MLS Next Pro

MLS Next Pro

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

As of the 2025 season, 27 of the 30 MLS teams held affiliations with an MLS Next Pro team, with only the CF Montréal, D.C. United, and San Diego FC having no such franchise affiliation.

History

MLS Next Pro

In the mid 2000's MLS teams began to form their own academies to begin the development of players. In 2005, MLS launched a reserve league with the then 12 teams that competed in MLS. This was an effort to allow games for the players amongst the academies for more meaningful competition.

MLS announced the dissolution of the Reserve League following the partnership formed with then-named USL. This allowed players to get loaned from teams in MLS to play minutes in teams in third division soccer. This was mandatory during the time of affiliation between MLS–USL clubs. During the partnership, teams in MLS began the foundings of their own B teams, or No. 2 teams. First teams among MLS to field B teams were: RSL, LA Galaxy, Toronto FC, and Portland Timbers.

Formation of the league

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. 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. 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.

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

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.

Competition format

MLS Next Pro

The league runs from spring to fall with the season kicking off in March. Each team plays 28 regular-season games, followed by a 16-team playoff tournament. The league is divided into Eastern and Western Conferences.

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. 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.

Teams

MLS Next Pro

<table><thead><tr><th>Team</th><th>Location</th><th>Stadium</th><th>Capacity</th><th>Founded</th><th>Joined</th><th>Head coach</th><th>Affiliate</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Eastern Conference</td></tr><tr><td>Northeast Division</td></tr><tr><td>CT United FC</td><td>New Haven, Connecticut</td><td>Morrone Stadium (Storrs) Reese Stadium</td><td>5,300 3,000</td><td>2024</td><td>2026</td><td>Shavar Thomas</td><td>Independent</td></tr><tr><td>Columbus Crew 2</td><td>Columbus, Ohio</td><td>Historic Crew Stadium</td><td>19,968</td><td>2021</td><td>2022</td><td>Federico Higuaín</td><td>Columbus Crew</td></tr><tr><td>FC Cincinnati 2</td><td>Highland Heights, Kentucky</td><td>NKU Soccer Stadium</td><td>1,000</td><td>2021</td><td>2022</td><td>Sammy Castellanos</td><td>FC Cincinnati</td></tr><tr><td>New England Revolution II</td><td>Foxborough, Massachusetts</td><td>Gillette Stadium</td><td>20,000</td><td>2019</td><td>2022</td><td>Pablo Moreira</td><td>New England Revolution</td></tr><tr><td>New York City FC II</td><td>New York City, New York</td><td>Belson Stadium</td><td>2,168</td><td>2021</td><td>2022</td><td>Matt Pilkington</td><td>New York City FC</td></tr><tr><td>New York Red Bulls II</td><td>Montclair, New Jersey</td><td>MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field</td><td>5,000</td><td>2015</td><td>2023</td><td>Dominik Wohlert</td><td>New York Red Bulls</td></tr><tr><td>Philadelphia Union II</td><td>Chester, Pennsylvania</td><td>Subaru Park</td><td>18,500</td><td>2015</td><td>2022</td><td>Ryan Richter</td><td>Philadelphia Union</td></tr><tr><td>Toronto FC II</td><td>Toronto, Ontario</td><td>York Lions Stadium</td><td>4,000</td><td>2014</td><td>2022</td><td>Gianni Cimini</td><td>Toronto FC</td></tr><tr><td>Southeast Division</td></tr><tr><td>Atlanta United 2</td><td>Kennesaw, Georgia</td><td>Fifth Third Stadium</td><td>8,318</td><td>2017</td><td>2023</td><td>José Silva</td><td>Atlanta United FC</td></tr><tr><td>Carolina Core FC</td><td>High Point, North Carolina</td><td>Truist Point</td><td>4,500</td><td>2022</td><td>2024</td><td>Donovan Ricketts</td><td>Independent</td></tr><tr><td>Chattanooga FC</td><td>Chattanooga, Tennessee</td><td>Finley Stadium</td><td>20,412</td><td>2009</td><td>2024</td><td>Richard Dixon (interim)</td><td>Independent</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Fire FC II</td><td>Bridgeview, Illinois</td><td>SeatGeek Stadium</td><td>20,000</td><td>2021</td><td>2022</td><td>Mike Matkovich</td><td>Chicago Fire FC</td></tr><tr><td>Crown Legacy FC</td><td>Matthews, North Carolina</td><td>Sportsplex at Matthews</td><td>5,000</td><td>2022</td><td>2023</td><td>Kevin Sawchak</td><td>Charlotte FC</td></tr><tr><td>Huntsville City FC</td><td>Huntsville, Alabama</td><td>Joe W. Davis Stadium</td><td>6,000</td><td>2022</td><td>2023</td><td>Chris O'Neal</td><td>Nashville SC</td></tr><tr><td>Inter Miami CF II</td><td>Fort Lauderdale, Florida</td><td>Chase Stadium</td><td>21,550</td><td>2019</td><td>2022</td><td>Cristian Ledesma</td><td>Inter Miami CF</td></tr><tr><td>Orlando City B</td><td>Kissimmee, Florida</td><td>Osceola County Stadium</td><td>5,300</td><td>2015</td><td>2022</td><td>Manuel Goldberg</td><td>Orlando City SC</td></tr><tr><td>Western Conference</td></tr><tr><td>Frontier Division</td></tr><tr><td>Austin FC II</td><td>Austin, Texas</td><td>Parmer Field</td><td>1,000</td><td>2022</td><td>2023</td><td>Jason Shackell</td><td>Austin FC</td></tr><tr><td>Colorado Rapids 2</td><td>Denver, Colorado</td><td>Dick's Sporting Goods Park (Commerce City)University of Denver Soccer Stadium</td><td>18,0612,000</td><td>2021</td><td>2022</td><td>Erik Bushey</td><td>Colorado Rapids</td></tr><tr><td>Houston Dynamo 2</td><td>Houston, Texas</td><td>SaberCats Stadium</td><td>3,200</td><td>2021</td><td>2022</td><td>Jeremy Hurdle (interim)</td><td>Houston Dynamo FC</td></tr><tr><td>Sporting Kansas City II</td><td>Kansas City, Missouri</td><td>Swope Soccer Village</td><td>3,500</td><td>2015</td><td>2022</td><td>Lee Tschantret</td><td>Sporting Kansas City</td></tr><tr><td>Minnesota United FC 2</td><td>Saint Paul, Minnesota</td><td>Allianz FieldNational Sports Center (Blaine)</td><td>19,4005,500</td><td>2021</td><td>2022</td><td>Fanendo Adi</td><td>Minnesota United FC</td></tr><tr><td>North Texas SC</td><td>Mansfield, Texas</td><td>Mansfield Stadium</td><td>7,000</td><td>2018</td><td>2022</td><td>John Gall</td><td>FC Dallas</td></tr><tr><td>St. Louis City 2</td><td>St. Louis, Missouri</td><td>Energizer Park</td><td>22,423</td><td>2021</td><td>2022</td><td>David Critchley</td><td>St. Louis City SC</td></tr><tr><td>Pacific Division</td></tr><tr><td>Los Angeles FC 2</td><td>Fullerton, California</td><td>Titan Stadium</td><td>10,000</td><td>2023</td><td>2023</td><td>Fabian Sandoval</td><td>Los Angeles FC</td></tr><tr><td>Portland Timbers 2</td><td>Portland, Oregon</td><td>Providence Park</td><td>25,218</td><td>2014</td><td>2022</td><td>Jack Cassidy</td><td>Portland Timbers</td></tr><tr><td>Real Monarchs</td><td>Herriman, Utah</td><td>Zions Bank Stadium</td><td>5,000</td><td>2014</td><td>2022</td><td>Mark Lowry</td><td>Real Salt Lake</td></tr><tr><td>San Jose Earthquakes II</td><td>Moraga, California</td><td>Saint Mary's Stadium</td><td>5,500</td><td>2021</td><td>2022</td><td>Dan DeGeer</td><td>San Jose Earthquakes</td></tr><tr><td>Tacoma Defiance</td><td>Tukwila, Washington</td><td>Starfire Sports Stadium</td><td>4,500</td><td>2014</td><td>2022</td><td>Paulo Nagamura</td><td>Seattle Sounders FC</td></tr><tr><td>Ventura County FC</td><td>Thousand Oaks, California</td><td>William Rolland Stadium</td><td>2,000</td><td>2014</td><td>2023</td><td>Matt Taylor</td><td>LA Galaxy</td></tr><tr><td>Whitecaps FC 2</td><td>Burnaby, British Columbia</td><td>Swangard Stadium</td><td>5,228</td><td>2021</td><td>2022</td><td>Rich Fagan</td><td>Vancouver Whitecaps FC</td></tr></tbody></table>

Future teams

Team	Location	Stadium	Capacity	Founded	Joining	Affiliate
Jacksonville Armada FC	Jacksonville, Florida	New Eastside Stadium	8,000	2013	2027	Independent
Forest City Cleveland	Cleveland, Ohio	South Gateway Stadium	10,000	2022	2027
AC Grand Rapids	Grand Rapids, Michigan	Amway Stadium	8,500	2024	2027
Golden City FC	San Francisco, California	Kezar Stadium	10,000	2025	2027
The Island F.C.	Long Island, New York	New Stadium at Mitchel Athletic Complex	2,500	2025	2027

Former teams

Club	City	Stadium	Capacity	Founded	Joined	Last season	Affiliate
Rochester New York FC	Brighton, New York	John L. DiMarco Field	1,500	1996	2022	2022	Independent

Timeline

League member Former member Future member Other leagues

Champions

MLS Next Pro

Season	Playoff champions	Regular season champions
2022	Columbus Crew 2	Columbus Crew 2
2023	Austin FC II	Colorado Rapids 2
2024	North Texas SC	North Texas SC
2025	New York Red Bulls II	St. Louis City 2

Finals

Year	Winner	Score	Runner-up	Venue	MVP	Attendance	Ref.
2022	Columbus Crew 2	4–1	St. Louis City 2	Lower.com Field	Marco Micaletto (CC2)	7,446
2023	Austin FC II	3–1	Columbus Crew 2	Lower.com Field	Valentin Noël (AU2)	7,500
2024	North Texas SC	3–2	Philadelphia Union II	Toyota Stadium	Herbert Endeley (NTX)	7,692
2025	New York Red Bulls II	3–3 (3–1 p)	Colorado Rapids 2	Sports Illustrated Stadium	Rafael Mosquera (NYR)	9,095

Individual game highest attendance

Regular season

	Home team	Score	Away team	Attendance	Stadium	Date	Ref
1	St. Louis City 2	3–1	Houston Dynamo 2	12,263	Energizer Park	May 4, 2025
2	St. Louis City 2	5–0	Tacoma Defiance	12,022	CityPark	October 6, 2024
3	St. Louis City 2	2–0	Sporting Kansas City II	10,671	CityPark	June 23, 2024
4	St. Louis City 2	4–1	LA Galaxy II	9,626	CityPark	September 17, 2023
5	St. Louis City 2	4–0	Real Monarchs	9,489	CityPark	August 6, 2023
6	The Town FC	0–0 (4–2 p)	Austin FC II	5,500	PayPal Park	April 20, 2024

MLS Next Pro Cup playoffs

	Home team	Score	Away team	Attendance	Stadium	Date	Ref
1	New York Red Bulls II	3–3 (3–1 p)	Colorado Rapids 2	9,095	Sports Illustrated Stadium	November 8, 2025
2	North Texas SC	3–2	Philadelphia Union II	7,692	Toyota Stadium	November 9, 2024
3	Columbus Crew 2	1–3	Austin FC II	7,500	Lower.com Field	October 22, 2023
4	Columbus Crew 2	4–1	St. Louis City 2	7,446	Lower.com Field	October 8, 2022
5	St. Louis City 2	0–2	San Jose Earthquakes II	5,227	CityPark	October 1, 2023
6	Philadelphia Union II	4–0	Columbus Crew 2	4,727	Subaru Park	November 2, 2024

Key
MLS Next Pro Cup
Conference Final
Conference Semifinal
Otherwise, it is a previous knockout round