New Jersey Roots, Global Game: Tommy McCabe's Soccer Journey From Youth to Pro Soccer

Some players are born into the game — Tommy McCabe is one of them. Raised in New Jersey by a father who coached at the legendary St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, Tommy grew up with soccer in his blood. But it wasn't just local fields that shaped him. A stint living in London, time spent playing for a Portuguese club outside Newark, and years at PDA Academy gave Tommy a cultural richness and soccer education that most players never experience. That foundation carried him to the U.S. U17 Residency Academy, then to Notre Dame under the legendary Bobby Clark, and eventually to the professional ranks — selected 29th overall by FC Cincinnati in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft. The road since hasn't always been smooth. Bouncing between clubs, navigating adversity, and finding his footing at the pro level has tested him. But today, Tommy is thriving as a key midfielder for the Oakland Roots in USL Championship under head coach Ryan Martin.If you loved this episode, drop us a review and rating — it genuinely helps us grow! ⚽🙏Join 80,000+ soccer fans who read our twice-weekly Substack newsletter. Real soccer content, straight to your inbox.Come hang with us on social! 👇 🎥 YouTube 📸 Instagram 📘 Facebook 📧 Substack 🌐 Website 🐦 X