MLS Next Pro

Last updated

MLS Next Pro
MLS Next Pro logo.svg
FoundedJune 21, 2021;2 years ago (2021-06-21)
First season2022
CountryUnited States
Other club(s) fromCanada
Confederation CONCACAF
Number of teams29
Level on pyramid 3
Domestic cup(s) U.S. Open Cup
Current champions Austin FC II
(2023)
Current regular
season title		 Colorado Rapids 2
(2023)
TV partners MLS Season Pass
YouTube
Website mlsnextpro.com
Current: 2024 MLS Next Pro season

MLS Next Pro (MLSNP) is a men's professional soccer league in the United States and Canada that is affiliated with Major League Soccer. It launched in 2022 with 21 teams and now comprises 27 reserve sides of MLS clubs and 2 independent clubs. MLS Next Pro is classified as part of the third tier of the United States soccer league system. [1]

Contents

History

On June 21, 2021, Major League Soccer announced the creation of a new professional league which would begin play in 2022. MLS has applied to the United States Soccer Federation for the league to be sanctioned as a Division III professional league, the same level currently occupied by USL League One and the National Independent Soccer Association and one level below the USL Championship. [2] MLS announced that Next Pro would start with at least 20 teams, many of them owned by Major League Soccer and development teams between their first-teams and their youth academies. [2] All MLS clubs with reserve teams in the USL Championship or USL League One initially planned to move those sides to MLS Next Pro by 2023. D.C. United's formerly owned-and-operated reserve team was sold to independent buyers. [2]

The inaugural match of MLS Next Pro was played on March 25, 2022, at Hermann Stadium in St. Louis. St. Louis City SC 2 defeated Rochester New York FC 2–0. Wan Kuzain scored the first ever goal in the 20th minute. [3] [4] [5]

The league makes use of unique rules such as all regular season draws being decided by penalty shootouts and the addition of concussion substitutions. On July 6, 2022, new rules for the league were introduced in the middle of the season. This included an off-field treatment rule meant to curb gamesmanship and timewasting and a new rule for red card suspensions: The suspension a player gets for getting a red card or two yellow cards in the same game will be served by the player when next playing against the same opponent. [6]

Competition format

The league runs from spring to fall with the first season kicking off in March. Each team plays 28 regular-season games, which will be followed by an 14-team playoff tournament. The league is divided into Eastern and Western Conferences. [7]

Unlike Major League Soccer, MLS Next Pro does not feature a salary cap, and player contracts are held by the teams and not by the league. Team rosters can have up to 24 professional players (not including amateur academy players) with a maximum of seven international players. [8] An MLS Next Pro club's active roster contains up to 35 players, all of whom are eligible for selection to each official match roster during the MLS Next Pro season. [9]

Teams

    Usa edcp location map.svg
    Blue pog.svg
    Red pog.svg
    Blue pog.svg
    Blue pog.svg
    Yellow pog.svg
    Blue pog.svg
    Blue pog.svg
    Blue pog.svg
    Yellow pog.svg
    Red pog.svg
    Blue pog.svg
    Red pog.svg
    Blue pog.svg
    Blue pog.svg
    Yellow pog.svg
    Red pog.svg
    Red pog.svg
    Blue pog.svg
    Blue pog.svg
    Blue pog.svg
    Red pog.svg
    Blue pog.svg
    Blue pog.svg
    Red pog.svg
    Red pog.svg
    Red pog.svg
    Red pog.svg
    Red pog.svg
    Red pog.svg
    Blue pog.svg
    Red pog.svg
    Red pog.svg
    class=notpageimage|
    Locations of announced teams in MLS Next Pro
    • Blue pog.svg Eastern Conference
    • Red pog.svg Western Conference
    • Yellow pog.svg future teams
    TeamLocationStadiumCapacityFoundedJoinedHead coachAffiliate
    Eastern Conference
    Northeast Division
    Chicago Fire FC II Bridgeview, Illinois SeatGeek Stadium 20,000 [10] 20212022Ludovic Taillandier Chicago Fire FC
    Columbus Crew 2 Columbus, Ohio Historic Crew Stadium 19,968 [11] 20212022 Kelvin Jones Columbus Crew
    FC Cincinnati 2 Highland Heights, Kentucky NKU Soccer Stadium 1,000 [12] 20212022 Tyrone Marshall FC Cincinnati
    New England Revolution II Foxborough, Massachusetts Gillette Stadium
    Mark A. Ouellette Stadium (Hooksett, NH)    		20,000 [13]
    1,500    		20192022 Richie Williams New England Revolution
    New York City FC II New York City, New York Belson Stadium 2,168 [14] 20212022 Matt Pilkington New York City FC
    New York Red Bulls II Montclair, New Jersey MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field 5,000 [15] 20152023 Ibrahim Sekagya New York Red Bulls
    Philadelphia Union II Chester, Pennsylvania Subaru Park 18,500 [16] 20152022 Marlon LeBlanc Philadelphia Union
    Toronto FC II Toronto, Ontario York Lions Stadium 4,000 [17] 20142022 Gianni Cimini Toronto FC
    Southeast Division
    Atlanta United 2 Kennesaw, Georgia Fifth Third Bank Stadium 8,31820172023 Steve Cooke Atlanta United FC
    Carolina Core FC High Point, North Carolina Truist Point 4,500 [18] 20222024 Roy Lassiter Independent
    Chattanooga FC Chattanooga, Tennessee Finley Stadium 20,41220092024 Rod Underwood Independent
    Crown Legacy FC Matthews, North Carolina Sportsplex at Matthews 5,000 [19] 20222023José Tavares Charlotte FC
    Huntsville City FC Huntsville, Alabama Joe W. Davis Stadium 6,000 [20] 20222023 Jack Collison Nashville SC
    Inter Miami CF II Fort Lauderdale, Florida Chase Stadium 18,000 [21] 20192022 Federico Higuaín Inter Miami CF
    Orlando City B Kissimmee, Florida Osceola County Stadium 5,300 [22] 20152022Manuel Goldberg Orlando City SC
    Western Conference
    Frontier Division
    Austin FC II Austin, Texas Parmer Field1,00020222023Brett Uttley Austin FC
    Colorado Rapids 2 Denver, Colorado Dick's Sporting Goods Park (Commerce City)
    Denver Soccer Stadium     		18,061
    2,000    		20212022Erik Bushey Colorado Rapids
    Houston Dynamo 2 Houston, Texas SaberCats Stadium 3,200 [23] 20212022 Kenny Bundy Houston Dynamo FC
    Sporting Kansas City II Lawrence, Kansas Rock Chalk Park
    Swope Soccer Village (Kansas City, MO)    		2,500 [24]
    1,500 [25]     		20152022 Benny Feilhaber Sporting Kansas City
    Minnesota United FC 2 Saint Paul, Minnesota Allianz Field
    National Sports Center (Blaine)    		19,400 [26]
    5,500 [27]     		20212022 Jeremy Hall Minnesota United FC
    North Texas SC Arlington, Texas Choctaw Stadium 48,114 [28] 20182022John Gall FC Dallas
    St. Louis City SC 2 St. Louis, Missouri CityPark 22,42320212022 Bobby Murphy St. Louis City SC
    Pacific Division
    Los Angeles FC 2 Fullerton, California Titan Stadium 10,000 [29] 20232023 Junior Gonzalez Los Angeles FC
    Portland Timbers 2 Portland, Oregon Providence Park [30] 25,218 [31] 20142022Shannon Murray Portland Timbers
    Real Monarchs Herriman, Utah Zions Bank Stadium 5,000 [32] 20142022 Mark Lowry Real Salt Lake
    The Town FC Moraga, California Saint Mary's Stadium5,500 [33] 20212022Dan DeGeer San Jose Earthquakes
    Tacoma Defiance Tukwila, Washington Starfire Sports Complex 4,500 [34] 20142022Hervé Diese Seattle Sounders FC
    Ventura County FC Thousand Oaks, California William Rolland Stadium2,000 [35] 20142023 Matt Taylor LA Galaxy
    Whitecaps FC 2 Burnaby, British Columbia Swangard Stadium 5,228 [36] 20212022 Ricardo Clark Vancouver Whitecaps FC

    Future teams

    Team [37] LocationStadiumCapacityFoundedJoiningAffiliate
    Connecticut United FC Bridgeport, Connecticut New Waterfront Stadium10,00020242025 [38] Independent
    Jacksonville Armada FC Jacksonville, Florida New Eastside Stadium2,50020132025
    Cleveland Pro Soccer Cleveland, Ohio TBD20222026 [39]

    Former teams

    ClubCityStadiumCapacityFoundedJoinedLast seasonAffiliate
    Rochester New York FC Brighton, New York John L. DiMarco Field 1,500 [40] 199620222022Independent

    Timeline

    MLS Next Pro

    League memberFormer memberFuture memberOther leagues

    Champions

    SeasonPlayoff championsRegular season champions
    2022 Columbus Crew 2 Columbus Crew 2
    2023 Austin FC II Colorado Rapids 2

    Finals

    YearWinnerScoreRunner-UpVenueMVPAttendanceRef.
    2022 Columbus Crew 2 4–1 St. Louis City SC 2 Lower.com Field Marco Micaletto (CC2)7,446 [41]
    2023 Austin FC II 3–1 Columbus Crew 2 Lower.com Field Valentin Noël (AU2)7,500 [42]

    See also

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Expansion of Major League Soccer</span>

    Major League Soccer has expanded several times since the league began play in 1996. Major League Soccer was established as the top level of professional soccer in the United States in 1993 with 10 teams and began play in 1996. It has expanded several times since 1998 into new markets across the United States and, since 2006, Canada.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Timbers</span> Soccer club in Portland, Oregon, United States

    The Portland Timbers are an American professional men's soccer club based in Portland, Oregon. The Timbers compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member club of the league's Western Conference. The Timbers have played their home games at Providence Park since 2011, when the team began play as an expansion team in the league.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">NWSL expansion</span> Expansion of the National Womens Soccer League

    The expansion of the National Women's Soccer League began with the league's sophomore season in 2014, when the league expanded to a ninth team in Houston, and is an ongoing process that currently has seen five expansions, three direct or indirect relocations, and one contraction. The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) was established as the top level of professional women's soccer in the United States in 2013 in the wake of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association and Women's Professional Soccer.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Timbers 2</span> Soccer team

    Portland Timbers 2 is an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon. The team, often referred to as "T2", serves as the reserve squad for the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer (MLS).

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">USL League One</span> American professional soccer league

    USL League One (USL1) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that had its inaugural season in 2019. The Division III league is operated by United Soccer League, the same group that operates the Division II USL Championship and other leagues. As of 2023, the league has 12 teams who play 32 regular season games, followed by playoffs.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">North Texas SC</span> Soccer club

    North Texas Soccer Club is a professional soccer club playing in the MLS Next Pro, a third division league of American soccer. The team is owned by, and operates as the reserve team of the Major League Soccer club FC Dallas. While the senior club is based, and plays, in Frisco, Texas, North Texas SC as of 2020 is based in Arlington, Texas, 38 miles / 70km south of Toyota Stadium Frisco, at Choctaw Stadium. The team was announced as a founder member of League One on November 2, 2018.

    Marco Micaletto is an Italian footballer who plays as a midfielder for USL Championship club New Mexico United.

    Jacen Rex Orlando Russell-Rowe is a Canadian soccer player who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew and the Canada national team.

    Michael Vang is a United States-born professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for USL Championship club Miami FC and the Laos national team.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbus Crew 2</span> American soccer club in Ohio

    Columbus Crew 2 is a professional soccer team based in Columbus, Ohio that competes in the MLS Next Pro league, the third division of American soccer. The team is owned by, and operates as the reserve team of the Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew. The team plays home matches at Historic Crew Stadium. The team was announced as a member of MLS Next Pro on December 6, 2021.

    The 2022 MLS Next Pro season was the inaugural season of MLS Next Pro, the reserve league of Major League Soccer. It is the first season since 2014 where MLS had a standalone reserve league, the previous season being the MLS Reserve League. Including both MLS Next Pro and the MLS Reserve League, it is the ninth season of a reserve league operated by MLS. The league is sanctioned as a third division league by U.S. Soccer.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 North Texas SC season</span> North Texas SC 2022 soccer season

    The 2022 North Texas SC season was the club's fourth season. The first three seasons North Texas SC competed in USL League One, including their championship year in the inaugural 2019 season. In December 2021, North Texas SC announced that they would compete in the inaugural MLS Next Pro season, a new division three league in American soccer.

    Pedro Dolabella is a Brazilian professional footballer who currently plays for Union Omaha in USL League One.

    Max Schneider is a German professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Indy Eleven in the USL Championship.

    Joshua Jordan Dolling is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Spokane Velocity in USL League One.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Schulte</span> American soccer player

    Patrick Timothy Schulte is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew.

    Giovanni Aguilar is an American soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Las Vegas Lights.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 North Texas SC season</span> North Texas SC 2023 soccer season

    The 2023 North Texas SC season was the club's fifth season. The first three seasons North Texas SC competed in USL League One, including their championship year in the inaugural 2019 season. In December 2021, North Texas SC announced that they would compete in the inaugural MLS Next Pro season, a new division three league in American soccer.

    The 2023 MLS Next Pro season was the second season of MLS Next Pro, the reserve league of Major League Soccer. It featured 27 clubs—an increase of seven from the inaugural 2022 season. Atlanta United 2, New York Red Bulls II and LA Galaxy II joined the league from the USL Championship. The expansion teams include Austin FC II, Crown Legacy FC, Huntsville City FC, and Los Angeles FC 2. Rochester New York FC withdrew. The regular season ran from March 24 to September 24.

    The 2023 Austin FC II season was the club's first season in MLS Next Pro, the third tier of soccer in the United States. They played in the league's Western Conference. The club finished the regular season 4th in the Western Conference and 8th overall in the regular season, qualifying for the MLSNP play-offs. In the four play-off games, Austin FC II only allowed one goal on their way to the MLS Next Pro Cup.

    References

    1. ↑ Straus, Brian (December 6, 2021). "MLS Next Pro Adds Another Element to U.S. Soccer's Ever-Evolving Lower Club Tier". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved December 6, 2021.
    2. 1 2 3 Bonagura, Kyle (June 21, 2021). "Major League Soccer to launch development league in 2022". ESPN . Retrieved June 21, 2021.
    3. ↑ Schneider, Jacob (March 24, 2022). "St Louis CITY2 hosts RNY FC in Inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Match". mlsnextpro.com. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
    4. ↑ "Match Report: stlvsroc 03-25-2022". mlsnextpro.com. March 25, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
    5. ↑ Schneider, Jacob (March 25, 2022). "Historic Day in St. Louis as CITY2 beats RNY FC to begin the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro campaign". mlsnextpro.com. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
    6. ↑ "MLS NEXT PRO IMPLEMENTING TWO NEW COMPETITION RULES FOR SECOND HALF OF INAUGURAL SEASON". MLS Next Pro. July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
    7. ↑ "MLS NEXT Pro unveils 21 clubs for inaugural season starting March 2022". mlssoccer. December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
    8. ↑ Rueter, Jeff (January 14, 2022). "MLS Next Pro to have no salary cap, other key differences from MLS structure, sources say". The Athletic. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
    9. ↑ "2022 MLS NEXT PRO Roster Guidelines". MLS Next Pro. January 31, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
    10. ↑ "Fun Within Reach". Toyota Park. Archived from the original on December 30, 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
    11. ↑ "Historic Crew Stadium". www.ColumbusSports.org. Greater Columbus Sports Commission. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
    12. ↑ "NKU Soccer Stadium". Northern Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
    13. ↑ "Gillette Stadium Overview". revolutionsoccer.net. March 8, 2012. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
    14. ↑ "BELSON STADIUM". www.RedStormSports.com. St. John's University. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
    15. ↑ "MSU Soccer Park". www.MontclairAthletics.com. Montclar State University. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
    16. ↑ "About Talen Energy Stadium". philadelphiaunion.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
    17. ↑ "York Lions Stadium Conversion". www.YorkU.CA. York University. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
    18. ↑ "Ball Park A-Z". High Point Rockers. 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
    19. ↑ "Mecklenburg County Sportsplex at Matthews". www.MatthewsNC.gov. Town of Matthews, NC. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
    20. ↑ Brazelton, Dave (May 19, 2023). "Huntsville businesses benefit from new Joe Davis Stadium". WAAY 31 ABC. Huntsville, AL. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
    21. ↑ "Inter Miami increases DRV PNK Stadium capacity for Lionel Messi's debut". as.com. MLS Digital. Archived from the original on July 13, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
    22. ↑ "Osceola County Stadium". www.OHPark.com. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
    23. ↑ "Sabercats Stadium". www.HoustonSabercats.com. Houston Sabercats. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
    24. ↑ "Rock Chalk Park". www.TravelKS.com. Kansas Tourism. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
    25. ↑ "Swope Soccer Village". KCParks.org. Kansas City Parks & Recreation. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
    26. ↑ "Stadium Facts". www.MNUFC.com. Minnesota United. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
    27. ↑ "NSC Stadium".
    28. ↑ Sullivan, T. R. (October 30, 2012). "Rangers Resume Fan-Focused Park Renovations". Major League Baseball Advanced Media. Archived from the original on May 10, 2013. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
    29. ↑ "Titan Stadium" . Retrieved October 8, 2018.
    30. ↑ Timbers2, Portland. "Portland Timbers2". Portland Timbers2. Retrieved August 30, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
    31. ↑ "Providence Park Stadium". www.Portland.gov. City of Portland. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
    32. ↑ Meyer, Taran (April 25, 2018). "Zions Bank Stadium Provides Unique Soccer Experience". www.RSL.com. Real Salt Lake. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
    33. ↑ "Facilities". Saint Mary's Athletics. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
    34. ↑ "Outdoor Fields". www.StarFireSports.com. Star Fire Sports. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
    35. ↑ "William Rolland Stadium" . Retrieved March 16, 2024.
    36. ↑ "Swangard Stadium – Home of your Whitecaps". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Archived from the original on April 11, 2009. Retrieved October 16, 2009.
    37. ↑ "Seven MLS Affiliated Clubs To Join MLS Next Pro In 2023". mlsnextpro. August 4, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
    38. ↑ "CONNECTICUT AWARDED MLS NEXT PRO EXPANSION TEAM". CTUnited.com. Connecticut United. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
    39. ↑ "Cleveland's MLS NEXT Pro Team". Cleveland Pro Soccer. 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
    40. ↑ Reuter, Jeff (March 10, 2023). "Jamie Vardy's U.S. club Rochester New York FC ceases operations". The Athletic . San Francisco, California. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
    41. ↑ Tellitud, Jesus (October 8, 2022). "Columbus Crew 2 hoist MLS NEXT Pro Cup with 4-1 win over St Louis CITY2". MLS Next Pro. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
    42. ↑ "Austin FC II Defeats Defending Champion Columbus Crew 2 To Win 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Cup". MLS Next Pro. October 22, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.