MLS Greats to serve as Match Evaluators as MLS NEXT prioritizes Talent ID throughout the week
27 Matches to be streamed on MLSsoccer.com starting on Friday
NEW YORK (Thursday, June 24) – The Inaugural MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase kick off on Friday, June 25 in the Dallas Metroplex with 128 teams competing to crown MLS NEXT Cup Champions in four age groups (U15, U16, U17, U19).
The MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs will be a single-elimination competition with the top 32 teams in each age group qualifying based on their performances in the recently concluded regular season. The event caps off a successful inaugural season that included over 3,500 matches. During the playoffs, twenty-seven matches will be streamed live on MLSsoccer.com with six matches taking place on FC Dallas’ stadium field in Frisco, Texas.
The MLS NEXT Cup Showcase, will provide those teams that did not qualify for the playoffs with a platform to play three matches, with select players chosen to participate in the MLS NEXT Showcase Best Of matches.
With a focus on talent identification, every game will be filmed and MLS NEXT will produce a post-event technical report and analysis. In addition, MLS Greats, former MLS players, will serve as Match Evaluators for this week’s event, assessing the quality of play and identifying top talent. Match Evaluators include former MLS and USMNT defender Greg Garza and midfielder Justin Mapp as well as midfielder Andy Williams who played over 250 matches. The list also includes Stephen McCarthy and Chad McCarty, who was captain of the 2000 USMNT Olympic team. Garza and McCarthy both played a portion of their youth careers for Texas United (formerly the Dallas Texans) who were accepted into MLS NEXT ahead of the 2021-2022 season. Also in attendance will be U.S. Soccer’s Director of Talent Identification, Tony Lepore, youth national team coaches, and college coaches and scouts.
In anticipation of the tournament and showcase, all players, coaches and referees will take part in a week of virtual programming that will prepare all individuals for their participation and provide valuable insight into what it takes to reach each of their maximum potential this week and beyond. Sessions include a High Performance webinar designed by Steve Tashjian, the U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team Head of Performance, presentations from the MLS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Department, insight into the current college recruiting process from United Soccer Coaches, an update on the U.S. Soccer Youth National Team from the U-17 Men’s National Team Coach Gonzalo Segares (sic), Referee Seminars designed by PRO, social media training, and more. Â
The industry leading partnership between adidas and Major League Soccer continues to drive the evolution of player development. adidas will not only provide the official match ball for all MLS NEXT matches but will also partner with MLS in advancing the game in North America and creating an atmosphere that supports these young players on the professional pathway.
ABOUT MLS NEXT
MLS NEXT is a new paradigm for player development, launched in 2020 to transform youth soccer in North America. Founded on a collaborative approach to governance and a commitment to innovation, MLS NEXT players have access to the highest level of competition, training and personal development opportunities that will prepare them for their futures, both in soccer and in life. Membership for the 2021-22 season includes 133 clubs, 598 teams and over 12,000 players across the U.S. and Canada. Official partners of MLS NEXT include adidas and Carolina Online at the University of South Carolina. For more information about MLS NEXT, visit www.mlssoccer.com/mlsnext.
