MLS NEXT Cup: Qualified Playoff Teams Ready for Nashville
The biggest youth soccer tournament of the year is coming to Tennessee, and 128 teams have earned their golden tickets to compete.
TL;DR:
What Makes This Tournament Special
MLS NEXT Cup is a chance for qualified teams to hold up the trophy in their respective age groups. Not qualified? Teams will play three games in front of many pro and college coaches and scouts.
Like the 2024 showcase, this year’s tournament will take place again at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex near Nashville. The dates are June 14-22, 2025. Players and families will travel from all over America to be part of this massive event.
How the Tournament Works
The tournament has two main parts. Some age groups play in playoffs to crown national champions. Others compete in showcase games where college scouts watch closely.
Playoff age groups fight for trophies: U15, U16, U17, and U19. Showcase age groups play to impress scouts: U13, U14, U15, U16, and U17/U18.
Games start as early as 8:00 AM and can run until late afternoon. The youngest players (U13 and U14) play from June 19-22. The older playoff teams start earlier on June 14-15.
Meet the Qualified MLS NEXT Cup Teams
Here are all the teams that earned their spots:
U15 Playoff Teams
The U15 division brings together 32 teams ready to fight for the title:
- Barca Residency vs Sporting Athletic
- Strikers FC vs Houston Dynamo
- LA Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids
- BW Gottschee vs Sacramento Republic
- St. Louis City SC vs Real Colorado
- Minnesota United vs SJ Earthquakes
- FC Cincinnati vs Nashville SC
- Columbus Crew vs Breakers FC
- Michigan Wolves vs Queen City Mutiny
- New York Red Bulls vs Orlando City
- Phila Union vs Atlanta UTD
- DC United vs Weston FC
- FC Delco vs Sporting KC
- LAFC vs Charlotte FC
- TFA vs FC Dallas
- IFA vs Austin FC
Our Pick to Win: Strikers FC – They’ve shown great teamwork all season. They’ve beat some of the best of the best over the season.
U16 Playoff Teams
The U16 bracket features 32 teams with serious talent:
- Barca Residency vs Vancouver Whitecaps
- Strikers FC vs Real Salt Lake
- NEFC vs LAFC
- BW Gottschee vs LA Galaxy
- Shattuck vs Wake FC
- Sockers FC vs Athletum FC
- Indy Eleven vs Orlando City Youth
- FC Cincinnati vs Sacramento Republic
- Chicago Fire vs Global Football Academy
- Columbus Crew vs Real Futbol Academy
- New York Red Bulls vs FC Delco
- Philadelphia Union vs Bethesda
- CF Montreal vs FC Dallas
- DC United vs Austin FC
- Atlanta United vs Charlotte FC
- Orlando City vs Inter Miami
Our Pick to Win: Vancouver Whitecaps – With a record of 15-0-1, Whitecaps will be hard to beat. I think they’ll cap off their season with a trophy.
U17 Playoff Teams
The U17 division showcases 32 teams of older, stronger players:
- Barca Residency vs PDA
- Albion SD vs Baltimore Armour
- Strikers FC vs CSA Monmouth
- CSA Bergen vs Bethesda
- Met Oval vs Real Colorado
- IFA vs FC Dallas
- Boston Bolts vs Global Football Academy
- NEFC vs Sacramento Republic
- Bayside vs Silicon Valley SA
- St. Louis Scott Gallagher vs De Anza Force
- Sockers FC vs Weston FC
- Chicago United vs Inter Miami
- SC Wave vs Orlando City Youth
- Michigan Wolves vs Tampa Bay United
- Michigan Jaguars vs Queen City Mutiny
- FC Delco vs Triangle United
Our Pick to Win: FC Delco – They know how to win the big games. This has been another great season by another FC Delco team.
U19 Playoff Teams
The oldest group has 32 teams of nearly adult players:
- Barca Residency vs FC Dallas
- Chula Vista vs Houston Dynamo
- Strikers FC vs PDA
- CSA Bergen vs Real Colorado
- FC Westchester vs Global Football Academy
- Boston Bolts vs Sacramento Republic
- Sockers FC vs Orlando City Youth
- Michigan Wolves vs Weston FC
- Indy Eleven vs Queen City Mutiny
- Michigan Jaguars vs LA Galaxy
- Chicago Fire vs Real Salt Lake
- Toronto FC vs LAFC
- Phila Union vs Colorado Rapids
- New York Red Bulls vs SJ Earthquakes
- Orlando City vs Portland Timbers
- Austin FC vs Seattle Sounders
Our Pick to Win: Orlando City – They won the 2025 GA Cup. Their roster is packed with talent. Their experience gives them the edge.
Why This Tournament Matters
For young soccer players, making it to MLS NEXT Cup is huge. College coaches come to watch. Some players even get noticed by professional teams.
The tournament also brings together the best youth programs in America. Teams learn from each other and form friendships that last for years.
Three Key Insights:
- Geographic Spread Shows Soccer’s Growth – Teams come from all regions, proving soccer is growing everywhere in America, not just traditional hotspots.
- MLS Academies Dominate – Most qualified teams connect to MLS clubs, showing how professional investment in youth development pays off.
- The Path to Pro Starts Here – Many current MLS players competed in this tournament as teenagers, making it a true pipeline to professional soccer.
We’ll See You There
This event will bring in the best of the best. I’ve seen the league develop into a true elite platform, and this event is the culmination of the hard work players have put in.
If you can’t be there, go follow our Instagram to see some of the footage.
If you are in Nashville for the MLS Next Cup, I’d love to meet up and say “hi”.
Written By: Beau Bridges
Beau is the founder of SoccerNovo, dedicated to helping players and parents navigate the youth soccer landscape. As a former youth coach and soccer parent, he shares insights on player development, recruiting, and the ever-evolving soccer scene in the U.S.
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