MLS NEXT Hosting 5 Invitational Talent ID Events Fall of 2023

Major League Soccer’s (MLS) youth development program, MLS NEXT, has recently announced that it will be hosting five Invitational Talent ID (Identification) Events for elite youth soccer players across the United States. These ID events will occur from August through November of 2023.

These events will provide an opportunity for young players to showcase their skills in front of scouts and coaches, with the potential to earn a spot in the league’s youth academies.

The Invitational Talent ID Events will take place in five different regions across the country, including:

Dates and cities for each event include:

• 8/25/2023: Detroit, Michigan
• 9/15/2023: New York, New York
• 10/7/2023: Fresno, California
• 10/27/2023: San Diego, California
• 11/17/2023: Austin, Texas

The MLS NEXT Academy is the league’s premier youth development program, designed to identify and develop the top young soccer talent in the United States.

“We are excited to provide this opportunity for young players to showcase their abilities and potentially earn a spot in our youth academies,” said Fred Lipka, Vice President and Technical Director of MLS Player Development. “Our Invitational Talent ID Events are a key component of our player identification process, and we look forward to seeing the top talent from across the country.”

The Invitational Talent ID Events are part of MLS NEXT’s broader effort to create a more structured and unified youth development system in the United States. The league’s youth academies provide a pathway for young players to progress from the youth level to the professional ranks, with the ultimate goal of developing more top-level talent for the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams.

Interested players can visit the MLS NEXT website for more information and to register for the events.