MLS Next Pro explained

Current Season:2024 MLS Next Pro season
MLS Next Pro
Country:United States
Other Countries:Canada
Confed:CONCACAF
First:2022
Teams:29
Champions:Austin FC II
Season:2023
Shieldtitle:regular
season title
Shield:Colorado Rapids 2
Shieldseason:2023
Tv:MLS Season Pass
YouTube

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]

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 season kicking off in March. Each team plays 28 regular-season games, 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, not 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

TeamLocationStadiumCapacityFoundedJoinedHead coachAffiliate
Northeast Division
Chicago Fire FC IIBridgeview, IllinoisSeatGeek Stadium20,000[10] 20212022Ludovic TaillandierChicago Fire FC
Columbus Crew 2Columbus, OhioHistoric Crew Stadium19,968[11] 20212022Kelvin JonesColumbus Crew
FC Cincinnati 2Highland Heights, KentuckyNKU Soccer Stadium1,000[12] 20212022Tyrone MarshallFC Cincinnati
New England Revolution IIFoxborough, MassachusettsGillette Stadium
Mark A. Ouellette Stadium (Hooksett, NH)		20,000[13]
1,500		20192022Richie WilliamsNew England Revolution
New York City FC IINew York City, New YorkBelson Stadium2,168[14] 20212022Matt PilkingtonNew York City FC
New York Red Bulls IIMontclair, New JerseyMSU Soccer Park at Pittser Fieldalign=center 5,000[15] align=center 2015align=center 2023Ibrahim SekagyaNew York Red Bulls
Philadelphia Union IIChester, PennsylvaniaSubaru Park18,500[16] 20152022Marlon LeBlancPhiladelphia Union
Toronto FC IIToronto, OntarioYork Lions Stadium4,000[17] 20142022Toronto FC
Southeast Division
Atlanta United 2Kennesaw, GeorgiaFifth Third Bank Stadiumalign=center 8,318align=center 2017align=center 2023Steve CookeAtlanta United FC
Carolina Core FCHigh Point, North CarolinaTruist Pointalign=center 4,500[18] align=center 2022align=center 2024Roy LassiterIndependent
Chattanooga FCChattanooga, TennesseeFinley Stadiumalign=center 20,412align=center 2009align=center 2024Rod UnderwoodIndependent
Crown Legacy FCMatthews, North CarolinaSportsplex at Matthewsalign=center 5,000[19] align=center 2022align=center 2023José TavaresCharlotte FC
Huntsville City FCHuntsville, AlabamaJoe W. Davis Stadiumalign=center 6,000[20] align=center 2022align=center 2023Chris O'NealNashville SC
Inter Miami CF IIFort Lauderdale, FloridaChase Stadium18,000[21] 20192022Federico HiguaínInter Miami CF
Orlando City BKissimmee, FloridaOsceola County Stadium5,300[22] 20152022Manuel Goldberg Orlando City SC
Frontier Division
Austin FC IIAustin, TexasParmer Field align=center 1,000align=center 2022align=center 2023Brett UttleyAustin FC
Colorado Rapids 2Denver, ColoradoDick's Sporting Goods Park
Denver Soccer Stadium		18,061
2,000		20212022Erik BusheyColorado Rapids
Houston Dynamo 2Houston, TexasSaberCats Stadium3,200[23] 20212022Kenny BundyHouston Dynamo FC
Sporting Kansas City IILawrence, Kansas2,500[24]
1,500[25] 		20152022Benny FeilhaberSporting Kansas City
Minnesota United FC 2Saint Paul, Minnesota19,400[26]
5,500[27] 		20212022Minnesota United FC
North Texas SCArlington, TexasChoctaw Stadium48,114[28] 20182022MichelFC Dallas
St. Louis City SC 2 St. Louis, MissouriCityPark22,42320212022Bobby MurphySt. Louis City SC
Pacific Division
Los Angeles FC 2Fullerton, CaliforniaTitan Stadiumalign=center 10,000[29] align=center 2023align=center 2023Junior GonzalezLos Angeles FC
Portland Timbers 2Portland, OregonProvidence Park[30] 25,218[31] 20142022Serge DinkotaPortland Timbers
Real MonarchsHerriman, UtahZions Bank Stadium5,000[32] 20142022Mark LowryReal Salt Lake
The Town FCMoraga, CaliforniaSaint Mary's Stadium5,500[33] 20212022Dan DeGeer San Jose Earthquakes
Tacoma DefianceTukwila, Washington4,500[34] 20142022Hervé DieseSeattle Sounders FC
Ventura County FCThousand Oaks, CaliforniaWilliam Rolland Stadiumalign=center 2,000[35] align=center 2014align=center 2023Matt TaylorLA Galaxy
Whitecaps FC 2Burnaby, British ColumbiaSwangard Stadium5,228[36] 20212022Ricardo ClarkVancouver Whitecaps FC

Future teams

!Team[37] !Location!Stadium!Capacity!Founded!Joining!Affiliate
Connecticut United FCBridgeport, ConnecticutNew Waterfront Stadium10,00020242025[38] Independent
Jacksonville Armada FCJacksonville, FloridaNew Eastside Stadium2,50020132025
Cleveland Pro SoccerCleveland, OhioTBD20222026[39]

Former teams

! Club! City! Stadium! Capacity! Founded! Joined! Last season! Affiliate
Rochester New York FC Brighton, New YorkJohn L. DiMarco Field1,500[40] 199620222022Independent

Timeline

DateFormat = yyyyImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:22Period = from:2020 till:2027TimeAxis = orientation:horizontalPlotArea = right:100 left:0 bottom:50 top:5 #> to display a count on left side of graph, use "left:20" to suppress the count, use "left:20"<#Colors = id:barcolor id:line value:blue id:bg value:white id:Full value:rgb(0.742,0.727,0.852) # Use this color to denote a team that is a current league member id:Former value:rgb(0.4,0.80,0.67) # Use this color to denote a team that is a former league member id:Future value:rgb(0.5,0.7,0.95) id:Other value:rgb(0.996,0.996,0.699) # Use this color to denote when team that has moved in from a different league was active in the prior league(s)

PlotData=

width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s bar:1 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Chicago Fire FC II (2022–present)

bar:2 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Colorado Rapids 2 (2022–present)

bar:3 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Columbus Crew 2 (2022–present)

bar:4 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:FC Cincinnati 2 (2022–present)

bar:5 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Houston Dynamo 2 (2022–present)

bar:6 color:Other from:2020 till:2022 text:USL League One bar:6 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Inter Miami CF II (2022–present)

bar:7 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Minnesota United FC 2 (2022–present)

bar:8 color:Other from:2020 till:2022 text:USL League One bar:8 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:New England Revolution II (2022–present)

bar:9 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:New York City FC II (2022–present)

bar:10 color:Other from:2020 till:2022 text:USL League One bar:10 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:North Texas SC (2022–present)

bar:11 color:Other from:2020 till:2021 text:USL League One bar:11 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Orlando City B (2022–present)

bar:12 color:Other from:2020 till:2021 text:USL Championship bar:12 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Philadelphia Union II (2022–present)

bar:13 color:Other from:2020 till:2021 text:USL Championship bar:13 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Portland Timbers 2 (2022–present)

bar:14 color:Other from:2020 till:2022 text:USL Championship bar:14 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Real Monarchs (2022–present)

bar:15 color:Former from:2022 till:2023 text:Rochester New York FC (2022) bar:16 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:St. Louis City SC 2 (2022–present)

bar:17 color:Full from:2022 till:2024 text:San Jose Earthquakes II (2022–23) bar:17 color:Full from:2024 till:end text:The Town FC (2024–present)

bar:18 color:Other from:2020 till:2022 text:USL Championship bar:18 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Sporting Kansas City II (2022–present)

bar:19 color:Other from:2020 till:2022 text:USL Championship bar:19 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Tacoma Defiance (2022–present)

bar:20 color:Other from:2020 till:2022 text:USL League One bar:20 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Toronto FC II (2022–present)

bar:21 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:Whitecaps FC 2 (2022–present)

bar:22 color:Other from:2020 till:2023 text:USL Championship bar:22 color:Full from:2023 till:end text:Atlanta United 2 (2023–present)

bar:23 color:Full from:2023 till:end text:Austin FC II (2023–present)

bar:24 color:Full from:2023 till:end text:Crown Legacy FC (2023–present)

bar:25 color:Full from:2023 till:end text:Huntsville City FC (2023–present)

bar:26 color:Other from:2020 till:2023 text:USL Championship bar:26 color:Full from:2023 till:2024 text:LA Galaxy II (2022–23) bar:26 color:Full from:2024 till:end text:Ventura County FC (2024–present)

bar:27 color:Full from:2023 till:end text:Los Angeles FC 2 (2023–present)

bar:28 color:Other from:2020 till:2023 text:USL Championship bar:28 color:Full from:2023 till:end text:New York Red Bulls II (2023–present)

bar:29 color:Full from:2024 till:end text:Carolina Core FC (2024–present)

bar:30 color: Other from:2020 till:2024 text:NISA bar:30 color:Full from:2024 till:end text:Chattanooga FC (2024–present)

bar:31 color:Future from:2025 till:end text:Jacksonville Armada FC bar:32 color:Future from:2025 till:end text:CT United FC

bar:33 color:Future from:2026 till:end text:Cleveland

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:1 start:2020TextData = fontsize:L textcolor:black pos:(0,30) tabs:(400-center) text:

Champions

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

Finals

YearWinnerScoreRunner-UpVenueAttendance
2022Columbus Crew 24–1St. Louis City SC 2Lower.com FieldMarco Micaletto (CC2)7,446[41]
2023Austin FC II3–1Columbus Crew 2Lower.com FieldValentin Noël (AU2)7,500[42]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Straus . Brian . December 6, 2021 . MLS Next Pro Adds Another Element to U.S. Soccer's Ever-Evolving Lower Club Tier . . December 6, 2021.
  2. News: Bonagura . Kyle . Major League Soccer to launch development league in 2022 . June 21, 2021 . . June 21, 2021.
  3. Web site: St Louis CITY2 hosts RNY FC in Inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Match . Jacob . Schneider . mlsnextpro.com . March 24, 2022 . March 25, 2022.
  4. Web site: Match Report: stlvsroc 03-25-2022 . mlsnextpro.com . March 25, 2022 . March 25, 2022.
  5. Web site: Historic Day in St. Louis as CITY2 beats RNY FC to begin the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro campaign . Jacob . Schneider . mlsnextpro.com . March 25, 2022 . March 25, 2022.
  6. News: MLS NEXT PRO IMPLEMENTING TWO NEW COMPETITION RULES FOR SECOND HALF OF INAUGURAL SEASON. July 7, 2022 . MLS Next Pro . July 6, 2022 .
  7. Web site: MLS NEXT Pro unveils 21 clubs for inaugural season starting March 2022 . mlssoccer . December 7, 2021 . December 6, 2021.
  8. Web site: Rueter . Jeff . MLS Next Pro to have no salary cap, other key differences from MLS structure, sources say . The Athletic . January 16, 2022 . January 14, 2022.
  9. Web site: 2022 MLS NEXT PRO Roster Guidelines . MLS Next Pro . February 1, 2022 . January 31, 2022.
  10. Web site: Fun Within Reach. Toyota Park. September 10, 2023. December 30, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181230202808/https://www.toyotapark.com/about/. dead.
  11. Web site: Historic Crew Stadium . September 10, 2023 . www.ColumbusSports.org . Greater Columbus Sports Commission.
  12. Web site: NKU Soccer Stadium . September 10, 2023 . Northern Kentucky University Athletics .
  13. News: Gillette Stadium Overview. revolutionsoccer.net. March 8, 2012. October 20, 2013. October 5, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131005180746/http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/stadium/gillette-stadium-overview. dead.
  14. Web site: BELSON STADIUM . www.RedStormSports.com . St. John's University . September 13, 2023.
  15. Web site: MSU Soccer Park . www.MontclairAthletics.com . Montclar State University . September 14, 2023.
  16. Web site: About Talen Energy Stadium. philadelphiaunion.com. June 15, 2011. May 26, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220526233232/https://www.philadelphiaunion.com/stadium/about. live.
  17. Web site: York Lions Stadium Conversion . www.YorkU.CA . York University . September 14, 2023.
  18. Web site: Ball Park A-Z . High Point Rockers . September 25, 2019 . en-us . 2019.
  19. Web site: Mecklenburg County Sportsplex at Matthews . September 10, 2023 . www.MatthewsNC.gov . Town of Matthews, NC.
  20. News: Brazelton . Dave . May 19, 2023 . Huntsville businesses benefit from new Joe Davis Stadium . WAAY 31 ABC . Huntsville, AL . September 13, 2023.
  21. Web site: Inter Miami increases DRV PNK Stadium capacity for Lionel Messi's debut. MLS Digital. as.com. July 17, 2023. July 13, 2023. https://en.as.com/soccer/inter-miami-increases-drv-pnk-stadium-capacity-for-lionel-messis-debut-n/. dead.
  22. Web site: Osceola County Stadium . www.OHPark.com . September 14, 2023.
  23. Web site: Sabercats Stadium . www.HoustonSabercats.com . Houston Sabercats . September 13, 2023.
  24. Web site: Rock Chalk Park . www.TravelKS.com . Kansas Tourism . September 14, 2023.
  25. Web site: Swope Soccer Village . KCParks.org . Kansas City Parks & Recreation . September 14, 2023.
  26. Web site: Stadium Facts . www.MNUFC.com . Minnesota United . September 13, 2023.
  27. Web site: NSC Stadium.
  28. Web site: Rangers Resume Fan-Focused Park Renovations. T. R.. Sullivan. Major League Baseball Advanced Media. October 30, 2012. March 7, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130510180339/http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121030&content_id=40128032&vkey=news_tex&c_id=tex. May 10, 2013. dead.
  29. Web site: Titan Stadium. October 8, 2018.
  30. Web site: Timbers2 . Portland . Portland Timbers2 . 2023-08-30 . Portland Timbers2 . en.
  31. Web site: Providence Park Stadium . www.Portland.gov . City of Portland . September 14, 2023.
  32. Web site: Zions Bank Stadium Provides Unique Soccer Experience . Meyer . Taran . April 25, 2018 . www.RSL.com . Real Salt Lake . September 14, 2023.
  33. Web site: Facilities . Saint Mary's Athletics . March 11, 2024.
  34. Web site: Outdoor Fields . www.StarFireSports.com . Star Fire Sports . September 14, 2023.
  35. Web site: William Rolland Stadium . March 16, 2024.
  36. Web site: Swangard Stadium – Home of your Whitecaps . October 16, 2009 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090411164712/http://www.whitecapsfc.com/stadium/swangard/ . April 11, 2009 .
  37. Web site: Seven MLS Affiliated Clubs To Join MLS Next Pro In 2023 . mlsnextpro . August 6, 2022 . August 4, 2022.
  38. Web site: CONNECTICUT AWARDED MLS NEXT PRO EXPANSION TEAM . CTUnited.com . Connecticut United . 9 January 2024.
  39. Web site: Cleveland's MLS NEXT Pro Team . Cleveland Pro Soccer . December 20, 2023 . en-us . 2023.
  40. News: Reuter . Jeff . March 10, 2023 . Jamie Vardy's U.S. club Rochester New York FC ceases operations . . San Francisco, California . September 26, 2023.
  41. Web site: Columbus Crew 2 hoist MLS NEXT Pro Cup with 4-1 win over St Louis CITY2 . MLS Next Pro . Tellitud . Jesus . October 8, 2022 . October 8, 2022.
  42. Web site: Austin FC II Defeats Defending Champion Columbus Crew 2 To Win 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Cup . MLS Next Pro . October 22, 2022 . October 22, 2022.

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