MLS Next


MLS Next is a youth soccer league in the United States and Canada that is managed, organized, and controlled by Major League Soccer. It was introduced by the league in 2020.
It is a successor to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. The system covers the under-13, under-14, under-15, under-16, under-17 and under-19 age groups. The league currently includes 753 teams across 151 clubs.
WWW mlssoccer.com/mlsnext𝕏 MLSNEXTFB MLSNEXTTikTok mlsnext

History

Organized youth soccer affiliated with Major League Soccer began with various MLS academy teams playing in the Super Y-League at its foundation in 1999. In 2007, the United States Soccer Federation created an elite academy league called the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, which featured academy teams of MLS teams, along with several non-MLS academies across the United States and Canada. The intention of the USSDA was to create a top division of youth soccer in the United States and Canada.
On March 12, 2020, as a precautionary measure against the spread of COVID-19, the U.S. Soccer Development Academy suspended its operations. On April 15, 2020, the league ended operations, citing financial difficulty. The next day, Major League Soccer announced the formation of a β€œnew elite youth competition platform intended to provide year-round high-level matches for MLS club academy teams and non-MLS academy teams that previously participated in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.” Major League Soccer officially announced MLS Next on September 8, 2020, encompassing 489 teams across 113 clubs and six age groups. On September 11, 2020, the inaugural MLS Next matches were held at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado, between the Colorado Rapids and Real Colorado's respective U-17 and U-19 age groups. The league added 24 new clubs and expanded additional age groups for 16 existing clubs for the 2021–2022 season on June 11, 2021.
In December 2021, Major League Soccer announced MLS Next Pro, a new professional league that will complete an integrated player pathway from MLS Next through to MLS first teams. The league includes 27 teams and played its initial season in 2022.
In December 2024, MLS Next announced a strategic partnership with the Girls Academy in an attempt to foster an aligned development pathway for boys and girls aspiring to reach their highest potential.
In January 2025, MLS announced the expansion of MLS Next with a new competition tier that will feature an additional 1,200 teams from more than 220 clubs across regional divisions, managed by various league operators.

MLS GO

MLS GO is a development program, teaching fundamentals of soccer to boys and girls from ages 4 to 14, with sometimes playing in games together in a community setting. The program covers 47 states and Washington D.C.

MLS NEXT Cup

ClubU-13 PremierU-13 ChampionshipU-14 PremierU-14 ChampionshipU-15U-16U-17U-19Total
LA Galaxy2 1
3
New England Revolution2 2
Chicago Fire1 1 2
Philadelphia Union1
1 2
Real Salt Lake1 1
2
Strikers FC1
1 2
Weston FC1
1 2
Orlando City SC1
1 2
Inter Miami CF1 1
2
D.C. United1 1
New York Red Bulls1 1
Atlanta United FC1 1
FC Delco1 1
TSF Academy1
1

Clubs

As of February 28, 2025
Club nameLocationJoined
AC RiverSan Antonio, Texas2024–25
Achilles FCSilver Spring, Maryland
AFC LightningPeachtree City, Georgia2021–22
Albion SC Las VegasLas Vegas, Nevada2021–22
Albion SC MercedMerced, California2022–23
Albion SC San DiegoSan Diego, California
Alexandria SAAlexandria, Virginia
ASG FCTallahassee, Florida
Athletum FCHialeah, Florida2023–24
Atlanta United FC AcademyMarietta, Georgia
Atletico Santa RosaSanta Rosa, California2021–22
Austin FC AcademyAustin, Texas
Ballistic UnitedPleasanton, California
Baltimore ArmourEllicott City, Maryland
Barca Residency AcademyCasa Grande, Arizona
Bavarian United SCGlendale, Wisconsin2021–22
Bayside FCEast Providence, Rhode Island
Beachside of ConnecticutNorwalk, Connecticut
Beadling Soccer ClubPittsburgh, Pennsylvania2021–22
Bethesda Soccer ClubNorth Potomac, Maryland
Blau Weiss GottscheeMiddle Villages, New York
Boston BoltsNewton, Massachusetts
Breakers FCAptos, California
California Odyssey Soccer ClubClovis, California2021–22
Capital City Soccer ClubAustin, Texas2023–24
Carolina Core FCHigh Point, North Carolina2024–25
Cedar Stars Academy – BergenSouth Hackensack, New Jersey
Cedar Stars Academy – MonmouthTinton Falls, New Jersey
CF MontrealMontreal, Quebec
Chargers SCClearwater, Florida
Charlotte FC AcademyCharlotte, North Carolina
Chicago FC UnitedGlenview, Illinois
Chicago Fire FCBridgeview, Illinois
Chula Vista FCChula Vista, California
Cincinnati United PremierCincinnati, Ohio
City SCCarlsbad, California
Colorado Rapids AcademyCommerce City, Colorado
Colorado Rapids Youth SCCommerce City, Colorado2024–25
Columbus Crew AcademyColumbus, Ohio
Connecticut United FCBridgeport, Connecticut2024–25
D.C. United AcademyWashington, D.C.
De Anza ForceSan Jose, California
Diablo Valley WolvesConcord, California2021–22
Downtown United SCNew York, New York2024–25
Empire United SCRochester, New York
FA Euro New YorkBrooklyn, New York2022–23
FC Bay AreaSan Jose, California
FC Boston BoltsNewton, Massachusetts
FC Cincinnati AcademyCincinnati, Ohio
FC Dallas AcademyFrisco, Texas
FC DelcoDowningtown, Pennsylvania
FC Golden State ForceJurupa Valley, California2022–23
FC WestchesterScarsdale, New York
Florida Rush SCClermont, Florida
Hoosier Premier AcademyNoblesville, Indiana2024–25
Hoover-Vestavia Soccer Birmingham, Alabama2021–22
Houston Dynamo AcademyHouston, Texas
Houston RangersHouston, Texas
IdeaSport Soccer AcademyKissimmee, Florida2021–22
Idea Toros FΓΊtbol AcademyEdinburg, Texas
IMG AcademyBradenton, Florida
Indiana Fire AcademyCarmel, Indiana
Inter Atlanta FCAtlanta, Georgia
Inter Miami CF AcademyFort Lauderdale, Florida
IFA of New EnglandNewton, Massachusetts2021–22
InternationalsNorth Royalton, Ohio
Ironbound SCNewark, New Jersey2023–24
Kalonji SA Norcross, Georgia2021–22
Keystone FCMechanicsburg, Pennsylvania2024–25
Kings Hammer Soccer ClubCovington, Kentucky2021–22
Jacksonville FCJacksonville, Florida
Javanon FCLouisville, Kentucky
LA United Futbol AcademyLos Angeles, California
LA Galaxy AcademyCarson, California
LA SurfLa Canada Flintridge, California
Lamorinda FCMoraga, California
Lanier SCAtlanta, Georgia
Las Vegas SALas Vegas, Nevada2021–22
Lexington SC AcademyLexington, Kentucky2025
Long Island Soccer ClubUniondale, New York2024–25
Los Angeles Bulls SCPacific Palisades, California2023–24
Los Angeles FC AcademyLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles Soccer ClubWest Covina, California2023–24
Lou Fusz AthleticEarth City, Missouri2021–22
Louisiana TDP EliteBaton Rouge, Louisiana2021–22
Metropolitan OvalQueens, New York
Miami Rush-Kendall SCMiami, Florida
Michigan JaguarsNovi, Michigan
Michigan WolvesFarmington Hills, Michigan
Midwest United FCKentwood, Michigan
Minnesota United FCMinneapolis, Minnesota
Modesto Ajax UnitedModesto, California2023–24
Murrieta Soccer AcademyMurrieta, California
Napa UnitedNapa, California
Nashville SC AcademyNashville, Tennessee
Nashville UnitedBrentford, Tennessee2023–24
NEFCMendon, Massachusetts
New England Revolution AcademyFoxborough, Massachusetts
NYCFC AcademyOrangeburg, New York
New York Red Bulls AcademyWhippany, New Jersey
New York SCPurchase, New York
NomadsSan Diego, California
Oakwood SCGlastonbury, Connecticut
Orlando City SC AcademyOrlando, Florida
Orlando City Soccer School SouthKissimmee, Florida2021–22
Orlando City Soccer School – SeminoleSanford, Florida
PA ClassicsManheim, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Union AcademyWayne, Pennsylvania
Phoenix Rising FCPhoenix, Arizona
Players Development AcademySomerset, New Jersey
Portland Timbers AcademyPortland, Oregon
Queen City MutinyCharlotte, North Carolina2021–22
Real ColoradoCentennial, Colorado
Real Jersey FCMedford, New Jersey
Real Salt Lake AcademyHerriman, Utah
RSL ArizonaTempe, Arizona
RSL Arizona – MesaMesa, Arizona2022–23
Sacramento Republic FCSacramento, California
Sacramento UnitedSacramento, California2022–23
San Antonio FCSan Antonio, Texas
San Francisco GlensSan Francisco, California
San Francisco SealsSan Francisco, California2022–23
San Jose Earthquakes AcademySanta Clara, California
Santa Barbara SCSanta Barbara, California
SC Del SolPhoenix, Arizona
SC WaveFranklin, Wisconsin2021–22
Seacoast UnitedHampton, New Hampshire
Seattle Sounders FC AcademyTukwila, Washington
Shattuck-St. Mary'sFaribault, Minnesota
Sheriffs Futbol ClubHayward, California
Silicon Valley SAPalo Alto, California
SoCal Reds FCIrvine, California2022–23
Sockers FC ChicagoPalatine, Illinois
Solar SCTrophy Club, Texas
South Florida FABoca Raton, Florida
Southern Soccer AcademyAtlanta, Georgia
Southern States Soccer ClubHattiesburg, Mississippi2024–25
Sporting Athletic ClubWilmington, Delaware2023–24
Sporting Kansas City AcademyKansas City, Kansas
Sporting CityKansas City, Missouri
Springfield South County Youth ClubSpringfield, Virginia
Strikers FCIrvine, California2021–22
St. Louis City SCSt. Louis, Missouri2021–22
St. Louis Scott GallagherFenton, Missouri
Tampa Bay United RowdiesTampa, Florida
Tormenta FCStatesboro, Georgia2021–22
Toronto FC AcademyToronto, Ontario
Total Futbol AcademyLos Angeles, California
Total Football ClubKaty, Texas
Triangle United SoccerChapel Hill, North Carolina2022–23
TSF AcademyLincoln Park, New Jersey
Valeo Futbol ClubNewton, Massachusetts
West Virginia SoccerShepherdstown, West Virginia2023–24
Vancouver Whitecaps FC AcademyVancouver, British Columbia
VARDAR Soccer ClubRochester Hills, Michigan
Ventura County FusionVentura County, California
Wake Futbol ClubHolly Springs, North Carolina2021–22
West Florida FlamesBrandon, Florida
Weston FCWeston, Florida
Woodside Soccer Club CrushRedwood City, California2021–22