Tech

MLS Next Developmental League to Kick Off This Weekend

By Jen Booton 9.9.2020

Major League Soccer has unveiled MLS Next as the name of its new youth development league for elite players. Games will begin this weekend for the new league, which consists of 113 clubs, 489 teams across six age groups, and more than 9,000 players.

MLS announced that it was expanding its youth development program in April on the same day that U.S. Soccer shut down its youth academy due to financial losses tied to the coronavirus pandemic. MLS Next will feature year-round competitions for the under-13, -14, -15, -16, -17 and -19 age groups. While U.S. Soccer’s program consisted of both boys and girls teams, MLS Next is currently exclusive to boys.

MLS Next competitions are being organized in accordance with federal, state and local health and safety protocols. The league’s schedule is being released in four-week phases so that adjustments can be made if needed during the pandemic.

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