13-Year-Old Austin Asanovich Earns Next Level Soccer Premier Debut and U.S. Open Cup
At 13 years old, Austin Asanovich is already competing against men, and the United Premier Soccer League is where he’s doing it.
The Next Level Soccer forward has made his debut in the UPSL Premier Division and earned minutes in the club’s Second Qualifying Round match of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, following Next Level’s first-round bye. He shares the field each week with former NCAA Division I players, former professionals and international players, and he’s holding his own.
“Austin has earned the opportunity to train and compete with our Premier team through his dedication, work ethic, and strong performances at the national and international levels,” said Yago Da Silva, Next Level Soccer head coach and director. “His maturity and performance demonstrate that he is ready to contribute at this level, regardless of his age.”
An international résumé at 13
Asanovich arrived at the senior level with plenty of high-level experience behind him. He has competed across the United States and spent extended stretches training and playing in Brazil and Europe.
He finished as top scorer and was named to the Best XI at the Mediterranean International Cup (MIC), one of the world’s premier youth tournaments, and more recently earned a Best XI selection at the Madrid Cup. At the end of the 2025–26 youth season, he and his family chose to stay with Next Level Soccer, the club that has developed him from the beginning.
Earning his way up the club ladder
Asanovich’s first senior appearance came late last season with Next Level’s Division 1 team, and he scored twice. From there, the target was the Premier group, a side that has won three consecutive Arizona state championships, finished third at the national tournament and competed in U.S. Open Cup qualifying.
He scored three goals in his first scrimmage with the Premier team. “He adapted quickly,” Da Silva said, “and earned our trust to compete in both UPSL and U.S. Open Cup qualifying matches.”
Accepted by the “old boys”
Being on a senior roster is one thing. Earning the respect of veteran teammates is another. Marco Alfonso, who has served as captain and vice-captain of the Next Level UPSL Premier team, said Asanovich stood out from the start.
“He has truly earned his place among the group and has become an important part of our team,” Alfonso said. “Since then, he hasn’t just trained alongside us — he has stepped onto the field and made an impact, earning influential minutes in both UPSL and Open Cup matches.”
From opponent to teammate
Former professional Ricardo Oliveira first saw Asanovich as the opposing coach of a U9 team. Oliveira’s side lost by more than 10 goals, and Asanovich scored about half of them. A month later, he was training Asanovich privately, later became his team coach, and now plays alongside him.
“From a very young age, I never had to motivate him to work hard,” Oliveira said. “I never had to give him that fire; he brought it with him every single day.”
Oliveira points out that this is no ordinary senior environment. “In our second year competing in UPSL, we reached the No. 3 ranking in the country,” he said. “Now imagine being 13 years old and stepping onto that field.”
He said watching a 13-year-old compete physically, score and provide assists against experienced adults is something you rarely see. “Soon, very soon, I believe we will no longer be enough to challenge Austin,” he said. “Players like Austin don’t come around every day.”
Why the pathway matters
Asanovich’s journey shows what the UPSL offers young players: a live, competitive senior environment where speed, physicality and accountability are constant, and where minutes have to be earned. It isn’t a shortcut, and it guarantees nothing. But for a player ready for the challenge, it’s a place to keep developing that youth soccer alone can’t provide.
Next up is another Open Cup test: Next Level Soccer Premier visit Sin City FC in Las Vegas on Sunday, November 1, in the Third Qualifying Round. Asanovich is still at the start of his journey. For now, the UPSL is giving him the stage, and he keeps earning the next opportunity.
About the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
Founded in 2011, the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) serves as the unofficial fourth tier of the U.S. Soccer pyramid. With over 900 teams competing across its Premier, Division 1, Division 2, Academy, and Women’s divisions, the UPSL is the largest semi-professional soccer league in North America. A National Affiliate member of the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF), the UPSL is made up of independently owned and operated clubs. Through its USSF affiliation, UPSL teams are eligible to compete in the U.S. Open Cup Qualifying Rounds.
For more information, visit www.upsl.com or follow @upslsoccer on Facebook, Instagram, and X. General Inquiries: [email protected] – Media Inquiries: [email protected]