For Mubashir “Muba” Nour, soccer has always been synonymous with family. Growing up the middle child in a family of 10 meant he was always going to be competing in one way or another, and it was only natural that he followed his older brothers onto the soccer pitch. Years of tagging along to watch and play with the older kids helped Muba develop skills faster than most kids his age, and it’s all paying off now.
At just 20 years old, MNUFC2’s latest local signing has come a long way to earn his first professional contract. Born in Ethiopia, Nour and his family moved to the U.S. when he was just a boy, spending a year in Arizona before coming to Minneapolis for the bulk of his childhood. Though he’s played all his life, he took his first steps into competitive soccer when he was 15, joining Alex Bunbury Soccer Academy for several seasons before taking his talents to 18x26 Academy.
Since 2021, founders Omar and Abdi Mohamed have built 18x26 on the idea of empowering minority and African immigrant youth players for professional soccer careers. By sharing the lessons they’ve learned during their own professional soccer journeys, Omar and Abdi — both of whom have represented the Somali national team — have designed a program that guides young players through high-quality training, academic assistance, and mentorship. With two active academies — one here in Minnesota and one in Mogadishu, Somalia — 18x26 is making a tangible difference in lives around the world. Check out their website for more information about this special club and to learn about their impact on our community.
Upon joining in 2023, Muba bought into the vision of the club straightaway. He earned a spot on 18x26’s UPSL team (a developmental league encouraging greater participation between amateur and professional soccer), where Nour was coached by Amin Qasim, who has since joined MNUFC as the club’s U15 Academy head coach. After coaching him through an impressive 2024 season, Qasim had nothing but good things to say about the young forward.
“He’s very good technically, especially in an attacking capacity, and it's fun working with him,” Qasim said. “The more you get to work with him, you get to see how much he wants to get better. He always wanted to move up; he's committed and he’s coachable, and I think that's a really important factor. You could have everything. You can have all the talent. But if you're not coachable for whatever reason, then you make the development process more difficult for yourself.”
Nour ended the 2024 UPSL season as both the regional MVP and top scorer. He was among — if not the most — dangerous attacking threats in the region. Clearly, he was ready for his next challenge, and with his former coach having made the move to MNUFC, a chance to follow wasn’t far behind.
Since the formation of MNUFC2, the club has hosted several talent ID combines to add promising players to the roster. These combines give both national and local athletes a chance to earn a spot with the club, with the aim of developing future first-team players.
“When the trials came about, I had conversations with everybody at the club,” Qasim said. “I told them that this is somebody that is talented and available, if you guys are willing to take a look at him. I knew it would mean a lot for him, because he's still home and everything, but I also knew it would mean a lot to the community, because now there is somebody that represents another culture that also means something to the club as well. He came to the trials, and he impressed everyone. And I'm happy for him, because I know how much it meant to him from the beginning. I'm happy that he's here. Now it's about him developing and continuing to grow that next piece of his game.”
Following the combine, Nour was invited to join the squad for preseason, where he continued to demonstrate his natural dribbling ability and creativity on the ball. Five more weeks of proving himself to the coaching staff ultimately led to his first professional contract, a moment the young man remembers fondly.
“I finally got to do what I wanted to do my whole life,” he said about putting pen to paper. “I worked and trained for years just to get that first contract, to step in the door. Now I’m just going to keep striving for more. At the end of the day, it's about how much you love the game. I really, really, really love the game. So, no matter where I'm playing, no matter who I'm playing, I just decide to keep that same standard everywhere I go. Effort isn’t teachable. You just have to keep putting in the effort because the further you get, the harder it is, so the more you have to do.”
Though we’re only two weeks into the MLS NEXT Pro season, Nour has already hit a major milestone. He made his professional debut against Austin FC II in the season opener, coming on as a second-half substitute in the 1-0 victory. The 20-year-old forward couldn’t hold back a smile as he remembered his first steps as a professional player.
“It was unbelievable,” Nour said. “Just putting on that jersey, having your name on the back, coming on the field, fighting with your teammates. It was amazing. That's what I prayed for. So extremely amazing. It's awesome.”
Muba likewise came on as a sub in MNUFC2’s 3-1 win against Houston Dynamo 2 this past weekend. While he hasn’t gotten his name on the scoresheet just yet, the qualities that Coach Qasim identified at 18x26 have already begun to shine through, and with a work ethic like his, it promises to be an exciting season for the latest local lad to sign with the club.
“I always looked at Minnesota United because it's my hometown team,” Nour said. “It’s one of the best feelings, playing for your home state. For that first contract, I was always willing to play anywhere, but when I found out I was going to play here, it was a hundred times better. Going to training, playing games, and then coming back home is the best feeling in the world.”
Between an exciting group of young players and a perfect two-for-two start to the season, MNUFC2 is already proving to be worth watching in 2025. Though Muba won’t have a chance to experience a home game until May 2 at the National Sports Center, he’s already repping the Black and Blue, and he’s already proven that dreams do come true.
