Last updated: October 2026
The U.S. Soccer Federation's Summer 2027 Internship Program is open right now, and it pays $20 an hour for 12 full-time weeks. It's built for college students with ties to metro Atlanta, where U.S. Soccer's National Training Center sits, and it requires a 3.0 GPA and an expected graduation year of 2028 or 2029. The posting names no closing date and says applications will be reviewed this fall. Here's the cycle in plain words: you apply this fall, in 2026, and you intern in summer 2027.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | U.S. Soccer Summer 2027 Internship Program on Paylocity (one posting for every department), linked from the U.S. Soccer Career Hub. Questions go to internships@ussoccer.org |
| Application window (2027–28) | Open now. Applications for summer 2027 were listed on the board on 8 Sep 2026 (the posting's metadata shows 14 Oct); no close date stated. Applications for summer 2028 expected ~early fall 2027 (low confidence) |
| Rolling? | Unclear. No deadline is printed. The posting says applications "will be reviewed this fall", so treat early fall as the working window |
| Eligibility | 4-year undergraduate with anticipated graduation in 2028 or 2029, minimum 3.0 GPA, 40 hours a week for 12 weeks, in person at least 3 days a week. Built for students with ties to metro Atlanta. Work authorization isn't stated |
| Duration | 12 weeks, May to August 2027, full time |
| Compensation | $20 an hour, about $9,600 before taxes at 40 hours for 12 weeks (our arithmetic). Transportation is covered by mileage reimbursement or an Uber/Lyft pass |
| Return offers | Not published |
| Locations | Metro Atlanta: U.S. Soccer's Fayetteville, GA office at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center. The board lists the role as Atlanta, GA |
| # Programs | One umbrella posting with 17 department descriptions, from Accounting and Data Science to Performance Medicine and Safeguarding Prevention |
Open now, with no closing date stated. U.S. Soccer says it's reviewing applications this fall and will email interview invitations, so apply as early as you can.
The posting asks for three short essays in your own words, so a finished project gives you real material to write about. Externships are short, remote programs where you complete a real project for a real company, most commonly over 8 weeks. The Beats by Dre Creative Advertising Strategy Externship fits partnership marketing and communications roles, and the Breaking Games E-Commerce Data Analysis & Strategy Externship fits the data science and customer experience departments. Explore all Externships.
What Is a US Soccer Internship?
A US Soccer internship is the Summer Internship Program run by the U.S. Soccer Federation, the national governing body for soccer in the United States. The Summer 2027 posting calls it the program's third annual edition, and it's specifically for college students who live in the metro Atlanta area during the school year or over the summer. Interns work 12 weeks in one of 17 departments, with weekly professional development sessions with leaders, a National Team training camp visit and an Atlanta United match. It's separate from Major League Soccer, NWSL and USL clubs, which hire for themselves.
When Do US Soccer Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?
U.S. Soccer posts one umbrella requisition for the summer program. It was listed on the Paylocity board on 8 September 2026, and the posting's own metadata shows 14 October 2026, so it was either reposted or refreshed. No closing date is printed. The posting says applications will be reviewed this fall, and the program starts in May 2027, about eight months after the first listing. U.S. Soccer calls this the third annual program, but only this year's posting is on its own pages, so any 2028 timing is a projection.
Applications are open. The Summer 2027 posting is the only internship on U.S. Soccer's Paylocity board, which listed 11 jobs on 17 October 2026. Check that you meet the hard filters first: graduation in 2028 or 2029, a 3.0 GPA and ties to metro Atlanta.
Read the description and preferred qualifications for the department you want, then apply. There are three short essays, you can't save progress, and U.S. Soccer says responses that rely substantially on AI-generated content won't be considered.
U.S. Soccer reviews applications and emails interview invitations. No closing date is printed, so don't wait for a deadline notice before applying.
The summer 2028 posting is expected around this time, based on this year's early-fall listing. Low confidence: only one cycle is on U.S. Soccer's own pages.
The 12-week program runs full time, 40 hours a week, in person at the Fayetteville, GA office at least three days a week.
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
U.S. Soccer prints no deadline, so the mode is open with review under way. The posting says applications will be reviewed this fall and that invitations go out by email, which means early applications are read while the cohort is still forming. We can't tell you whether it closes on a date or when the cohort fills, and we won't guess. The practical advice is to apply this month. The form needs three essays in one sitting, so draft them in a document first and paste them in.
Which US Soccer Internship Programs Should You Target?
U.S. Soccer runs one program with 17 department descriptions on a single posting. You choose or are placed into one, so these groups show the range.
| Group | Departments in the posting | Focus | Key skills |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial & data | Business Ventures – Data Science; Consumer Products; Customer Experience; Partnership Development | Fan data, Nike partnership and retail, customer insight | Python, analysis, Excel |
| Communications | External Communications; Internal Communications | Storytelling and staff communications | Writing, communication |
| Soccer & performance | Coaching Education; Integrated Performance Support; Performance Medicine; Sporting Strategy | Coaching, performance and sports medicine | Analytical thinking, soccer interest |
| Community & pathways | Markets & Pathways; Soccer Forward; Safeguarding Prevention | Grassroots growth and safeguarding | Research, organization |
| Operations & corporate | Accounting; Human Resources; Hospitality & Events; Strategy | Finance, people and events | GAAP, Excel, attention to detail |
Read each department's paragraph on the posting before you apply, because each lists its own preferred qualifications.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements?
The Summer 2027 posting sets these general requirements:
• Enrollment: a 4-year undergraduate program with an anticipated graduation year of 2028 or 2029.
• GPA: minimum 3.0.
• Time: 40 hours a week for the 12-week summer program, in person at the Fayetteville, GA office at least 3 days a week.
• Location: the program is for students who live in the metro Atlanta area during the school year or over the summer, and the posting recommends deep ties to the area.
• Work authorization: not stated.
Do You Have to Live in Atlanta?
The posting's intro says the program is specifically for students who live in metro Atlanta during the school year or over the summer. Its general requirements list deep ties to the Atlanta area, either living there now or being from the area and wanting to build a career there, under "Recommended". Read both together: if you have no tie to Atlanta, this program isn't built for you, and you should look at other U.S. Soccer routes through its Career Hub.
What Skills Does US Soccer Look For, and How Do You Build Them?
The 17 department descriptions share a short list of preferred qualifications. Communication: 14 of the 17 ask for strong written, verbal or interpersonal skills. Soccer interest: 12 mention interest or participation in soccer or sport. Detail and analysis: 10 name attention to detail and 8 name analytical or problem-solving skills. Technical: Excel for the accounting and customer experience roles, Python for Data Science and GAAP for Accounting. These counts are from one umbrella posting, not 17 separate jobs.
Note: The 17 counts above come from the department sections of a single posting, not from 17 separate job descriptions, so we don't draw a skill-frequency chart from them.
How Is Demand for Marketing Interns Moving Right Now?
Marketing intern postings · Sep vs Aug 2026
vs 1,424 in August
For US Soccer applicants: Marketing intern hiring picked up sharply in September; apply within the first week a role posts, while the most seats are open.
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 skill below comes from a department description in the Summer 2027 posting and maps to a remote Externship open now.
| Skill (from real JDs) | JD evidence | Externship that builds it |
|---|---|---|
| Campaign and partnership strategy | Consumer Products and Partnership Development: Nike partnership, retail, licensing and brand collaborations | Beats by Dre Creative Advertising Strategy |
| Fan and audience insight | Customer Experience and Soccer Forward: customer feedback, trends and community work | Pinterest Gen Z Consumer Behavior |
| Data analysis in Python | Business Ventures – Data Science: cleaning data, dashboards and predictive models | Breaking Games E-Commerce Data Analysis & Strategy |
| Finance and reporting | Accounting: month-end close, accounts payable analysis, and Excel | Attronica Financial Planning & Analysis |
The posting wants essays in your own words, so a finished project gives you a specific story to tell instead of a general one.
What Is the US Soccer Application and Interview Process Like?
U.S. Soccer describes the process in a few lines:
1. Pick your department. Read each description and its preferred qualifications on the posting before you start.
2. Apply on Paylocity. There are three short essay questions, a cover letter isn't required, and the system won't save progress, so finish in one sitting.
3. Write your own answers. U.S. Soccer says responses that rely substantially on AI-generated content won't be considered.
4. Wait for an email. Applications are reviewed this fall, and interview invitations are sent by email.
5. Ask questions at internships@ussoccer.org.
Interview rounds, formats and offer timing aren't published.
What Students on Reddit Say
Reddit has no first-hand account of the U.S. Soccer internship. The two threads we read were a 2019 question about Atlanta United internships and a 2024 job repost with no intern content, so we've left the cards out.
How Do You Stand Out for a US Soccer Internship?
Three moves. First, make the Atlanta tie concrete. The posting asks for deep ties to the area, so say where you live during the school year or summer and why you want to build a career there. Second, write the essays in your own words and make them specific. U.S. Soccer says it won't consider responses that rely substantially on AI-generated content, so a real project or club role is worth more than polished generalities. Third, match your department. Each description lists its own preferred qualifications, such as Python for Data Science or GAAP for Accounting, so mirror those in your answers. U.S. Soccer publishes no class size, acceptance rate or conversion rate.
What Other Companies Should You Consider?
If you're aiming at U.S. Soccer, these programs sit closest by sport or by role.
- D.C. UnitedMLS club that hires interns in three waves a yearGuide →
- Columbus Crewanother MLS club with its own internship programGuide →
- Sporting Kansas CityMLS club with unpaid, credit-required internships three times a yearGuide →
- NikeU.S. Soccer's kit partner, named in its Consumer Products internshipGuide →
- ESPNmedia route into soccer coverage, hiring spring, summer and fallGuide →
Our sports internships summer 2027 guide maps league, team, media and betting programs in one place.
FAQ
Can I still apply for a summer 2026 US Soccer internship?
No. Summer 2026 is over. The program open now is Summer 2027, a 12-week, paid, full-time program from May to August 2027. The posting names no closing date and says applications will be reviewed this fall, so apply as early as you can this month.
Is the US Soccer internship paid?
Yes. The Summer 2027 posting lists $20 an hour, and the program is full time for 12 weeks, about $9,600 before taxes by our arithmetic. U.S. Soccer also covers transportation for the duration of the internship, through mileage reimbursement or an Uber or Lyft pass.
What is the US Soccer internship deadline?
There isn't a printed deadline. The posting says applications will be reviewed this fall and interview invitations will be sent by email. Because U.S. Soccer doesn't say when it stops reviewing, apply now. Summer 2028 timing isn't announced, and we expect early fall 2027 on low confidence.
Who is eligible for the US Soccer internship?
Applicants need to be in a 4-year undergraduate program with an anticipated graduation year of 2028 or 2029 and a minimum 3.0 GPA. The program is built for students living in metro Atlanta during the school year or summer, and the posting recommends deep ties to the area.
Where is the US Soccer internship located?
At U.S. Soccer's Fayetteville, Georgia office at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center in metro Atlanta. Interns work in person at least three days a week, 40 hours a week overall. The Paylocity board lists the role as Atlanta, GA.
Which departments take US Soccer interns?
The Summer 2027 posting describes 17: Accounting, Business Ventures – Data Science, Coaching Education, Consumer Products, Customer Experience, External and Internal Communications, Hospitality & Events, Human Resources, Performance Medicine, Strategy and others. Each one lists its own preferred qualifications, so read yours first.
What do I submit to apply for a US Soccer internship?
You apply on Paylocity and answer three short essay questions in your own words. A cover letter isn't required. The system doesn't save progress, so complete the application in one sitting. U.S. Soccer says it won't consider responses that rely substantially on AI-generated content.
Do US Soccer interns get full-time offers?
U.S. Soccer doesn't publish a conversion rate, class size or acceptance rate. The program offers weekly sessions with leaders, mentorship and networking events with staff. Treat the internship as the goal and ask about open roles during the program, since the Federation posts full-time jobs on the same board.
U.S. Soccer's Summer 2027 posting is open now and prints no deadline, so apply this month. If you want a project to write about in your essays, a remote Externship takes about 5 to 10 hours a week.
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.
