Orlando City prospect Archange should prepare for the pitch and the weather | OneFootball

The Orlando City SC front office is watching a celebrated young talent. By the time he’s ready, MLS may be on the international calendar.

April 12-20, the 2025 Generation adidas Cup will pit MLS Academies and MLS Elite Academies against clubs from 14 countries and four continents. One of the top three defenders named to the Cup’s Rising XI is Orlando City prospect Clovis Archange.

The left- and center-back most recently featured in Canada’s U17s as they qualified for this year’s FIFA U17 World Cup. Scouts watched in the qualifiers as he demonstrated dominant mobility and athleticism. He skillfully passes from the back, which checks boxes in Lions’ scouting.

Archange exhibits the strength and athleticism to slow attackers even in the U18 age group and establishes him at club-level performance. Orlando City regards him as a top prospect without reservation.

The Orlando City development path from the Academy to the first team is a source of pride for the organization.

The Generation adidas Cup has been an important stop for MLS academy talents who carved out places on first-team rosters. These include Stefan Chirila (FC Cincinnati), Taha Habroune (Columbus Crew),  Julian Hall (New York Red Bulls), Stuart Hawkins (Seattle Sounders FC), and Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union).

This year’s Generation adidas Cup has scheduled 80 teams, including four MLS NEXT Elite Academies and international clubs, to play in Bradenton, Florida.

A couple of years after Archange and his teammates have navigated the tournament schedule, he may have to navigate a schedule in MLS that has evolved from the current calendar to an international one.

The Major League Soccer Board of Governors authorized a second phase of exploration into moving to the international soccer calendar, along with an evaluation of the league’s regular season and playoff formats.

The announcement emphasized that if any change is made, it wouldn’t take effect before the 2027 season.

The 30 MLS clubs now play beginning in February and ending with the MLS Cup in December. The international calendar runs July/August through May/June.

The social media crowd following MLS is mostly negative in their hundreds of replies about the calendar considerations. But, Clovis Archange should stay ready for anything as he continues to develop for Orlando City SC. That recommendation includes preparing for the weather.