship page on the club site; every opening is on the D.C. United TeamWork portal.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements?
Across the five D.C. United intern reqs we read in full (three live spring 2027 reqs and two from 2026):
• Enrollment: an active undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited college or university.
• Academic credit: every req requires that you can earn college credit for the internship. Confirm this with your school before you apply.
• Pay: unpaid. "This is an unpaid internship. To qualify, you must be eligible to earn college credit" (Partnerships, spring 2027).
• Availability: about 25 hours a week, in person Tuesday to Thursday, plus home matches, which are usually Saturday afternoons and evenings.
• Background check: required on every req. No GPA floor or work-authorization clause appears on the reqs we read.
Can You Do It Without College Credit?
No. Credit eligibility is a hard requirement on every D.C. United intern req we read, and the club uses it to qualify you for an unpaid role. If your school doesn't grant credit for internships, or you've already graduated, these roles aren't open to you. Check your school's internship-credit process before spending time on a cover letter.
What Skills Does D.C. United Look For, and How Do You Build Them?
The club's reqs share a short qualifications list, with department duties on top.
Office tools and organization. All five reqs we read ask for Microsoft Office skills and organization, and all five ask you to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced setting. Match-day stamina. All five require evenings, weekends and home matches. Sales and fan service. The Ticket Sales and Brand Marketing reqs ask for coachable, customer-focused candidates, and three of the five list Spanish as a plus.
What D.C. United looks for in interns
Skills across 5 D.C. United intern & analyst job descriptions · spring 2027 and 2026 intern reqs, read in full
Method: keyword count over the full text of five D.C. United intern requisitions: Partnerships, Ticket Sales & Service and Brand Marketing (spring 2027, live on TeamWork on 3 Oct 2026), plus Ticket Sales & Service (summer 2026) and Business Operations (2026) from Wayback captures. Small sample from one club.
How Is Demand for Sports Business Interns Moving Right Now?
Marketing intern postings · Sep vs Aug 2026
vs 1,424 in August
Sports business internships are a small, fast-moving market. Team listings like D.C. United's open in short bursts, so alerts matter more than timing guesses.
Daily US job-posting counts, Sep 1–30 vs Aug 1–31, 2026. Covers under half of US postings; shows direction, not market size.
Build These Skills Before You Apply
Each track maps to a remote Externship you can finish before the summer 2027 wave posts.
| Skill (from real JDs) | JD evidence | Externship that builds it |
|---|---|---|
| Partnership strategy and proposals | Partnerships: partner decks, recaps, Partnership Solutions/Strategy lane | Khan Academy Strategic Partnerships & Earned Revenue |
| Brand campaigns and social content | Brand Marketing: "creation of unique promotional campaigns"; Social Media and Digital Marketing reqs | TikTok Social Media Content & Brand Strategy |
| Sales data and analysis | Ticket Sales: data entry, research and lead generation; Business Strategy & Analytics reqs | Breaking Games E-Commerce Data Analysis |
| Fan and consumer insight | Brand Marketing and Ticket Sales: fan experience and matchday programs | Consumer Behavior Insights with Generous Brands |
A finished campaign or partnership deck is the kind of work sample the Partnerships req asks you to attach to your application.
What Is the D.C. United Application and Interview Process Like?
D.C. United doesn't publish its interview steps. The reqs show how to apply:
1. Confirm credit. Make sure your school will grant academic credit for the term you're applying for.
2. Apply on TeamWork. Submit a resume and cover letter on the club's TeamWork portal. The Partnerships req also asks for work samples and one named focus area.
3. Interview. The club doesn't publish its interview format; expect questions on your availability for match days and your interest in the department.
4. Background check. Required before you start, on every req we read.
Apply to the specific department you want, since each one posts and closes its own listing.
What the Community Says
Reddit has only one first-hand account of D.C. United interns, so these cards add dated intern reviews from Indeed.
A longtime former member of the club's media team said the content operation ran on college interns, many from the University of Maryland, and named one who started as a UMD intern around 2015 and was later hired by the club.
A videography intern described lots of hands-on experience and good game-day perks, with the trade-off of very late nights around matches.
A social media and marketing intern described coworkers as very young but motivated and professional.
How Do You Stand Out for a D.C. United Internship?
Three moves, all doable this month.
Pick one lane. The Partnerships req asks you to name one focus in your cover letter (Activation, Sales or Solutions/Strategy) and explain why. Treat every department the same way: say exactly what you want to do.
Show match-day commitment. Every req requires weekends, evenings and home matches. Spell out your availability, and mention any event or game-day work you've done.
Bring a work sample. A partnership recap, a campaign mock-up or a short sales analysis gives the club something concrete. The Partnerships req asks for samples outright.
The club doesn't publish an intern-to-full-time rate, but a former staffer on Reddit described interns who were later hired.
What Other Companies Should You Consider?
Comparing D.C. United with other pro sports employers? These run internship programs for the same students:
- NFLleague office with structured, posted internship windowsGuide →
- NBAleague office plus team-level internships, many on TeamWorkGuide →
- MLBleague office business internshipsGuide →
- Los Angeles Dodgersclub-level front-office internships in a larger marketGuide →
- Columbus Crewanother MLS club hiring interns on its own short cyclesGuide →
Our sports internships guide covers more summer 2027 options across leagues and teams.
FAQ
Can I still apply for a summer 2026 D.C. United internship?
No. The summer 2026 cohort ran from May to August 2026, and its listings closed between February and May 2026. What's open now is the spring 2027 cohort: Partnerships, Ticket Sales & Service, and Brand Marketing. Summer 2027 applications are expected around early to mid February 2027.
When do D.C. United summer 2027 internship applications open?
They aren't posted yet. Last year the summer wave went up on 9 and 10 February 2026, so applications for summer 2027 are expected around early to mid February 2027. Two summer 2026 listings closed in 8 and 9 days, so set a TeamWork alert now.
Are D.C. United internships paid?
No. The spring 2027 Partnerships and Ticket Sales reqs say "This is an unpaid internship," and every req we read requires that you can earn college credit. Budget for travel to Audi Field on in-person days and match days, since the club doesn't list a stipend.
How many hours a week do D.C. United interns work?
About 25 hours a week for the spring 2027 roles, on a hybrid schedule: in person Tuesday to Thursday at Audi Field, other days virtual, plus home matches. The summer 2026 analytics internship asked for 30 hours a week and was listed as remote.
Can graduate students apply?
Yes. The spring 2027 Brand Marketing and Ticket Sales reqs invite undergraduate and graduate students, as long as you're actively enrolled and can earn academic credit for the internship. Recent graduates who aren't enrolled can't meet the credit requirement.
Is there a GPA requirement?
None of the five D.C. United intern reqs we read lists a GPA minimum. The reqs focus instead on credit eligibility, match-day availability, Microsoft Office skills and traits like being coachable and organized. A background check is required before you start.
Where do D.C. United interns work?
At the club's offices at Audi Field in Washington, DC, on a hybrid schedule with Tuesday to Thursday in person. Interns also work home matches, and some roles cover DC Power FC matches. The summer 2026 Business Strategy & Analytics internship was listed as remote.
Does D.C. United hire interns full time?
Sometimes, but the club doesn't publish a conversion rate. A former media staffer on Reddit described college interns who were later hired, including one who joined as a University of Maryland student around 2015. Treat the internship as a network-building step.
D.C. United's spring 2027 internships are open now, and the summer wave is expected in February. Before then, a remote Externship gives you a finished work sample to attach to your TeamWork application.
About the Author
Bifei Wang has spent 17 years focused on human flow and the growth of young professionals, spanning international education, career training and coaching, and recruitment process outsourcing. Over 7 years at Extern, he has had one-on-one sessions with thousands of students exploring careers in consulting, finance, tech, marketing, and data, giving him a firsthand view of how the job market has shifted for early-career professionals and what it actually takes to break in.
