Get To Know MLS NEXT

MLS NEXT is the top-level boys youth league in the United States and Canada. It serves as a full pathway to Major League Soccer. The league includes ranges from U-13 to U-19, and features teams from MLS academies as well as other elite youth clubs across the country.

Quick Facts

  • Started in 2020
  • U-13 through U-19
  • 16,000 players
  • 753 Teams
  • 151 Clubs
  • 29 MLS Academies

View all MLS NEXT articles ->

2024/2025 Player Rules & Regulations

  • U-13: (2) 35 minute halves, 10 minute HT
  • U-14 & U-15: (2) 40 minute halves, 15 minute HT
  • U-16, U-17, U-19: (2) 45 minute halves, 15 minute HT
  • U-13, U-14: Unlimited over 3 moments per half, plus HT. No re-entry per half.
  • U-15 and up: Unlimited over 3 moments per match, plus HT. No re-entry.

Exceptions are concussions.

Red Card accumulation will follow a player and staff member across all age groups.

Red Card accumulation for staff:

  • 1st offense = 2 match suspension
  • 2nd offense = subject to additional discipline
  • 3rd offense = Subject to additional discipline and potential long-term suspension

Yellow Card accumulation will follow a player and staff member across all age groups.

2 red cards equals a red card. Only the first yellow card counts towards the yellow card accumulation.

  • 5 Yellow Cards (YC) = 1 match suspension
  • 10 YC = 2 additional match suspensions
  • 15 YC = 3 additional match suspensions

U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16, U-17 & U-19

U-15, U-16, U-17 & U-19

Primary Players are not permitted to play for the middle or high school.

Future Players are but with restrictions.

Top players at each club are expected to be registered with MLS NEXT. They cannot play with another team outside of MLS NEXT.

Future playres are able to participate in outside competition within their MLS NEXT club. They are also able to play middle school or high school soccer.

Future Players can play up to 12 MLS NEXT matches during the Regular Season and are eligible for all MLS NEXT events.

Three Late Developers are allowed per age group. They can only be Primary Players.

They must comply and receive approval from MLS NEXT.

The roster minimum for an MLS NEXT team is 14 Primary Players.

Maximum of 24 players average per MLS NEXT team within a club. For example, a U-13 team can have 28 players and a U-17 team can have 20 players.

A max of 18 players can be rostered on gameday.

A max of three players can be overage on a U-19 roster.

Players are permitted to play in an older age group as long as they meet the competition standards and only play 90 minutes per day (max of two games).

‘Primary Adds’ are Primary Players who’ve been added after the close of the initial registration period. Clubs get six Primary Adds per team.

MLS NEXT players cannot change between clubs more than once.

Helpful Links

Key Events for the 2024/2025 Season

  • September 7, 2024: Start of Regular Season
  • December 6-11, 2024: MLS NEXT Fest (Indio, CA)
  • April 12-20, 2025: Generation adidas Cup (Bradenton, FL)
  • May 9-13, 2025: MLS NEXT Flex (Boyds, MD)
  • June 14-22, 2025: MLS NEXT Cup
  • TBD: MLS NEXT All-Star Game

READ MORE ‘MLS NEXT Events 2024-2025 Season‘