MLS Next Team Announcements and Expansion Teams for 25/26 Season

T

TheMountie

BRONZE
When does MLS Next typically announce the teams for the upcoming season? For example, the 2013 boys will be eligible to compete in U13 next season, and I'm trying to get a clearer picture of the teams to expect. While the mainstays like LA Surf, Strikers, Galaxy, LAFC, Reds, TFA, Albion, and City SC are to be represented, what about expansion teams? Additionally, are current teams like LA Bulls, Chula Vista, and Fusion guaranteed to return next season?
 
Karlton Athletic said:
Do we know if the new 2nd MLS Next tier can play High School soccer?
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Not confirmed, but that's the way it was in NorCal this year and that's the hope.

I think they rushed out this announcement because ECNL launched non pro-rel RL in Norcal yesterday with some of the same clubs, so it's a turf war. There';s nothing on the MLS Next page except the clubs. So they will likely share more information soon, but their hand was clearly forced to announce early.
 
AlicanteFC said:
Not confirmed, but that's the way it was in NorCal this year and that's the hope.

I think they rushed out this announcement because ECNL launched non pro-rel RL in Norcal yesterday with some of the same clubs, so it's a turf war. There';s nothing on the MLS Next page except the clubs. So they will likely share more information soon, but their hand was clearly forced to announce early.
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Where do you see the announcement from NorCal/ECNL with the teams mentioned? All I'm seeing is this:

theecnl.com

ECNL REGIONAL LEAGUE EXPANDS AND RE-ALIGNS WITH NORCAL PREMIER SOCCER FOR 2025-26 SEASON

RICHMOND, Va. (February 27, 2025) – Recognizing the continued growth of the sport, and the demand for clearer pathways and better environments for all clubs and players, the ECNL and NorCal Premier Soccer are excited to announce an expanded and re-aligned ECNL Regional League structure for the...
theecnl.com theecnl.com
 
NorCalDad said:
Where do you see the announcement from NorCal/ECNL with the teams mentioned? All I'm seeing is this:

theecnl.com

ECNL REGIONAL LEAGUE EXPANDS AND RE-ALIGNS WITH NORCAL PREMIER SOCCER FOR 2025-26 SEASON

RICHMOND, Va. (February 27, 2025) – Recognizing the continued growth of the sport, and the demand for clearer pathways and better environments for all clubs and players, the ECNL and NorCal Premier Soccer are excited to announce an expanded and re-aligned ECNL Regional League structure for the...
theecnl.com theecnl.com
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and i got emails from other clubs on the list.
 
NorCalDad said:
Wild, so Elk Grove and Los Gatos are going to do both? I do think the Pro/Rel stuff ECNL/NorCal announced is a really good thing for that ecosystem. Obviously will take time (years?) to see the impact. At the same time this MLS2 stuff looks pretty solid as well. Curious how those clubs doing both will manage it.
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It's all the same kids playing in both. More kids aren't magically appearing. NPL/ECNL-RL/MLS Tier 2 is all just different branding with the same kids and level of competition.
 
Here's the current status of both boys and girls top youth leagues

Tracker:

MLSN:
Added NVA ECNL
Added Chattanooga FC
Added Albion SC Colorado
Huntsville SC
Michigan Futbol Academy
The Football Academy
Tulsa Greenwood FC

MLSN Tier II:
VRSC
Mclean
Loudoun SC
Westside Metros (Skipped out on ECNL RL)

GA:
- Formed Alliance with MLSN
- Created GA Aspire (GA2) with DPL
Added McLean Youth Soccer ECNL
Added Midwest United ECNL
Added NVA ECNL
Added Western Washington Surf
Added Loudon SC
Added SF Glens
Added Baton Rouge SC

GA ASPIRE:
Added The ACDMY/Houston Rangers (partnership)


ECRL B&G:
Added new conference - Golden State
Added new RL Conference - Gulf Coast
Added Gulf Coast United
Added Hattiesburg FC
Added LA Fire SC
Added LA Krewe Rush
Added Mandeville SC
Added Union 10 FC
Added Eastside Timbers

ENCL-G:
- Promoted ECRL clubs
Missouri Rush
Westside Alliance

ECNL-B:
- Added new conference (Far West), promoted an entire ECRL conference to ECNL
- Promoted ECRL clubs
Doral SC
Highland FC
Kansas Rush
Missouri Rush
Theee Rivers SC

ECRL-B
Added South Shore Select (SSS)
Added Central Washington Sounders
 
Carlsbad7 said:
Here's the current status of both boys and girls top youth leagues

Tracker:

MLSN:
Added NVA ECNL
Added Chattanooga FC
Added Albion SC Colorado
Huntsville SC
Michigan Futbol Academy
The Football Academy
Tulsa Greenwood FC

MLSN Tier II:
VRSC
Mclean
Loudoun SC
Westside Metros (Skipped out on ECNL RL)

GA:
- Formed Alliance with MLSN
- Created GA Aspire (GA2) with DPL
Added McLean Youth Soccer ECNL
Added Midwest United ECNL
Added NVA ECNL
Added Western Washington Surf
Added Loudon SC
Added SF Glens
Added Baton Rouge SC

GA ASPIRE:
Added The ACDMY/Houston Rangers (partnership)


ECRL B&G:
Added new conference - Golden State
Added new RL Conference - Gulf Coast
Added Gulf Coast United
Added Hattiesburg FC
Added LA Fire SC
Added LA Krewe Rush
Added Mandeville SC
Added Union 10 FC
Added Eastside Timbers

ENCL-G:
- Promoted ECRL clubs
Missouri Rush
Westside Alliance

ECNL-B:
- Added new conference (Far West), promoted an entire ECRL conference to ECNL
- Promoted ECRL clubs
Doral SC
Highland FC
Kansas Rush
Missouri Rush
Theee Rivers SC

ECRL-B
Added South Shore Select (SSS)
Added Central Washington Sounders
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Interesting. Clubs are prioritizing favorable venues for the time being. But a decision among MLS NEXT/GA, ECNL/RL or alternative pathways will soon be necessary. The current landscape with shifting alliances, backroom deals, and ongoing battles suggests the eventual emergence of a dominant league and its supporting alliances. The question remains as which league(s) and clubs will ultimately benefit...
 
Does anyone know if MLSN2 is going to use 1/1 or 9/1? I know an announcement was made at AGM for 9/1 but am unsure if MLSN2 follows.

Thanks-
 
soccerdad247 said:
It's all the same kids playing in both. More kids aren't magically appearing. NPL/ECNL-RL/MLS Tier 2 is all just different branding with the same kids and level of competition.
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Yeah I know that. It's going to be a lot of games. For example, which league will they prioritize?
 
BBB said:
Does anyone know if MLSN2 is going to use 1/1 or 9/1? I know an announcement was made at AGM for 9/1 but am unsure if MLSN2 follows.

Thanks-
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I don’t think they’ve said yet but it’s probably dependent on what mls next does as a league. The mls academies we know are already sticking calendar year because of the need to compete in Europe. That means it’s likely mls next stays calendar (at least next year). That means mls 2 stays calendar because the entire point is to give the mls n teams a place to play down their futures and reserve players with some flexibility to call them up. They are taking the model from ndl back east and the entire point is to give players who don’t dress a place to play without losing their status.
 
Seems to be a real mess as ECNL and MLSN +2 feeder teams all play in the same leagues etc. how can the local tournaments like surf separate teams with such a large age range??
 
BBB said:
Seems to be a real mess as ECNL and MLSN +2 feeder teams all play in the same leagues etc. how can the local tournaments like surf separate teams with such a large age range??
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One of the selling points with mls 2 has been the top teams will be invited to mls showcases (they already sort of did this with mls ea teams) in addition to mls 2 specific ones like img. Then there’s the clubs like Santa Monica and Santa Ana that have gone Albion. Also my understanding is La surf is only getting 1 mls 2 team which means 1 of their 2 ea teams will remain ea. that means I think we might be headed to a future where there are separate mls/ecnl tournaments. The mlsn teams are already busy with their responsibilities and after the youngest years don’t do a bunch of tournaments anyway.
 
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