2023 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs & Showcase: What You Need to Know

The 2023 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs & Showcase is an annual tournament featuring the best youth soccer teams in the United States and Canada.

The event is set to take place from June 17th to June 25th, 2023, in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, with the finals to be played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco.

The tournament features teams from the U15, U16, U17, and U19 age groups, with each team vying for the chance to be crowned MLS NEXT Cup champions.

Here’s last year’s U17 final between Philadelphia Union vs Columbus Crew…

The event promises to be an exciting showcase of the best young talent in North America, and it will be interesting to see which teams emerge as champions of their respective age groups!

Here’s everything you need to know…

MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs Overview

The MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs & Showcase is split into two different types of formats.

Playoffs: Only the top teams that qualify get to participate.
Showcase: Any MLS NEXT team that didn’t qualify for the playoffs can participate. And, clubs who are eliminated in the first two rounds of the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs are also eligible to participate in the Showcase.

Here’s the format and how teams get invited to play.

Tournament Format

The 2023 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs & Showcase will feature 32 of the top teams in each of the four different age groups (U-15, U-16, U-17, U-19).

The tournament will follow a knockout format, with teams competing in single-elimination matches.

The winner of each match will advance to the next round, while the loser will be eliminated. The tournament will culminate with the MLS NEXT Cup Championship match, which will be held on June 25, 2023.

Participating Teams – Cup Playoffs

Teams qualified for the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs based on results from league play or by winning their respective group at MLS NEXT Flex, a qualifying event that took place in May of 2023.

MLS NEXT Cup Showcase

The MLS NEXT Cup Showcase is a highly anticipated event that attracts scouts, coaches, and fans from all over the world.

The event is a great opportunity for young players to showcase their skills and make a name for themselves on the big stage.

The event is organized by MLS NEXT, the youth development platform of Major League Soccer. MLS NEXT is committed to providing a clear pathway for young players to reach their full potential and ultimately make it to the professional level.

Schedule of Events

The 2023 MLS NEXT Cup Showcase will take place from June 17 to June 25, with games being played at the Toyota Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

The event will feature a total of 128 teams, with games being played across four age groups.

Here is the schedule of events for the 2023 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs:

DATE	AGE GROUP	ROUND
June 17-19	U-15	Group Stage
June 20-22	U-16	Group Stage
June 23-24	U-17	Quarterfinals
June 24-25	U-19	Quarterfinals
June 25	U-15	Semifinals
June 25	U-16	Semifinals
June 26	U-17	Semifinals
June 26	U-19	Semifinals
June 26	U-15	Finals
June 26	U-16	Finals
June 27	U-17	Finals
June 27	U-19	Finals

Many of the games will be streamed on Apple TV (schedule below).

MLS NEXT Cup Showcase Venue

The soccer event will take place at the Toyota Soccer Center in Frisco, Texas.

The Toyota Soccer Center features 17 regulation-sized soccer fields, including 2 stadium fields with seating for 3,000 and 1,000 spectators, respectively. The venue also has a state-of-the-art locker room, training facilities, and a medical center.

The Toyota Soccer Center is widely regarded as one of the premier soccer facilities in the United States.

It has hosted numerous soccer events, including the MLS Cup Final, the NCAA College Cup, and the US Youth Soccer National Championships.

Broadcast Information

The 2023 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs & Showcase will be broadcasted on various platforms. Fans can watch the matches on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

[Source: MLS NEXT] The following sub-sections provide more information about the Live Streaming options.

Live Streaming

Parents, family members, and fans who prefer to watch the matches online can do so through live streaming options.

The MLS Season Pass on Apple TV is one of the best options for live streaming the matches.

Fans can purchase the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV to watch the matches live. The pass also provides access to a vast archive of MLS matches.

Here is the tentative schedule for live-streamed games.

Saturday, June 17 – Round of 32:

9:30 AM ET – U16s – LA Surf Soccer Club vs. Michigan Jaguars
11:30 AM ET – U16s – Players Development Academy (PDA) vs. Chula Vista FC
1:30 PM ET – U15s – FC DELCO vs. LA Galaxy
3:30 PM ET – U15s – Columbus Crew vs. New England Revolution

Sunday, June 18 – Round of 32:

9:30 AM ET – U19s – De Anza Force vs. FC Westchester
11:30 AM ET – U19s – San Francisco Glens SC vs. Ballistic United
1:30 PM ET – U17s – Toronto FC vs. Charlotte FC
3:30 PM ET – U17s – San Jose Earthquakes vs. Sporting Kanas City

Monday, June 19 – Round of 16:

9:30 AM ET – U19s – TBD vs. TBD
11:30 AM ET – U19s – TBD vs. TBD
1:30 PM ET – U17s – TBD vs. TBD
3:30 PM ET – U17s – TBD vs. TBD

Tuesday, June 20 – Quarterfinal:

9:30 AM ET – U16s – TBD vs. TBD
11:30 AM ET – U16s – TBD vs. TBD
1:30 PM ET – U15s – TBD vs. TBD

Tuesday, June 20 – Best Of:

3:30 PM ET – U-17s/U-19s – TBD vs. TBD

Wednesday, June 21 – Quarterfinal:

9:30 AM ET – U19s – TBD vs. TBD
11:30 AM ET – U17s – TBD vs. TBD
1:30 PM ET – U17s – TBD vs. TBD

Thursday, June 22 – Semi-Final:

9:30 AM ET – U16s – TBD vs. TBD
11:30 AM ET – U16s – TBD vs. TBD
1:30 PM ET – U15s – TBD vs. TBD
3:30 PM ET – U15s – TBD vs. TBD

Friday, June 23 – Semi-Final:

9:30 AM ET – U19s – TBD vs. TBD
11:30 AM ET – U19s – TBD vs. TBD
1:30 PM ET – U17s – TBD vs. TBD
3:30 PM ET – U17s – TBD vs. TBD

Saturday, June 24 – Final:

6:00 PM ET – U16s – TBD vs. TBD – Toyota Stadium – Frisco, Texas
9:00 PM ET – U15s – TBD vs. TBD – Toyota Stadium – Frisco, Texas

Sunday, June 25 – Final:

6:00 PM ET – U19s – TBD vs. TBD – Toyota Stadium – Frisco, Texas
9:00 PM ET – U17s – TBD vs. TBD – Toyota Stadium – Frisco, Texas

Players to Watch in 2023

The 2023 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs & Showcase is set to feature some of the brightest young talents from across the United States and Canada.

Here are some of the elite players to watch during the tournament:

Aidan Sheppela (U19 Seacoast United)
Aidean Wilmott (U19 De Anza Force)
Cavan Sullivan (U15 Philadelphia Union) – playing up
Colton Swan (U16 Michigan Jaguars)
Daniel Lugo (U19 Tampa Bay United)
Diego Macias (U17 Real Colorado)
Dylan Thomas (U16 Barca Residency)
Ethan Kim (U15 BW Gottschee Academy)
Matthew Zachemski (U17 Sockers FC)
Maxim Scordo (U16 Strikers FC)
Moises Prado (U17 Total Futbol Academy)
Owanga Medard (U16 KSA)
Peyton Miller (U17 New England Revolution) – playing up
Rocket Ritarita (U16 Atlanta United)
Ruben Ramos Jr. (U17 LA Galaxy)
Santiago Ferreira (U19 FC Dallas)
Shola Jimoh (U15 Toronto FC)
Taha Habraoune (U17 Columbus Crew)
Viggo Ortiz (U15 Austin FC)
Zander Grant (U15 Southern Soccer Academy)

Overall, the 2023 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs & Showcase promises to be an exciting tournament, with plenty of young talents looking to make a name for themselves.

Good luck to the players and teams!