2026-27 MLS NEXT Season Set to Expand Player Development

The 2026-27 MLS NEXT season will mark the seventh and largest iteration of the league, enhancing national competition and player development across North America's leading youth soccer platform. Over 53,000 players, 2,743 teams, and 310 clubs, including all 30 MLS academies, will participate in more than 27,000 matches in the United States and Canada.

Key dates for the 2026-27 MLS NEXT season include:

- Start of the season: September 5, 2026

- MLS NEXT Talent ID event: October 9-12, 2026

- MLS NEXT Fest: December 2-13, 2026

- Generation adidas Cup: March 25 - April 2, 2027

- MLS NEXT Flex presented by Allstate: April 29 - May 4, 2027

- MLS NEXT Cup presented by Allstate: June 5-13, 2027

From October 9-12, 2026, Talent ID events will be hosted in 13 MLS markets across 11 states, including cities like Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York. More than 1,300 top prospects will be able to showcase their abilities at MLS club training facilities in front of coaches and scouts from professional and national teams.

The MLS NEXT Fest will be the largest recruitment event for youth soccer in North America, taking place from December 2-13, 2026, at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Arizona. It will feature over 1,600 teams from at least 300 clubs across all six age groups (U13 to U19), with more than 32,000 players competing in 2,400 matches.

The prestigious Generation adidas Cup will occur from March 25 to April 2, 2027, at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. This year, the U16 category will expand from 40 to 48 teams, ensuring that every group contains an international club, and will include the third edition of the Girls Division.

A critical qualifying event, MLS NEXT Flex presented by Allstate, will take place from April 29 to May 4, 2027, at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Atlanta. Teams will compete for spots in the MLS NEXT Cup based on performances from September 2026 to March 2027.

The season culminates with the MLS NEXT Cup presented by Allstate from June 5-13, 2027, in Cincinnati, Ohio, featuring teams from various age groups competing for the championship. This year, the Allstate Homegrown Division will expand, allowing more teams to participate in the premier postseason competition.