Find out where the next MLS Next tryouts will be held in 2025 and how to join teams in the competition.
The MLS Next is a new generation competition that was established by the MLS to improve youth soccer development in the United States.
MLS teams over the years have continued to organise tryouts for their academies.
But getting invited for these tryouts is the biggest hurdle young players face since most clubs have different ways of scouting players for their respective youth development teams.
MLS Next Tryouts 2024/2025 and how to go about it
One of the ways to get an invitation for MLS Next Tryouts is to become a part of the MLS Superdraft or the MLS Supplemental Draft. Or, to get a chance, you should be invited to the MLS Combine or into an MLS team Academy.
Also Read: USL Championship Soccer Tryouts
The level of the MLS over the years has been outstanding, and to further improve on the level of youth soccer development, the MLS Next League was created.
Can you try out for MLS teams?
You can use only tryouts for MLS clubs through their respective development academies or the MLS tryouts.
Do MLS academy players get paid?
MLS Academy players receive training compensation or solidarity payments.
What age is MLS next?
The MLS Next League runs through under-13, under-14, under-15, under-16, under-17, and under-19 age groups.
The MLS Next League is a soccer development league for Major League Soccer teams and other development teams across the United States and Canada.
The MLS organises it through the youth development section. The league runs similarly to Major League Soccer, dividing teams into various conferences.
How to participate
The participants of the MLS Next are players from various MLS clubs and other soccer development teams from the United States and Canada.
To be eligible, you must be a part of these teams. Players scouted and admitted into the various soccer academies across MLS would also participate.
To join any academies and stand a chance to participate, you must be among the players scouted by these academies.
List Academy from the MLS
Atlanta United Academy
Atlanta United Academy is a soccer development department of MLS side Atlanta United.
Charlotte FC Academy
Charlotte FC Youth Academy is the youth development team of the following Major League Soccer outfit, Charlotte FC.
Chicago Fire FC Academy
Chicago Fire Soccer Academy is the youth wing of the club competing in the MLS Next. It is one of the fastest-growing soccer development programs in the United States. Chicago Fire FC of the MLS owns it.
Colorado Rapids Academy
Colorado Rapids is the academy outfit of MLS franchise Colorado Rapids FC. The team features youth players of different age groups.
Columbus Crew Academy
Columbus Crew is the youth academy of Columbus Crew SC of Major League Soccer. The team features youth players from different categories.
D.C. United Academy
DC United Academy is one of the best soccer development outfits in the United States.
The contributions so far made by the team have also helped the club win top honours. The club is owned by DC United, one of the most successful teams in the history of Major League Soccer since its formation in 1996.
FC Cincinnati Academy
FC Cincinnati Academy is the youth team of the MLS outfit FC Cincinnati. The unit features players from different categories.
FC Dallas Academy
FC Dallas Academy is the soccer development wing for developing young players for the senior team. The team is also a member of the MLS Next League.
Houston Dynamo Academy
Houston Dynamo FC Academy represents the franchise team in the MLS Next as a development department for the professional side.
LA Galaxy Academy
LA Galaxy Academy is one of the best soccer academies in the United States. It has recorded gains over the years.
Players from the Academy have represented the professional side in Major League Soccer and other domestic competitions like the US Open Cup.
Location: Carson, California.
Los Angeles Football Club
Los Angeles FC’s performance recently could also be attributed to the gains recorded by developing young players from the Academy. The Academy boasts some of the finest in the country.
Location: Los Angeles, California.
Minnesota United Academy
Minnesota United Academy is the youth development team of Minnesota United that competes in the MLS.
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota.
CF Montreal Academy
CF Montréal Academy is a soccer development team representing CF Montréal in the MLS Next. It is one of the few Canadian outfits in the MLS Next League.
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Nashville SC Academy
Nashville SC Academy is the youth development team of Nashville SC that competes in the MLS.
Nashville SC Academy is one of the emerging sides in youth soccer development.
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
New York City FC Academy
New York City FC Academy is the youth soccer development team of New York City FC that competes in the MLS.
The Academy stands out as one of the top soccer academies in the United States and boasts producing top talents.
The City Football Group owns it with its MLS franchise team, New York City FC.
Location: New York, New York.
New England Revolution Academy
New England Revolution Academy is the youth wing of the Revolution team.
Location: New Jersey.
Inter Miami CF
Inter Miami CF Academy represents the professional team as an academy or development section of the MLS franchise.
Location: Miami.
Orlando City SC
Orlando City SC is the youth development academy. It is one of the heavily funded youth development sites owned by the club, primarily for scouting and developing young talents.
Location: Orlando, Florida.
Philadelphia Union Academy
Philadelphia Union Academy is the youth development team of Philadelphia Union.
The team is regarded as one of the best in the United States, ranked in the top five development academies in the MLS.
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania.
Portland Timbers Academy
Portland Timbers FC is the youth development section providing a pathway for young players to develop. The Academy is one of the fastest-growing soccer development programs.
Location: Portland, Oregon.
Real Salt Lake City
Real Salt Lake is the academy team of the MLS franchise team.
Location: Herriman, Utah.
San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes Academy is the youth development team of the Earthquakes. It is one of the fastest-growing soccer development academies in the United States.
Location: Santa Clara, California.
Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders FC Academy is the youth development team entirely focused on developing players for the senior team. It is also one of the top teams in the development category.
Location: Tukwila, Washington.
Sporting Kansas City
Sporting Kansas City Academy is the youth development team owned by the MLS franchise outfit.
Location: Kansas City, Kansas.
Toronto FC Academy
Toronto FC is the youth wing of the Toronto FC soccer club and is one of the few Canadian teams in Major League Soccer.
Location: Toronto, Ontario.
Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps Academy is the development side of the MLS franchise team, Vancouver Whitecaps.
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia.
Other Academy in the MLS Next League
Achilles FC
Achilles FC is a soccer development club that provides an enabling environment for players to thrive and gain more exposure.
The club looks for players willing to take their careers to the highest level.
Location: Silver Spring, Maryland.
Albion SC San Diego
Albion SC is a youth soccer development team that focuses on developing young players and teaching to help them reach professional status. The club is one of the oldest soccer development teams in San Diego.
The club prides itself as one of the most successful, having players that are now playing for bigger teams.
Location: San Diego, California
Albion SC Las Vegas
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada.
Alexandria SA
Location: Alexandria, Virginia.
Ballistic United
Location: Pleasanton, California.
Baltimore Armour
Location: Ellicott City, Maryland.
Barca Residency Academy
Location: Casa Grande, Arizona.
Bayside FC
Location: Providence, Rhode Island.
Beachside of Connecticut Location: Norwalk, Connecticut.
Bethesda, South Carolina 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
Chicago FC United Northfield, Illinois
Chula Vista FC Chula Vista, California
Cincinnati United Premier Cincinnati, Ohio
City SC Carlsbad, California
De Anza Force, Saratoga, California
Empire United Rochester, New York
FC Bay Area San Jose, California
FC Delco West Chester, Pennsylvania
FC Greater Boston Bolts Waban, Maine
FC Westchester Scarsdale, New York
Florida Rush Orlando, Florida
Houston Dynamo Unidos Houston, Texas
IMG Academy, Bradenton, Florida
Indiana Fire, Carmel, Indiana
Inter Atlanta Atlanta, Georgia
Internationals North Royalton, Ohio
Jacksonville FC Jacksonville, Florida
Java FC Louisville, Kentucky
LA Surf La Canada Flintridge, California
Lamorinda FC Mirage, California
Lanier SC Atlanta, Georgia
Las Vegas SA Las Vegas, Nevada
Metropolitan Oval, Queens, New York
Miami Rush-Kendall SC Miami, Florida
Michigan Jaguars Novi, Michigan
Michigan Wolves, Wixom, Michigan
Midwest United Grand Rapids, Michigan
St. Louis City SC St. Louis, Missouri
Murrieta Surf Murrieta, California
Napa United Napa, California
NEFC Holliston, Maine
New York SC Purchase, New York
Nomads La Jolla, California
Oakwood SC Glastonbury, Connecticut
PA Classics Manheim, Pennsylvania
Phoenix Rising Phoenix, Arizona
PDA Somerset, New Jersey
Real Colorado Centennial, Colorado
Real Jersey Medford, New Jersey
RGV Toros FC, Edinburg, Texas
Rise SC Houston, Texas
RSL Arizona, Tempe, Arizona
The Sacramento Republic Sacramento, California
Saint Louis FC, St. Louis, Missouri
San Antonio FC San Antonio, Texas
Santa Barbara SC Santa Barbara, California
SC Del Sol Phoenix, Arizona
Seacoast United, Hampton, NH
SF Elite San Francisco, California
San Francisco Glens San Francisco, California
Shattuck-St. Mary’s, Faribault, Minnesota
Sheriffs FC Ashland, California
Silicon Valley, Redwood City, California
Chicago Sockers Palatine, Illinois
Solar SC Dallas, Texas
South Florida FA Boca Raton, Florida
Southern SA Atlanta, Georgia
Springfield SYC Springfield, Virginia
Tampa Bay Rowdies Tampa, Florida
Total FA Los Angeles, California
Honest FC Houston, Texas
TSF Academy Wayne, New Jersey
Valeo FC Newton, Maine
Vardar Rochester Hills, Michigan
Ventura County Fusion Ventura County, California
West Florida Flames Tampa, Florida
Weston FC Weston, Florida
MLS Next and Soccer Development
The MLS Next League is a program initiated and controlled by the MLS League body as a section for youth development. Over the years, the United States has continued to emphasise the development of young players.
MLS Next Format
The MLS NEXT Cup playoffs are the season-ending championship played across the four age groups (U15, U16, U17, U19).
The MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs is a single-elimination competition played by 32 teams in each age group.
Qualification for the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs is based on the points-per-game basis from their performance in the MLS NEXT regular season. Three reasons why the MLS Next League is the best idea for soccer in the United States
The MLS Next Season
The MLS Next first-ever season began in mid-2020 and is expected to end in July 2021.
The 10-month-long season is expected to feature a regular season as well as playoffs to determine the overall league winners across the various age groups.
Three reasons the MLS Next is the pathway to US Soccer development for the future
High level of confidence
There’s nothing better than playing against your peers consistently over a year. This goes beyond helping the players, as it helps to build up their level of confidence as they grow older.
Acquisition of new ideas and patterns
The MLS Next League is expected to help young players across various teams learn new ideas, skills, and techniques from other players and coaches. Also, players are expected to learn from professionals.
Learn professionally
A professional body organises the league.
The players would have the opportunity to learn soccer development professionally.
MLS Next League Rules
The MLS Next League operates on specific rules guiding participating teams and players. These rules are directly from the league’s organiser, the MLS Next.
Here are the rules:
All clubs and MLS NEXT participants are required to comply with the MLS NEXT rules.
PD reserves the right to decide how to enforce the MLS NEXT Rules at its sole and absolute discretion.
Should a club or any MLS NEXT participant associated with that club be found in violation of any of the MLS NEXT rules, the club’s standing and membership in MLS NEXT, or the individual’s participation in MLS NEXT, may be jeopardised, as further described below.
In addition, the MLS NEXT Rules are subject to change from time to time.
Although PDev makes every effort not to modify the MLS NEXT Rules mid-season, PDev reserves the right to amend or enact new policies at any time, particularly to the extent required by applicable law, the U.S.
Olympic and Paralympic Committee, or the Centre, or otherwise where PDev believes it is in the best interest of MLS NEXT and the safety of its players.
In changing these MLS NEXT Rules, PDev will best provide clubs with advance notice.
Subject to any applicable laws, PDev may use any information in determining disqualifications for participation in MLS NEXT at PDev’s absolute discretion.
Such information may include, without limitation, the conviction of any felony, gross misdemeanours, violation of MLS NEXT Rules, or driving offences, including, but not limited to, loss of license, reckless driving, impaired driving, or a DUI.
Any person accused of physical or sexual misconduct or otherwise violating the PDev Safety and Wellbeing Policy may be suspended or placed in an alternate position by PDev until the matter is resolved.
Regardless of criminal or civil guilt in the alleged abuse, the person’s continued presence could be detrimental to the organisation’s reputation and harmful to the participants.
An accused person but later cleared of charges may apply to be reinstated to eligibility within MLS NEXT in PDev’s sole and absolute discretion.
Reinstatement is not a right, and no guarantee is made that they will be reinstated to their former position or any other position within the MLS NEXT ecosystem.