District: South & West Metro

Service Area: Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area

Club Code: MTA

Established: 2008

Website: www.mnthunderacademy.org

Founded in 2008 with the merger of two elite Minnesota youth clubs, the Minnesota Thunder Academy was created as a model for player development based on the structure of successful European and South American academies. MTA continues to be the lasting legacy of the former professional club, the Minnesota Thunder.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, MTA provides advanced training opportunities in addition to elite development programs for ages 6-19. Approximately 600 players participate in MTA programming each year. The goal of MTA continues to be promoting the game and raising the standard of youth soccer in the state of Minnesota.