MLS Next Pro

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MLS Next Pro
MLS Next Pro logo.svg
FoundedJune 21, 2021; 6 months ago (2021-06-21)
First season2022
CountryUnited States
Other club(s) fromCanada
ConfederationCONCACAF
Number of teams21
Level on pyramid3
Websitemlsnextpro.com

MLS Next Pro is a men's professional soccer league in the United States and Canada that is affiliated with Major League Soccer. It will launch in 2022 with 21 teams, of which 20 are reserve sides for MLS clubs and the independent Rochester New York FC. The league is classified as part of the third tier of the United States soccer league system.[1]

History[]

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.[2] It was announced by the league that will first start with 20 teams, many of them owned by Major League Soccer and development teams between their first-teams and their youth academies.[2] All MLS clubs with reserve teams in USL Championship or USL League One will be moving to MLS Next Pro by 2023.[2]

Teams[]

Locations of announced teams in MLS Next Pro (with Wikipedia articles)
  • Blue pog.svg Eastern Conference
  • Red pog.svg Western Conference
  • Green pog.svg future club
Team Location Stadium Capacity Founded Joined Head coach Affiliate
Eastern Conference
Chicago Chicago, Illinois 2021 2022 Chicago Fire FC
Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio 2021 2022 FC Cincinnati
Columbus Crew 2 Columbus, Ohio Historic Crew Stadium 19,968 2021 2022 Columbus Crew
Fort Lauderdale CF Fort Lauderdale, Florida DRV PNK Stadium 18,000 2019 2022 Darren Powell Inter Miami CF
New England Revolution II Foxborough, Massachusetts Gillette Stadium 20,000 2019 2022 Clint Peay New England Revolution
New York City New York City, New York 2021 2022 New York City FC
Orlando City B Kissimmee, Florida Osceola County Stadium 5,400 2015 2022 Orlando City SC
Philadelphia Union II Chester, Pennsylvania Subaru Park 18,500 2015 2022 Marlon LeBlanc Philadelphia Union
Rochester New York FC West Henrietta, New York Empire United Soccer Complex 1996 2022 Bruno Baltazar
Toronto FC II Toronto, Ontario BMO Training Ground 1,000 2014 2022 Mike Muñoz Toronto FC
Western Conference
[3] Commerce City, Colorado 2021 2022 Colorado Rapids
[4] Houston, Texas 2021 2022 Houston Dynamo FC
[5] Saint Paul, Minnesota 2021 2022 Cameron Knowles Minnesota United FC
North Texas SC Arlington, Texas Choctaw Stadium 48,114 2018 2022 Eric Quill FC Dallas
Portland Timbers 2 Hillsboro, Oregon Hillsboro Stadium 7,600 2014 2022 Portland Timbers
Real Monarchs Herriman, Utah Zions Bank Stadium 5,000 2014 2022 Jámison Olave Real Salt Lake
San Jose San Jose, California 2021 2022 San Jose Earthquakes
Sporting Kansas City II Kansas City, Kansas Children's Mercy Park 18,467 2015 2022 vacant Sporting Kansas City
St. Louis St. Louis, Missouri 2021 2022 St. Louis City SC
Tacoma Defiance Tacoma, Washington Cheney Stadium 6,500 2014 2022 Wade Webber Seattle Sounders FC
Vancouver Vancouver, British Columbia 2021 2022 Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Future teams[]

Team[6] Location Stadium Capacity Founded Joining Current League Afilliate
Atlanta United 2 Kennesaw, Georgia Fifth Third Bank Stadium 8,318 2017 2023 USL Championship Atlanta United FC
Austin TBD TBD – – none Austin FC
Charlotte TBD TBD – – none Charlotte FC
LA Galaxy II Carson, California Dignity Health Sports Park 5,000 2014 USL Championship LA Galaxy
Los Angeles TBD TBD – – none Los Angeles FC
Loudoun United FC Leesburg, Virginia Segra Field 5,000 2018 USL Championship D.C. United
Nashville TBD TBD – – none Nashville SC
New York Red Bulls II Montclair, New Jersey MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field 5,000 2015 USL Championship New York Red Bulls

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Straus, Brian (December 6, 2021). "MLS Next Pro Adds Another Element to U.S. Soccer's Ever-Evolving Lower Club Tier". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Bonagura, Kyle (June 21, 2021). "Major League Soccer to launch development league in 2022". ESPN. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  3. ^ Rapids, Colorado. "Colorado Rapids to Launch 'Rapids 2' Team in MLS NEXT Pro". Colorado Rapids. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  4. ^ "Houston Dynamo 2 to compete in new MLS NEXT Pro league beginning in 2022 | Houston Dynamo". houstondynamofc. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  5. ^ "MNUFC2 Joins MLS NEXT Pro for Inaugural Season | Minnesota United FC". MNUFC. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  6. ^ "MLS NEXT Pro unveils 21 clubs for inaugural season starting March 2022 | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.

External links[]

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