Download the APP
What the House settlement and the new eligibility rule mean for your plan
Since July 1, 2025, Division I schools that opted into the House settlement no longer have sport-by-sport scholarship limits; they have roster limits instead. In women's soccer, the cap moved from 14 scholarships to a 28-player roster in which every athlete can receive aid. When the settlement was approved, NCAA president Charlie Baker said the change could potentially double the number of athletic scholarships available to women.
More funded spots do not mean easier spots. Rosters now have a hard ceiling, so coaches choose, and they choose with evidence. This October, the U.S. women's national team scheduled two friendlies against Spain, the 2023 world champions. The C.D. Leganés International Women's Academy is built to help players produce the evidence college coaches look for.
What changed in college soccer recruiting?
Roster limits: at schools that opted in, Division I women's and men's soccer rosters are capped at 28 players, and every rostered player can receive a scholarship. How many are funded is up to each school.
Fewer walk-on spots: players already on rosters, or promised a spot, before April 7, 2025 were protected as designated student-athletes, but new rosters are tighter.
A new eligibility clock: on June 23, 2026, Division I approved an age-based model with five seasons in five years. The clock starts at your first full-time enrollment or at the academic year after your 19th birthday, whichever comes first, and it applies to everyone who first enrolls in 2027-28.
More programs on the women's side: Division I has 349 women's soccer programs, compared with 212 on the men's side.
What does a college coach need to see?
Film, the level you compete against and objective data. At C.D. Leganés, every session is tracked with GPS and recorded with a VEO camera, and each player receives a player report: the eight key attributes of her position, rated from 1 to 4, with a radar chart and actions agreed with her coach. It is designed to be read by someone who has never seen you play.
How does the Women's Academy work?
The same three programs exist for women, organized by what you want to achieve:
Elite Intensive: from one week, ages 12 to 23. Train with the group that fits your age and level and leave with an evaluation and a technical report.
Performance Year: 6 to 12 months on a student visa. A full season inside the club structure, with GPS, video and the player report.
Academic Year: 6 to 12 months on a student visa. Studies in Madrid, including university programs at Universidad Europea de Madrid, with training built around your class schedule.
Official competition depends on your age and passport (18 and over, or 16 and over with an EU passport) and on the team structure available each season. We confirm it for every player before she commits. If you will be under 18 and do not hold an EU passport, stays longer than 90 days follow specific legal routes in Spain, and we review each case before admission.
What are the real odds?
According to the NCAA's own estimates, 7.9% of U.S. high school girls' soccer players go on to play NCAA soccer, and 2.8% play in Division I. A year abroad does not change those numbers by itself. What changes your position is better soccer, clear evidence and a plan that respects the eligibility clock.
When should you start planning?
Most international families decide 12 to 24 months before the season starts, and our seasons start in August. If you are aiming at college soccer, plan the year in Spain before your eligibility clock starts: for most players that means 17 or 18, not 20.
Frequently asked questions
Does the academy guarantee a college scholarship?
No. Nobody honest can. We help you build the evidence coaches look for and give you a realistic view of your options.
Are the academic modules NCAA-approved?
We do not advertise NCAA approval for them. If you need NCAA core courses, confirm each course with the NCAA Eligibility Center before you enroll.
Can I visit for a week first?
Yes. Elite Intensive starts at one week, and U.S. citizens can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa.
Related news See all
Related news See all
