MLS Next
This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2021) |
Founded | 2020 |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Other club(s) from | Canada |
Confederation | CONCACAF |
Conferences | 6 |
Number of teams | 489 |
Website | https://www.mlssoccer.com/mlsnext |
MLS Next (stylized in all caps) is a system of youth soccer leagues in the United States, with a few clubs in Canada, that is managed, organized and controlled by Major League Soccer. It was introduced by the league in 2020.
The system was introduced in mid-2020 and will be active for the first time during the 2020–21 season. 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.
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.
USSDA's goal was to connect national team coaches at all age levels directly with elite youth players, while also serving as a venue for advanced coaching and referee development.[1] Unlike most professional soccer leagues in the United States and Canada, but much like professional soccer leagues abroad, USSDA ran on a winter-based schedule, with the seasons beginning in late August or early September and ending in June, with a winter break from mid-December to mid-February.
The league is unique among other professional soccer leagues domestically, as it runs on a winter-based schedule. The season generally begins in September and ends in June or July. There is usually a break in January and February, and players have the summer off. Most of the clubs are associated with professional teams, either in North America through MLS, the NASL or the USL, or with European clubs. The professional teams cover most, if not all, of the fees, while the academies offer a pipeline of talent to the professional club.
Clubs[]
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 | 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[]
- ^ "Academy Overview". US Soccer. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
External links[]
- MLS Next
- Major League Soccer
- 2020 establishments in the United States
- Sports leagues established in 2020
- Youth soccer leagues in the United States