MLS Next

MLS Next (stylized in all caps) 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.

For the professional league, see MLS Next Pro.

MLS NEXT
Founded2020
CountryUnited States
Other club(s) fromCanada
ConfederationCONCACAF
Conferences6
Number of teams590 (133 clubs)
WebsiteMLS Next

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 590 teams across 133 clubs.[1]

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 precaution against the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), the U.S. Soccer Development Academy suspended operations.[2] On April 15, 2020, the league ended operations, citing financial difficulty.[3] The next day, Major League Soccer announced the formation of a “new 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.”[4] Major League Soccer officially announced MLS Next on September 8, 2020, encompassing 489 teams across 113 clubs and six age groups.[5] The league added 24 new clubs and expanded additional age groups for 16 existing clubs for the 2021–2022 season on June 11, 2021.[6]

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.[7] The league includes 21 teams and will plays its initial season in 2022.

MLS NEXT Cup
MLS NEXT Cup Champions
U-15 U-16 U-17 U-19
2020–2021[8] Real Salt Lake Weston FC Orlando City SC Chicago Fire FC
2021–2022 TBD TBD TBD TBD

Clubs

*As of September 8, 2020

Club name Location
Achilles FC Silver Spring, Maryland
Albion SC San Diego, California
Albion SC Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada
Alexandria SA Alexandria, Virginia
Atlanta United Atlanta, Georgia
Austin FC Austin, Texas
Ballistic United Pleasanton, California
Baltimore Armour Ellicott City, Maryland
Barca Residency Academy Casa Grande, Arizona
Bayside FC Providence, Rhode Island
Beachside of Connecticut Norwalk, Connecticut
Bethesda Soccer Club Bethesda, Maryland
Black Watch Premier Albany Albany, New York
Blau Weiss Gottschee Queens, New York
Breakers FC Aptos, California
Cedar Stars Academy Bergen Carlstadt, New Jersey
Cedar Stars Academy Monmouth Aberdeen, New Jersey
Chargers SC Clearwater, Florida
Charlotte FC Youth Charlotte, North Carolina
Chicago FC United Northfield, Illinois
Chicago Fire Bridgeview, Illinois
Chula Vista FC Chula Vista, California
Cincinnati United Premier Cincinnati, Ohio
City SC Carlsbad, California
Colorado Rapids Commerce City, Colorado
Columbus Crew Columbus, Ohio
D.C. United Washington, D.C.
De Anza Force Saratoga, California
Empire United Rochester, New York
FC Bay Area San Jose, California
FC Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio
FC Dallas Frisco, Texas
FC Delco West Chester, Pennsylvania
FC Greater Boston Bolts Waban, Massachusetts
FC Westchester Scarsdale, New York
Florida Rush Orlando, Florida
Houston Dynamo Houston, Texas
Houston Dynamo Unidos Houston, Texas
IMG Academy Bradenton, Florida
Indiana Fire Carmel, Indiana
Inter Atlanta Atlanta, Georgia
Inter Miami Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Internationals North Royalton, Ohio
Jacksonville FC Jacksonville, Florida
Javanon FC Louisville, Kentucky
LA United Los Angeles, California
LA Galaxy Carson, California
LA Surf La Canada Flintridge, California
Lamorinda FC Moraga, California
Lanier SC Atlanta, Georgia
Las Vegas SA Las Vegas, Nevada
Los Angeles FC Los Angeles, California
Metropolitan Oval Queens, New York
Miami Rush-Kendall SC Miami, Florida
Michigan Jaguars Novi, Michigan
Michigan Wolves Wixom, Michigan
Midwest United Grand Rapids, Michigan
Minnesota United Minneapolis, Minnesota
St. Louis City SC St. Louis, Missouri
CF Montreal Montreal, Quebec
Murrieta Surf Murrieta, California
Napa United Napa, California
Nashville SC Nashville, Tennessee
NEFC Holliston, Massachusetts
New England Revolution Foxborough, Massachusetts
NYCFC New York, New York
New York Red Bulls Harrison, New Jersey
New York SC Purchase, New York
Nomads La Jolla, California
Oakwood SC Glastonbury, Connecticut
Orlando City Orlando, Florida
Orlando City Youth Orlando, Florida
PA Classics Manheim, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Union Wayne, Pennsylvania
Phoenix Rising FC Phoenix, Arizona
PDA Somerset, New Jersey
Portland Timbers Portland, Oregon
Real Colorado Centennial, Colorado
Real Jersey Medford, New Jersey
Real Salt Lake Herriman, Utah
RGV Toros FC Edinburg, Texas
Rise SC Houston, Texas
RSL Arizona Tempe, Arizona
Sacramento Republic Sacramento, California
Saint Louis FC St. Louis, Missouri
San Antonio FC San Antonio, Texas
San Jose Earthquakes Santa Clara, California
Santa Barbara SC Santa Barbara, California
SC Del Sol Phoenix, Arizona
Seacoast United Hampton, NH
Seattle Sounders Tukwila, Washington
SF Elite San Francisco, California
San Francisco Glens San Francisco, California
Shattuck-St. Mary's Faribault, Minnesota
Sheriffs FC Ashland, California
Silicon Valley SA Redwood City, California
Chicago Sockers Palatine, Illinois
Solar SC Dallas, Texas
South Florida FA Boca Raton, Florida
Southern SA Atlanta, Georgia
Sporting Kansas City Kansas City, Kansas
Springfield SYC Springfield, Virginia
Tampa Bay Rowdies Tampa, Florida
Toronto FC Toronto, Ontario
Total FA Los Angeles, California
Total FC Houston, Texas
TSF Academy Wayne, New Jersey
Valeo FC Newton, Massachusetts
Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver, British Columbia
Vardar Rochester Hills, Michigan
Ventura County Fusion Ventura County, California
West Florida Flames Tampa, Florida
Weston FC Weston, Florida

References
  1. mlssoccer. "MLS NEXT – Youth Soccer Reimagined". mlssoccer. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  2. "U.S. Soccer Development Academy". www.ussoccerda.com. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  3. "U.S. Soccer has made the determination to end the operation of the Development Academy". Twitter. April 15, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. mlssoccer. "Major League Soccer launches new elite competition for youth academies | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  5. mlssoccer. "MLS NEXT elite youth development platform officially unveiled ahead of inaugural season | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  6. mlssoccer. "MLS NEXT adds 24 new clubs ahead of 2021–2022 season | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  7. mlssoccer. "MLS NEXT Pro unveils 21 clubs for inaugural season starting March 2022 | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  8. mlssoccer. "Four MLS NEXT Cup Champions crowned at inaugural tournament | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.