MLS NEXT: Irvine Strikers and new Louisiana club will join for 2021-22 season
The Irvine Strikers, one of the oldest youth clubs in Southern California, and Louisiana Total Development Program will join MLS NEXT as members for the 2021-22 season, a source familiar with MLS Next's plans told Soccer America.
A full slate of expansion teams will be announced in May.
The Strikers, based in Orange County, have produced eight U.S. internationals, including
Jonathan Bornstein and
Benny Feilhaber, who played for the USA at the 2010 World Cup.
Matthew Hoppe, who has scored five goals for Schalke 04 in 2021, played at Strikers FC before moving to the Barca Academy in Arizona.
Strikers FC was one of five founding members of the U.S. Soccer's Boys Development Academy from Southern California along with Arsenal, Pateadores, Real So Cal and San Diego Surf that signed up for the Boys ECNL for the 2020-2021 season following the DA's demise a year ago.
LATDP is a new club representing programs in Baton Rouge (Baton Rouge SC), Lafayette (Dynamo Juniors) and New Orleans (Louisiana Fire SC).
Five other new MLS NEXT members -- Hoover-Vestavia Soccer, Lou Fusz Athletic, Texas United, Tormenta FC and Wake Futbol Club -- were
previously announced.
For the first season, 94 clubs were founding members, and 16 more added from a second wave of applicants.