| Season | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dates | February 27 – September 20 (regular season) October 11 – November 8 (playoffs) |
| Regular season title | Austin FC II (1st title) |
| Matches | 420 |
| Goals | 1,400 (3.33 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | (20 goals) |
| Biggest home win | 5 goal difference (11 games) [a] |
| Biggest away win | Sporting KC II 0–5 Real Monarchs (March 8) NYCFC II 0–5 Toronto FC II (March 19) |
| Highest scoring | Crown Legacy FC 7–2 Huntsville City FC (March 6) Chicago Fire FC II 7–2 FC Cincinnati 2 (August 2) CT United FC 7–2 Inter Miami CF II (September 20) |
| Longest winning run | 10 games Austin FC II (May 2 – July 5) (league record) |
| Longest unbeaten run | 16 games Austin FC II (March 8 – July 5) |
| Longest winless run | 17 games Inter Miami CF II |
| Longest losing run | 6 games Whitecaps FC 2 |
| Highest attendance | 6,107 Chattanooga FC 1–0 Inter Miami CF II (July 4) |
← 2025 2027 → All statistics correct as of September 20, 2026. | |
The 2026 MLS Next Pro season is the fifth season of MLS Next Pro, the second-tier league of Major League Soccer. The regular season began on February 27 and ended on September 20, with playoffs following from October 11 to November 8.
| Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin FC II | | Contract expired | November 21, 2025 | 9th in West | | November 21, 2025 [22] |
| Atlanta United 2 | | Left to join Lexington SC | July 23, 2025 [23] | 10th in East | | December 15, 2025 [24] |
| New England Revolution II | | Contract expired | November 5, 2025 [25] | 3rd in East | | December 3, 2025 [26] |
| FC Cincinnati 2 | | Not retained | December 8, 2025 [27] | 7th in East | | January 8, 2026 [28] |
| Minnesota United FC 2 | | Left to join the United States U18 | January 7, 2026 [29] | 11th in West | | January 15, 2026 [30] |
| New York Red Bulls II | | Promoted to first team | December 15, 2025 [31] | 1st in East | | January 21, 2026 [32] |
| Crown Legacy FC | | Promoted to first team | January 21, 2026 [33] | 13th in East | | January 21, 2026 [34] |
| Portland Timbers 2 | | Option Declined | October 13, 2025 [35] | 10th in West | | January 28, 2026 [36] |
| Chattanooga FC | | Mutual parting | February 2, 2026 | 4th in East | | February 2, 2026 [37] |
| Sporting Kansas City II | | Relieved of duties | August 12, 2025 [38] | 14th in West | | February 3, 2026 [39] |
| Tacoma Defiance | | Relieved of duties | July 23, 2025 [40] | 12th in West | | February 3, 2026 [41] |
| Los Angeles FC 2 | | Not retained | December 23, 2025 [42] | 13th in West | | February 11, 2026 [43] |
| Whitecaps FC 2 | | Left to join Seattle Sounders FC | January 12, 2026 [44] | 7th in West | | February 25, 2026 [45] |
| Orlando City B | | Promoted to first team assistant | March 11, 2026 | 11th in East | | March 11, 2026 [46] |
| Carolina Core FC | | Reorganization | May 26, 2026 | 14th in East | | May 26, 2026 [47] |
| Columbus Crew 2 | | Fired for physical abuse and sexism to a female referee. | September 22, 2026 [48] | 4th in East | | September 23, 2026 [49] |
Each team plays 28 matches during the regular season in a mostly regionalized schedule. Each conference is divided into divisions of seven or eight teams for scheduling. [50] The top nine teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs, up from eight teams as was the case in previous seasons. [51] [52]
| Pos | Div | Team | Pld | W | SOW | SOL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SE | Crown Legacy FC | 28 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 67 | 39 | +28 | 58 | Round one |
| 2 | SE | Chattanooga FC | 28 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 56 | 39 | +17 | 56 | |
| 3 | SE | Atlanta United 2 | 28 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 62 | 46 | +16 | 48 | |
| 4 | NE | Columbus Crew 2 | 28 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 49 | 43 | +6 | 48 | |
| 5 | NE | New England Revolution II | 28 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 47 | 42 | +5 | 48 | |
| 6 | NE | New York City FC II | 28 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 50 | 44 | +6 | 47 | |
| 7 | NE | CT United FC | 28 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 59 | 52 | +7 | 46 | |
| 8 | NE | New York Red Bulls II | 28 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 58 | 48 | +10 | 46 | Wild card round |
| 9 | SE | Huntsville City FC | 28 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 49 | 47 | +2 | 44 | |
| 10 | SE | Orlando City B | 28 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 55 | 56 | −1 | 44 | |
| 11 | NE | Philadelphia Union II | 28 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 37 | 40 | −3 | 43 | |
| 12 | NE | Toronto FC II | 28 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 48 | 56 | −8 | 39 | |
| 13 | SE | Chicago Fire FC II | 28 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 50 | 48 | +2 | 39 | |
| 14 | SE | Carolina Core FC | 28 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 40 | 53 | −13 | 31 | |
| 15 | NE | FC Cincinnati 2 | 28 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 32 | 62 | −30 | 20 | |
| 16 | SE | Inter Miami CF II | 28 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 20 | 30 | 74 | −44 | 15 |
| Pos | Div | Team | Pld | W | SOW | SOL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FR | Austin FC II | 28 | 19 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 54 | 21 | +33 | 65 | Round one |
| 2 | PC | Portland Timbers 2 | 28 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 37 | 29 | +8 | 57 | |
| 3 | PC | Ventura County FC | 28 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 58 | 36 | +22 | 53 | |
| 4 | FR | Houston Dynamo 2 | 28 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 52 | 32 | +20 | 52 | |
| 5 | FR | Minnesota United FC 2 | 28 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 43 | 39 | +4 | 45 | |
| 6 | PC | Los Angeles FC 2 | 28 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 50 | 48 | +2 | 45 | |
| 7 | FR | St. Louis City 2 | 28 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 42 | 40 | +2 | 44 | |
| 8 | PC | San Jose Earthquakes II | 28 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 51 | 36 | +15 | 42 | Wild card round |
| 9 | PC | Tacoma Defiance | 28 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 40 | 44 | −4 | 41 | |
| 10 | FR | North Texas SC | 28 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 41 | 41 | 0 | 40 | |
| 11 | PC | Real Monarchs | 28 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 38 | 55 | −17 | 33 | |
| 12 | PC | Whitecaps FC 2 | 28 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 39 | 62 | −23 | 27 | |
| 13 | FR | Sporting Kansas City II | 28 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 36 | 75 | −39 | 23 | |
| 14 | FR | Colorado Rapids 2 | 28 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 17 | 28 | 51 | −23 | 21 |
| Pos | Div | Team | Pld | W | SOW | SOL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FR | Austin FC II (C) | 28 | 19 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 54 | 21 | +33 | 65 | Regular season champion |
| 2 | SE | Crown Legacy FC | 28 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 67 | 39 | +28 | 58 | |
| 3 | PC | Portland Timbers 2 | 28 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 37 | 29 | +8 | 57 | |
| 4 | SE | Chattanooga FC | 28 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 56 | 39 | +17 | 56 | |
| 5 | PC | Ventura County FC | 28 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 58 | 36 | +22 | 53 | |
| 6 | FR | Houston Dynamo 2 | 28 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 53 | 33 | +20 | 52 | |
| 7 | SE | Atlanta United 2 | 28 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 62 | 46 | +16 | 48 | |
| 8 | NE | Columbus Crew 2 | 28 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 49 | 43 | +6 | 48 | |
| 9 | NE | New England Revolution II | 28 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 47 | 42 | +5 | 48 | |
| 10 | NE | New York City FC II | 28 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 50 | 44 | +6 | 47 | |
| 11 | NE | CT United FC | 28 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 59 | 52 | +7 | 46 | |
| 12 | NE | New York Red Bulls II | 28 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 58 | 48 | +10 | 46 | |
| 13 | FR | Minnesota United FC 2 | 28 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 43 | 39 | +4 | 45 | |
| 14 | PC | Los Angeles FC 2 | 28 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 50 | 48 | +2 | 45 | |
| 15 | SE | Huntsville City FC | 28 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 49 | 47 | +2 | 44 | |
| 16 | SE | Orlando City B | 28 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 55 | 56 | −1 | 44 | |
| 17 | FR | St. Louis City 2 | 28 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 42 | 40 | +2 | 44 | |
| 18 | NE | Philadelphia Union II | 28 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 37 | 40 | −3 | 43 | |
| 19 | PC | San Jose Earthquakes II | 28 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 51 | 36 | +15 | 42 | |
| 20 | PC | Tacoma Defiance | 28 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 40 | 44 | −4 | 41 | |
| 21 | FR | North Texas SC | 28 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 42 | 41 | +1 | 40 | |
| 22 | NE | Toronto FC II | 28 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 48 | 56 | −8 | 39 | |
| 23 | SE | Chicago Fire FC II | 28 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 50 | 48 | +2 | 39 | |
| 24 | PC | Real Monarchs | 28 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 38 | 55 | −17 | 33 | |
| 25 | SE | Carolina Core FC | 28 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 40 | 53 | −13 | 31 | |
| 26 | PC | Whitecaps FC 2 | 28 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 39 | 62 | −23 | 27 | |
| 27 | FR | Sporting Kansas City II | 28 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 36 | 75 | −39 | 23 | |
| 28 | FR | Colorado Rapids 2 | 28 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 17 | 28 | 52 | −24 | 21 | |
| 29 | NE | FC Cincinnati 2 | 28 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 32 | 62 | −30 | 20 | |
| 30 | SE | Inter Miami CF II | 28 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 20 | 30 | 74 | −44 | 15 |
| Player | Team | Against | Score | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Minnesota United FC 2 | Austin FC II | 2–4 (A) [54] | March 1 |
| | North Texas SC | Colorado Rapids 2 | 3–1 (H) [55] | March 7 |
| | Atlanta United 2 | Huntsville City FC | 2–6 (A) [56] | May 16 |
| | North Texas SC | Sporting KC II | 5–1 (H) [57] | May 16 |
| | Minnesota United FC 2 | St. Louis City 2 | 5–2 (H) [58] | June 20 |
| | Red Bull New York II | Philadelphia Union II | 5–0 (H) [59] | June 28 |
| | Philadelphia Union II | New England Revolution II | 0–4 (A) [60] | July 5 |
| | Carolina Core FC | Atlanta United 2 | 3–3 (A) [61] | July 31 |
| | Chicago Fire FC II | FC Cincinnati 2 | 7–2 (H) [62] | August 2 |
| | Chattanooga FC | Carolina Core FC | 5–2 (H) [63] | August 29 |
| | Minnesota United FC 2 | Whitecaps FC 2 | 5–1 (H) [64] | September 12 |
| | CT United FC | Inter Miami CF II | 7–2 (H) [65] | September 20 |
| | CT United FC | Inter Miami CF II | 7–2 (H) [66] | September 20 |
(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team
The playoffs feature 17 single elimination matches over four consecutive weekends, beginning October 11 and culminating with the MLS Next Pro Cup on the weekend of November 6–8. [52]
The top nine teams in each conference qualified for the playoffs. New in 2026, the play-in round sees teams ranked 8th and 9th contest each other to advance as the eighth seed. Matchups during the next two rounds were determined through the pick-your-opponent format within each conference. Firstly, teams ranked first, second, and third, in order of ranking, picked their opponent who must have been ranked fifth through eighth. In the next round, the highest ranked team remaining picks an opponent from the two lowest ranked teams remaining. [52] [69] [70]
| Eastern Play-in Round (October 11) | ||||
| E8 | New York Red Bulls II | 3 | ||
| E9 | Huntsville City FC | 1 | ||
| Western Play-in Round (October 11) | ||||
| W8 | San Jose Earthquakes II | 4 (3) | ||
| W9 | Tacoma Defiance | 4 (1) | ||
| Conference Quarterfinals (October 16–18) | Conference Semifinals (October 25) | Conference Finals (October 30 – November 1) | MLS Next Pro Final (November 6–8) | ||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Crown Legacy FC | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| E8 | New York Red Bulls II | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Crown Legacy FC | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E4 | Columbus Crew 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| E4 | Columbus Crew 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| E5 | New England Revolution II | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E4 | Columbus Crew 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Chattanooga FC | ||||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Chattanooga FC | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| E6 | New York City FC II | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Chattanooga FC | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| E7 | CT United FC | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E3 | Atlanta United 2 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| E7 | CT United FC | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W6 | Los Angeles FC 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Austin FC II | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| W8 | San Jose Earthquakes II | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Austin FC II | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| W6 | Los Angeles FC 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W4 | Houston Dynamo 2 | 2 (3) | |||||||||||||||||
| W6 | Los Angeles FC 2 | 2 (4) | |||||||||||||||||
| W6 | Los Angeles FC 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Western Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| W3 | Ventura County FC | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| W2 | Portland Timbers 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| W7 | St. Louis City SC 2 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| W2 | Portland Timbers 2 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| W3 | Ventura County FC | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W3 | Ventura County FC (a.e.t.) | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| W5 | Minnesota United FC 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| New York Red Bulls II | 3–1 | Huntsville City FC |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| San Jose Earthquakes II | 4–4 (a.e.t.) | Tacoma Defiance |
|---|---|---|
| Report | ||
| Penalties | ||
| 3–1 | ||
| Atlanta United 2 | 0–1 | CT United FC |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Portland Timbers 2 | 2–0 | St. Louis City 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Ventura County FC | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | Minnesota United FC 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Columbus Crew 2 | 2–1 | New England Revolution II |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Crown Legacy FC | 2–1 | New York Red Bulls II |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Houston Dynamo 2 | 2–2 (a.e.t.) | Los Angeles FC 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Report | |
| Penalties | ||
| 3–4 | ||
| Austin FC II | 2–1 | San Jose Earthquakes II |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Chattanooga FC | 3–1 | CT United FC |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Crown Legacy FC | 1–2 | Columbus Crew 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Austin FC II | 0–1 | Los Angeles FC 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Portland Timbers 2 | 0–1 | Ventura County FC |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Ventura County FC | 0–1 | Los Angeles FC 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Chattanooga FC | 3–2 | Columbus Crew 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Award | Winner | Team | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Boot | | Atlanta United 2 | [71] |
| Playmaker of the Year | | Atlanta United 2 | |
| Defender of the Year | | Austin FC II | [72] |
| Goalkeeper of the Year | | Portland Timbers 2 | |
| Pathway Player of the Year | | Orlando City B | [73] |
| Goal of the Year | | Los Angeles FC 2 | [74] |
| Save of the Year | | St. Louis City 2 | [75] |
| Coach of the Year | | Austin FC II | [76] |
| Most Valuable Player | |||
| Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | [72] |
| Referee | Assistant Referee | Fourth Official | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Sobolevsky | Tyler Bost | Victor Borges | [72] |