Major League Soccer (MLS), North America’s premier professional soccer league, has long been a cradle for nurturing young soccer talent. The MLS introduced MLS NEXT during its continuous pursuit of developing world-class players. MLS NEXT revolutionized the youth soccer landscape throughout the United States, giving youngsters a platform to shine and top-tier coaches who help develop soccer’s next big star.
What is MLS NEXT?
MLS NEXT is the successor to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, a system covering age groups from under-13 to under-19. The U.S. Soccer Development Academy was launched in 2007 and ran until April 2020, when it ended operations, citing financial difficulties, which the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated. The MLS launched MLS NEXT five months after the U.S. Soccer Development Academy disbanded, and today, it features over 580 teams across more than 130 clubs. Over 11,000 youth players enjoy player-centric development, high-quality competition, and a curriculum that aligns with global soccer standards.
The MLS NEXT Cup
The MLS Cup is Major League Soccer’s most prestigious trophy, so it makes sense MLS Next has a similar competition. The MLS NEXT Cup rounds off a ten-month season and week-long playoff system, with the last team standing becoming champions. The New York Red Bulls (U-15), Atlanta United (U-16), LA Galaxy (U-17), and New England Revolution (U-19), all teams featuring in the best MLS online sports betting sites, are this season’s champions.
The New York Red Bulls, Atlanta United, and LA Galaxy won MLS NEXT Cup titles for the first time in their history, while the New England Revolution came out on top in the under-19 age group for the second consecutive season.
Four American Soccer Stars From MLS Academies
Although most MLS NEXT graduates go on to appear on home soil in the MLS, some players have made their mark on the European and International stages. Take Tyler Adams as a shining example. Adams came through the New York Red Bulls academy before going on to make 81 appearances for the Red Bulls’ first team.
American coach Jesse Marsch signed Adams for German Bundesliga club RB Leipzig, where he played 103 games in all competitions. Adams then trasnfered the Leeds United, who were in the Premier League, for a reported £20 million fee. He is currently on loan at Premier League outfit AFC Bournemouth and is the captain of the USMNT.
Giovanni Reyna came through the New York City FC academy but never appeared in the MLS. Instead, Reyna, son of former soccer star Claudio Reyna, headed to Germany to play for Borussia Dortmund. The tricky attacking midfielder has played over 110 games for the German giants, scoring 17 goals and playing in the coveted UEFA Champions League.
The FC Dallas academy is credited with nurturing the midfield dynamo Weston McKennie. The talented box-to-box midfielder partly grew up in Germany as his father was in the United States Air Force, but he played for the FC Dallas academy from 2009 to 2016. FC Dallas did not have a reserve team then, so McKennie moved to Germany and signed for Shalke 04.
Having played over 90 games for Shalke, McKennie caught the eye of Italian giants Juventus. McKennie signed for Juventus after a successful loan spell, with Juventus paying up to €25 million for his services. Last season, McKennie joined Leeds United on loan with a view to a £30 million transfer, but Leeds United was relegated from the Premier League, and the deal fell through.
Last but certainly not least is Brendan Aaronson, whose career began with Philadelphia Union’s MLS NEXT team. Aaronson played for Bethlehem Steel after coming through Union’s academy before returning to Philadelphia in 2019. His performances for Philadelphia Union prompted Red Bull Salzburg to pay $6 million plus $3 million in incentives, a record for an American homegrown player from the MLS at the time.
Leeds United paid Salzburg £24.7 million for Aaronson in May 2022. However, he could not halt Leeds’ slide from English football’s top flight and joined Germany’s Union Berlin on a season-long loan. Aaronson’s younger brother, Paxten, is a product of the now-defunct U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
Emerging MLS NEXT Talents
MLS NEXT shows no signs of slowing down regarding producing prodigious talent, but two particular youngsters are destined to enjoy glistening careers. Cade Cowell came through the San Jose Earthquakes academy. Cowell has played more than 110 games for the Earthquakes, and has played eight times for the national team.
Ricardo Pepi no longer plays in the MLS, although he honed his skills with the FC Dallas academy. Pepi, a 6 ft 1 striker, scored 16 goals in 57 games for FC Dallas before moving to FC Augsburg in Germany, where he failed to score in 16 appearances. A loan spell with Groningen in the Netherlands in 2022-23 saw Pepi score 13 goals in 31 games, prompting PSV Eindhoven to pay $9.8 million for the 20-year-old. Pepi has five goals in 19 games and another ten in 22 appearances for the USMNT.
Conclusion
The MLS NEXT is a transformative and vital force in American soccer. It bridges the raw potential of youth to polished professional play. MLS NEXT has elevated the standards of youth soccer in the United States and assisted many young athletes to reach the global stage of “the beautiful game.”
The success stories of players like Tyler Adams, Giovanni Reyna, Weston McKennie, Brendan Aaronson, Cade Cowell, and Ricardo Pepi underscore the effectiveness of this program. Those six players serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for upcoming talents, proving the American soccer dream is not only alive but achieveable.
The future of American soccer is bright, and American soccer has MLS NEXT to thank for that statement.
