2022 MLS Next Pro season


The 2022 MLS Next Pro season was the inaugural season of MLS Next Pro, the reserve league of Major League Soccer. It is the first season since 2014 where MLS had a standalone reserve league, the previous season being the MLS Reserve League. Including both MLS Next Pro and the MLS Reserve League, it is the ninth season of a reserve league operated by MLS. The league is sanctioned as a third division league by U.S. Soccer.
A total of 21 clubs, 20 MLS reserve teams and one independent team participated in the 2022 season. The regular season began on March 25 and was concluded on September 18, 2022.
Columbus Crew 2 defeated St. Louis City 2 4–1 in the inaugural MLS Next Pro Cup final on October 8.

Teams

Stadiums and locations

TeamStadiumCapacity
Chicago Fire FC IISeatGeek Stadium20,000
FC Cincinnati 2NKU Soccer Stadium1,000
Colorado Rapids 2Denver Soccer Stadium2,000
Columbus Crew 2Historic Crew Stadium19,968
Houston Dynamo 2Aveva Stadium4,000
Inter Miami CF IIDRV PNK Stadium18,000
Minnesota United FC 2Allianz Field19,400
Minnesota United FC 2National Sports Center10,000
New England Revolution IIGillette Stadium20,000
New York City FC IIBelson Stadium2,168
North Texas SCChoctaw Stadium48,114
Orlando City BOsceola County Stadium5,400
Philadelphia Union IISubaru Park18,500
Portland Timbers 2Hillsboro Stadium7,600
Real MonarchsZions Bank Stadium5,000
Rochester New York FCJohn L. DiMarco Field1,500
San Jose Earthquakes IIPayPal Park18,000
Sporting Kansas City IIRock Chalk Park2,500
Sporting Kansas City IISwope Soccer Village3,500
St. Louis City 2Hermann Stadium6,050
St. Louis City 2Ralph Korte Stadium4,000
Toronto FC IIYork Lions Stadium4,000
Tacoma DefianceCheney Stadium6,500
Tacoma DefianceStarfire Sports Complex4,500
Whitecaps FC 2Swangard Stadium5,288

Personnel and sponsorship

TeamHead coach
Chicago Fire FC IIsortname|Ludovic|Taillandier|nolink=1

Regular season

The regular season will feature 24 matches in a mostly regionalized schedule. Teams will play two or three games against teams in their conference. Only four matches total will be played between teams in opposite conferences. Each conference will be divided into divisions of five or six teams for scheduling.

Player statistics

Hat-tricks

;Notes
– Home team
– Away team
4 – Scored 4 goals

Playoffs

There was an eight-team playoff, where the top finisher in each division qualified, along with the next two top finishers in each conference. Seeding within each conference was based on conference standings, regardless of being division champions.

Qualifying teams

;Eastern Conference
;Western Conference

Conference Semifinals

Eastern Conference

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Western Conference

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2022 MLS Next Pro Cup


Most Valuable Player: Marco Micaletto