MLS Next Pro
MLS Next Pro is a men's professional soccer league in the United States and Canada that is affiliated with Major League Soccer. It launched in 2022 with 21 teams and now comprises 27 reserve sides of MLS clubs and two independent clubs. MLS Next Pro is classified as part of the third tier of the United States soccer league system.
As of the 2025 season, 27 of the 30 MLS teams held affiliations with an MLS Next Pro team, with only the CF Montréal, D.C. United, and San Diego FC having no such franchise affiliation.
History
In the mid 2000's MLS teams began to form their own academies to begin the development of players. In 2005, MLS launched a reserve league with the then 12 teams that competed in MLS. This was an effort to allow games for the players amongst the academies for more meaningful competition.MLS announced the dissolution of the Reserve League following the partnership formed with then-named USL. This allowed players to get loaned from teams in MLS to play minutes in teams in third division soccer. This was mandatory during the time of affiliation between MLS–USL clubs. During the partnership, teams in MLS began the foundings of their own B teams, or No. 2 teams. First teams among MLS to field B teams were: RSL, LA Galaxy, Toronto FC, and Portland Timbers.
Formation of the league
On June 21, 2021, Major League Soccer announced the creation of a new professional league which would begin play in 2022. MLS has applied to the United States Soccer Federation for the league to be sanctioned as a Division III professional league, the same level currently occupied by USL League One and the National Independent Soccer Association and one level below the USL Championship. MLS announced that Next Pro would start with at least 20 teams, many of them owned by Major League Soccer and development teams between their first-teams and their youth academies. All MLS clubs with reserve teams in the USL Championship or USL League One initially planned to move those sides to MLS Next Pro by 2023. D.C. United's formerly owned-and-operated reserve team was sold to independent buyers.The inaugural match of MLS Next Pro was played on March 25, 2022, at Hermann Stadium in St. Louis. St. Louis City 2 defeated Rochester New York FC 2–0. Wan Kuzain scored the first ever goal in the 20th minute.
The league makes use of unique rules such as all regular season draws being decided by penalty shootouts and the addition of concussion substitutions. On July 6, 2022, new rules for the league were introduced in the middle of the season. This included an off-field treatment rule meant to curb gamesmanship and timewasting and a new rule for red card suspensions: the suspension a player gets for getting a red card or two yellow cards in the same game will be served by the player when next playing against the same opponent.
Competition format
The league runs from spring to fall with the season kicking off in March. Each team plays 28 regular-season games, followed by a 16-team playoff tournament. The league is divided into Eastern and Western Conferences.Unlike Major League Soccer, MLS Next Pro does not feature a salary cap and player contracts are held by the teams, not the league. Team rosters can have up to 24 professional players with a maximum of seven international players. An MLS Next Pro club's active roster contains up to 35 players, all of whom are eligible for selection to each official match roster during the MLS Next Pro season.
Teams
Future teams
Former teams
Timeline
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bar:1 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Chicago Fire FC II
bar:2 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Colorado Rapids 2
bar:3 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Columbus Crew 2
bar:4 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:FC Cincinnati 2
bar:5 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Houston Dynamo 2
bar:6 color:Other from:2020 till:2022 text:USL League One
bar:6 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Inter Miami CF II
bar:7 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Minnesota United FC 2
bar:8 color:Other from:2020 till:2022 text:USL League One
bar:8 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:New England Revolution II
bar:9 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:New York City FC II
bar:10 color:Other from:2020 till:2022 text:USL League One
bar:10 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:North Texas SC
bar:11 color:Other from:2020 till:2021 text:USL League One
bar:11 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Orlando City B
bar:12 color:Other from:2020 till:2021 text:USL Championship
bar:12 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Philadelphia Union II
bar:13 color:Other from:2020 till:2021 text:USL Championship
bar:13 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Portland Timbers 2
bar:14 color:Other from:2020 till:2022 text:USL Championship
bar:14 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Real Monarchs
bar:15 color:Former from:2022 till:2023 text:Rochester New York FC
bar:16 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:St. Louis City 2
bar:17 color:Full from:2022 till:2024 text:San Jose Earthquakes II
bar:17 color:Full from:2024 till:end text:The Town FC
bar:18 color:Other from:2020 till:2022 text:USL Championship
bar:18 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Sporting Kansas City II
bar:19 color:Other from:2020 till:2022 text:USL Championship
bar:19 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Tacoma Defiance
bar:20 color:Other from:2020 till:2022 text:USL League One
bar:20 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Toronto FC II
bar:21 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Whitecaps FC 2
bar:22 color:Other from:2020 till:2023 text:USL Championship
bar:22 color:Full from:2023 till:end text:Atlanta United 2
bar:23 color:Full from:2023 till:end text:Austin FC II
bar:24 color:Full from:2023 till:end text:Crown Legacy FC
bar:25 color:Full from:2023 till:end text:Huntsville City FC
bar:26 color:Other from:2020 till:2023 text:USL Championship
bar:26 color:Full from:2023 till:2024 text:LA Galaxy II
bar:26 color:Full from:2024 till:end text:Ventura County FC
bar:27 color:Full from:2023 till:end text:Los Angeles FC 2
bar:28 color:Other from:2020 till:2023 text:USL Championship
bar:28 color:Full from:2023 till:end text:New York Red Bulls II
bar:29 color:Full from:2024 till:end text:Carolina Core FC
bar:30 color: Other from:2020 till:2024 text:NISA
bar:30 color:Full from:2024 till:end text:Chattanooga FC
bar:31 color:Full from:2026 till:end text:CT United FC
bar:32 color:Future from:2027 till:end text:Jacksonville Armada FC
bar:33 color:Future from:2027 till:end text:AC Grand Rapids
bar:34 color:Future from:2027 till:end text:Cleveland
bar:35 color:Future from:2027 till:end text:Golden City FC
bar:36 color:Future from:2027 till:end text:The Island FC
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