James Hoban Sands was born on july 6, 2000, in Rye, New York, to parents who were both soccer coaches. He started playing soccer at a young age and quickly showed his talent on the field. Sands joined the academy of New York City FC in 2016 and impressed coaches with his versatility and intelligence on the pitch. He eventually became the team’s first homegrown player, signing his first professional contract at just 16 years old.