It’s Official: MLS NEXT Pro Player Pathway Changes

I talked about the rumors of MLS Next adding U-16 and U-18 teams in November of 2023. Now it is official!

As a parent of a MLS Next player, I received this email today from MLS.

Parents and players,

Major League Soccer and MLS NEXT have spent the past months evaluating ways to improve the player pathway with insight and input from our member clubs. This process gathered feedback from academy directors, coaches, former professionals, and many others. After thoughtful consideration, MLS approved the changes to adjust the Pro Player Pathway for MLS academies to compete at the U16 and U18 age group for the 2024-25 season. MLS U18 teams will compete in the U19 age group at MLS NEXT Flex and the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase.
 
We believe this change will improve player development – both within MLS academies and MLS NEXT Elite Academies. While this change is positive for player development, the overall competition structure will remain relatively the same. We are confident that with this change, MLS academies will add more teams to MLS NEXT in the 2024-25 season, increasing overall competition throughout the program and especially in the U19 age group at MLS NEXT Flex and the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase.

MLS NEXT will always strive to evolve to best support our clubs, families, and most importantly, our players. Further details about the changes will be communicated in the coming weeks while we continue to diligently prepare for the 2024-25 season.

Thank you for your continued support to our program and we hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Best,

MLS NEXT

Unfortunately, the biggest impact is MLS Academy players born in 2008. Most didn’t get a chance to play U-16 and won’t get to play U-17 because of the change.

Besides the 2008s, I think the change makes complete sense and will strengthen the end-of-season playoffs for the U-19 age groups.

The U-18 MLS Academies will compete with the U-19 Non-MLS Academies in the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase. This will even out the playing field. In the past, many pro levels would join the U-19 MLS Academies just for the tournament.

Also, at the U-19 level, kids who are going pro have already signed. Or, the players that move on to college already have.

So to wrap up, starting in the fall of 2024, MLS Academies will have teams in the U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16, and U-18 age groups.

Non-MLS teams will still have leagues for U-13 through U-19. Not much changes for these teams except that they will play MLS Academies if the updated age groups are part of their league.