MLS NEXT announces new competition tier to elevate youth development | OneFootball

Emerging talent in the United States and Canada will have another avenue to develop their career with the announcement of a new competition tier within MLS Next.

The youth development platform currently monitors 151 member clubs and over 16,000 players. Starting in September 2025, the number of enrolled clubs and players will increase "to raise the overall performance and competition level across youth soccer in the U.S. and Canada."

With the program expansion, clubs in the competition will compete in regular season games, one of eight regional tournaments each season, and national events, including MLS Next Fest in December.

The regional tournaments will serve as qualifying for a championship event at MLS NEXT Cup later in 2026 and players will have a chance to showcase their talents for respective college, professional and national team opportunities.

“MLS NEXT is elevating soccer across North America for players, coaches, and referees,” said MLS NEXT General Manager Kyle Albrecht. “This expansion, alongside our strategic alliance with the Girls Academy, brings together top-tier resources to continue building a clear pathway across North America for more players to reach their highest potential.”

“The addition of a new tier to MLS NEXT reflects Major League Soccer’s continued dedication to growing the game at the youth level,” added MLS NEXT Technical Director Luis Robles. “We are excited to deepen the talent pool and welcome more players and coaches as we work with them to develop the next generation of talent who will impact the professional game and national teams.”

Alongside player development, the new competition tier also provides further pathways for North American staff to develop their careers through coaching, education, talent identification and high-performance-focused programs.

MLS Next is currently accepting applications from interested clubs.

📸 Image credits: Provided by MLS NEXT.