MLS NEXT
National-level pathway program with college showcase events and year-round competition.
What is MLS NEXT?
MLS NEXT is Major League Soccer's elite youth development league, created to identify and develop the best young male soccer players in the United States and Canada. Launched in 2020 as the successor to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, MLS NEXT brings together MLS club academies and top independent clubs in a unified competitive platform designed to prepare players for professional and college soccer.
The league operates across multiple divisions and age groups, with a season structure that includes conference play, national showcase events, and a culminating playoff championship called MLS NEXT Cup. MLS NEXT emphasizes a development-over-results philosophy, with rules designed to promote player growth including roster flexibility and game-format standards that align with international best practices.
For parents considering MLS NEXT, the league offers a direct connection to the professional soccer pathway through MLS academies, as well as growing college recruiting exposure through showcase events. MLS NEXT clubs affiliated with MLS teams often provide subsidized or free-to-play programming, though independent member clubs typically charge standard competitive fees.
Key Features
- Official youth development platform of Major League Soccer
- Includes MLS club academies and top independent clubs
- MLS NEXT Cup national championship event
- Direct pathway to MLS professional teams through academy system
- Development-focused rules and game-format standards
- Growing college recruiting exposure at showcase events
- Some MLS academies offer free or subsidized participation
At a Glance
Age Range
U13–U19
Season
Fall (September–December), Spring (February–May), MLS NEXT Cup and Playoffs (June–July)
Cost Range
$0–$5,000 per season (MLS academies often free or subsidized; independent clubs charge standard fees)
Travel
Regional play with periodic long-distance travel for showcases, flex play, and post-season events
Tryout Window
March–June (varies by club)
Coverage
National — United States and Canada, organized by region
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Clubs in MLS NEXT
243 results
956 United
TX
U12-U19
Achilles FC
MD
AFC Lightning
Fayetteville, GA
U6-U19
ALBION SC Boulder County
CO
U6-U19
ALBION SC Colorado
Denver, CO
U9-U19
ALBION SC Denver
Denver, CO
U6-U19
ALBION SC Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV
U12-U14
ALBION SC Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
U6-U19
ALBION SC Merced
Merced, CA
U6-U19
ALBION SC Portland
Tigard, ME
U6-U19
Albion SC Riverside
Riverside, CA
U6-U19
Albion SC San Diego
San Diego, CA
U12-U14
Alexandria SA
Alexandria, VA
Almaden FC
San Jose, CA
U6-U19
Aspire FC
Cypress, TX
U12-U14
Athletum FC Academy
Miami, FL
Atlanta United FC
Marietta, GA
U6-U19
Atletico Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa, CA
U12-U14
Austin FC
Austin, TX
U12-U19
Ballistic United
CA
U12-U14
Baltimore Armour
Baltimore, MD
U9-U11
Barca Residency Academy
AZ
U12-U14
Bavarian United SC
Glendale, WI
U6-U19
Bay Area Surf
San Jose, CA
Bayside FC
East Providence, RI
U8-U19
Beachside of Connecticut
CT
U9-U14
Beachside SC Connecticut
Bridgeport, CT
U9-U14
Beachside Soccer Club
Norwalk, CT
U6-U19
Beadling SC
Pittsburgh, PA
U9-U19
Bethesda SC
Bethesda, MD
Bethlehem Steel F.C.
Bethlehem, PA
U8-U19
Blau Weiss Gottschee
New York, NY
U12-U14
Boston Bolts
Newton, MA
U6-U19
Burlingame Soccer Club
Burlingame, CA
U4-U19
Carolina Core FC
NC
U9-U14
Carolina Velocity FC
Raleigh, NC
U9-U14
Cedar Stars Academy - Bergen
South Hackensack, NJ
Cedar Stars Academy - Monmouth
Tinton Falls, NJ
U9-U14
Celtic Storm
Highland, UT
U12-U14
Chargers Soccer Club
Clearwater, FL
U6-U19
Charleston SC
Charleston, SC
Charlotte FC
Charlotte, NC
Charlotte Independence SC
Charlotte, NC
U9-U14
Charlotte Independence Soccer Club
Charlotte, NC
Chicago FC United
Glenview, IL
U6-U19
Chicago Fire FC
Chicago, IL
U4-U19
Chicago Fire Youth SC
Chicago, IL
U9-U14
Chula Vista FC
Chula Vista, CA
U6-U19
City SC San Diego
San Diego, CA
U12-U14
City SC Southwest
CA
U4-U19
City SC Utah
Riverton, UT
U6-U19
Club Ohio Soccer
Columbus, OH
Columbus Crew SC
Columbus, OH
U9-U19
Connecticut Rush
Farmington, CT
U9-U14
Connecticut United FC
Hartford, CT
U9-U14
Connecticut United Football Club
Bridgeport, CT
U12-U19
Coppermine SC
Baltimore, MD
U6-U19
Cranbury Soccer Club
Cranbury, NJ
U4-U14
Dallas Hornets
The Colony, TX
U9-U19
DC United
Washington, DC
U12-U19
De Anza Force
San Jose, CA
U6-U19
Diablo Valley Futbol Club
CA
U12-U14
Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club
Las Vegas, NV
U12-U14
Downtown United Soccer Club
New York, NY
U4-U19
Elk Grove Soccer
Elk Grove, CA
U4-U19
Elmbrook United
WI
U6-U19
FA Euro New York
New York, NY
U12-U14
FC Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
U12-U19
FC Dallas
Dallas, TX
U12-U19
FC DELCO
Wayne, PA
U6-U19
FC Golden State Force
San Jose, CA
U12-U14
FC Greater Boston Bolts
Boston, MA
U12-U14
FC Harlem
New York, NY
U12-U14
FC Hudson Valley
NY
U12-U19
FC Richmond
Richmond, VA
FC Westchester
White Plains, NY
U9-U19
FC Westchester New York
White Plains, NY
U12-U14
Forward Madison FC
Madison, WI
U9-U19
Fox Soccer Academy Carolinas
Charlotte, NC
U9-U14
Fox Soccer Academy New York
Warwick, NY
U4-U19
Future Soccer Academy
Ridgefield Park, NY
U9-U14
Galacticos Soccer Academy
Naples, FL
U9-U19
Grand Junction Soccer Club
Grand Junction, CO
U12-U14
Hillsboro Rush
Hillsboro, OR
U4-U19
Hoosier Premier
Indianapolis, IN
Hoover-Vestavia Soccer
Birmingham, AL
U9-U19
Houston Dynamo
Houston, TX
U12-U19
Houston Futsal Club
Houston, TX
U4-U19
Houston Rangers
Houston, TX
U9-U19
IdeaSport Soccer Academy
Miami, FL
U9-U14
IFA of New England
Boston, MA
U8-U19
IFA West
Milford, MA
IMG Academy
Bradenton, FL
Indy Eleven
Indianapolis, IN
Inter Atlanta FC
Atlanta, GA
U9-U14
Inter Miami CF
Miami, FL
U9-U19
Intercontinental Football Academy of New England
MA
U9-U14
Ironbound Soccer Club
Newark, NJ
U9-U14
Jacksonville FC
Jacksonville, FL
Javanon FC
Louisville, KY
U12-U14
Keystone FC
Lancaster, PA
U4-U19
Kings Hammer Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
U9-U11
Kings Hammer Nashville
Nashville, TN
U12-U14
KSA
GA
La Roca FC
South Weber, UT
U6-U19
LA Surf Soccer Club
Los Angeles, CA
U9-U14
Lakeville SC
Lakeville, MN
U4-U19
Lamorinda SC
Moraga, CA
U6-U19
Lanier Soccer Association
Gainesville, GA
U9-U14
Las Vegas Sports Academy
Las Vegas, NV
U12-U14
Lexington Sporting Club
Lexington, KY
U12-U14
Long Island Slammers
Setauket, NY
U4-U19
Los Angeles Bulls Soccer Club
Los Angeles, CA
U9-U14
Lou Fusz Athletic
St. Louis, MO
U4-U19
Loudoun Soccer Club
Leesburg, VA
Louisiana Elite SP
Baton Rouge, LA
U12-U14
Lowcountry United
Charleston, SC
McLean Youth Soccer
McLean, VA
Metropolitan Oval
New York, NY
U9-U19
Miami Futbol Academy Rush
Miami, FL
U4-U19
Michigan Bucks Academy
MI
U12-U19
Michigan Jaguars United FC
MI
U9-U14
Michigan Tigers FC
MI
U4-U19
Michigan Wolves
MI
U6-U19
Midwest United
Grand Rapids, MI
Midwest United FC
Grand Rapids, MI
U4-U19
Minneapolis United SC
Minneapolis, MN
U4-U19
Minnesota United FC
Minneapolis, MN
U9-U14
Modesto Ajax United
Modesto, CA
U12-U14
Monarchs AZ
AZ
U12-U14
Mt. Rainier Futbol Club
Buckley, WA
U12-U14
Napa United
Napa, CA
U6-U19
Nashville SC
Nashville, TN
NEFC
Boston, MA
U8-U19
NEFC South
Brockton, MA
U8-U19
New England Revolution
Foxborough, MA
U9-U14
New England Surf SC
CT
U12-U14
New Mexico Soccer Academy
Albuquerque, NM
U12-U14
New York City FC
New York, NY
U9-U19
New York Elite Alleycats FC
New York, NY
U12-U14
New York Red Bulls
Harrison, NJ
U9-U19
New York Rush
New York, NY
U12-U14
New York SC
New York, NY
U9-U19
New York Soccer Club
Purchase, NY
U9-U19
Nona Soccer Academy
Lake Nona, FL
U6-U19
Northern Virginia Alliance
Arlington, VA
Oakwood SC
Glastonbury, CT
U9-U19
Oakwood Soccer Club
Glastonbury, CT
U12-U14
Oakwood Sports Center
Glastonbury, CT
U4-U19
One FC
Miami, FL
U6-U19
One Knoxville SC
Knoxville, TN
U12-U14
Orlando City SC
Orlando, FL
U12-U19
Orlando City Soccer School South
Orlando, FL
U9-U14
Orlando City Youth SC
Orlando, FL
U9-U14
Ozark United FC Academy
MO
U12-U14
PA Classics
Manheim, PA
U9-U19
PA Classics Harrisburg
Harrisburg, PA
U4-U19
PDA Hibernian
NJ
U12-U14
Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia, PA
U9-U19
Phoenix Premier FC
Phoenix, AZ
U6-U19
Plantation FC Rush
Plantation, FL
U4-U19
Players Development Academy
Somerset, NJ
U9-U19
Portland Timbers
Portland, OR
U12-U19
Queen City Mutiny FC
Charlotte, NC
Real Futbol Academy
Medford, NJ
U6-U19
Real Salt Lake
Salt Lake City, UT
U6-U19
Rhode Island Surf
Narragansett, RI
U4-U5, U9-U19
RNY FC Youth
West Henrietta, NY
U9-U19
Roswell Soccer Club
Roswell, GA
U4-U19
RSL Arizona
Phoenix, AZ
U12-U14
Sacramento Republic
Sacramento, CA
U12-U14
Saint Paul Blackhawks
Saint Paul, MN
U6-U19
Saints Soccer Academy
Portland, ME
U6-U19
San Diego FC
San Diego, CA
U12-U19
San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose, CA
U12-U14
Santa Barbara Soccer Club
Santa Barbara, CA
U12-U14
SC Del Sol
Phoenix, AZ
U4-U19
SC Wave
Brookfield, WI
Seacoast Express United
Concord, NH
U4-U19
Seacoast United
Hampton, NH
U4-U19
Seacoast United - Hampton
Hampton, NH
U9-U19
Seacoast United Concord Indoor Facility
Concord, NH
U4-U19
Seacoast United Mass
Amesbury, MA
U8-U19
Seattle Celtic
Seattle, WA
U9-U19
SGA
Austin, TX
U12-U14
Shattuck-St. Mary's
Faribault, MN
U12-U19
Silicon Valley Soccer Academy
Palo Alto, CA
U12-U14
Skyline Soccer Association
Englewood, CO
U12-U14
SoCal Reds FC
Irvine, CA
U4-U19
Soccer Chance Academy
Portland, ME
U6-U19
Sockers FC
Chicago, IL
U9-U14
Sockers FC Chicago
Chicago, IL
U4-U19
Sol SC Florida
Miami, FL
U12-U14
Sol Sports Club
Winter Garden, FL
U4-U19
Sound FC
WA
U9-U19
South Florida Football Academy
South Florida, FL
U9-U14
Southern Soccer Academy
Atlanta, GA
U9-U14
Southern Soccer Academy Office
Marietta, VT
U5, U7-U8, U12, U15, U19
Southern States Soccer
Hattiesburg, MS
U4-U19
Sozo FC
Yakima, WA
U6-U19
Sparta United Soccer Club
Salt Lake City, UT
U12-U14
Sporting City
Kansas City, MO
U6-U19
Sporting Kansas City
Kansas City, MO
U12-U14
Sporting Oklahoma
Norman, OK
U4-U19
Springfield South County Youth Club
Springfield, VA
Springfield SYC
Springfield, VA
St. Louis CITY SC
St. Louis, MO
U12-U14
St. Louis Development Academy
St. Louis, MO
U9-U14
St. Louis Scott Gallagher
St. Louis, MO
U12-U14
St. Louis Scott Gallagher St. Charles
MO
U12-U14
Steel City FC
Pittsburgh, PA
U9-U19
Sting Nebraska
NE
U12-U14
Strikers FC
Irvine, CA
U4-U19
Syracuse Development Academy
Syracuse, NY
U4-U19
Syracuse Development Academy (SDA)
Syracuse, NY
U4-U19
Tampa Bay United
Tampa, FL
U6-U14
The Football Academy
NJ
The St. James
Leesburg, VA
U6-U19
Tonka Fusion Elite
Plymouth, MN
U12-U19
Tormenta FC Academy
GA
U9-U14
Trenton City Soccer Club
Trenton, NJ
Triangle United Soccer Association
Chapel Hill, NC
U9-U11
TSF Academy
Lincoln Park, NJ
U4-U19
TSF Academy - NJ
Parsippany, NJ
U9-U14
Tulsa Greenwood SC
Tulsa, OK
U12-U19
United Soccer Alliance
Jacksonville, FL
U9-U14
VA Revolution
Leesburg, VA
Valeo FC
Newton, MA
U6-U19
Vardar Soccer Club
MI
U9-U14
Ventura County Fusion
Ventura, CA
U9-U14
Virginia Revolution SC
VA
Virginia Rush
VA
U9-U14
Wake FC
Raleigh, NC
U6-U19
Wasatch SC
Kaysville, UT
U12-U14
Washington Rush
Everett, WA
U4-U19
West Florida Flames
Pensacola, FL
U9-U14
Western Washington Surf SC
Tukwila, WA
U12-U14
Weston FC
Weston, FL
U9-U19
Westside Metros FC South
OR
U12-U14
Whatcom Rangers
WA
U12-U14
Wisconsin United FC
WI
U4-U19
Woodside Soccer Club Crush
CA
U12-U14
WSC Crush
Los Angeles, CA
U12-U14
Parent Questions About MLS NEXT
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How much does MLS NEXT cost?
Is MLS NEXT free?
When are MLS NEXT tryouts?
What is the difference between MLS NEXT and ECNL?
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Does MLS NEXT help with college recruiting?
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