Roger Hampel
Photo Credit: MLS
As Major League Soccer continues to reshape the landscape of youth soccer in North America, the announcement of a new MLS NEXT competition tier set to launch in September 2025 marks a pivotal step forward. With this expansion, MLS NEXT aims to provide more opportunities for aspiring players, coaches, and referees, fostering talent and creating a clearer developmental pathway from grassroots to the professional stage.
In this exclusive interview with Kyle Albrecht, General Manager of MLS NEXT, we delve into the motivations behind this ambitious initiative, its impact on the youth soccer ecosystem, and the exciting opportunities it will create for clubs and players across the U.S. and Canada.
Kyle Albrecht (General Manager, MLS NEXT)
General Overview Kyle Albrecht MLS NEXT
Roger Hampel (Founder, Football Business Journal): What inspired the decision to introduce this new competition tier, and how does it align with the broader goals of MLS NEXT?
Kyle Albrecht (General Manager, MLS NEXT): MLS NEXT has been working on this new competition tier for more than a year after significant interest across the marketplace to expand our current footprint. With any new initiative we consider, we are focused on positively impacting our clubs, players, and families and adding value to the broader youth soccer landscape. MLS NEXT continues to elevate the player development environment in the U.S. and Canada, and with this expansion, we will increase access to that pathway. The new tier will include thousands of additional players and coaches, providing more opportunities for individuals across the youth soccer landscape.
Details About the New Competition Tier
Roger Hampel (Football Business Journal): How will the expanded tier impact the overall structure of MLS NEXT, especially for participating clubs and players?
Kyle Albrecht (MLS NEXT): The new tier will be pivotal in simplifying the overall landscape and optimizing club resources for current MLS NEXT clubs. Member clubs will have greater flexibility to align team travel, optimize player pools and schedule efficiently, while giving more individuals the chance to compete in MLS NEXT. This new tier will allow for greater alignment of schedules across the club’s age groups to reduce overall travel along with increasing scouting opportunities. In addition, players in the new MLS NEXT tier can also play high school soccer and move within the club’s player pool in accordance with MLS NEXT’s Player Movement Policy. This flexibility is important given every player’s development is unique.
Roger Hampel: What specific opportunities will the new tier create for players aiming to reach college, professional, or national team levels?
Kyle Albrecht: Players in this new tier will have more opportunities to be scouted in the regular season, at one of the eight regional showcase events, and at national MLS NEXT events including MLS NEXT Fest in December and MLS NEXT Cup in June. These events will be marquee talent identification opportunities for college, professional, and national team scouts to evaluate players. At our most recent MLS NEXT Fest (December 2024) and MLS NEXT Cup (June 2024) events, we had nearly 1,000 scouts in attendance, and we expect those numbers to continue growing given the chance to evaluate the additional players in this new tier.
Photo Credit: MLS
Business and Financial Impact
Roger Hampel: How does the introduction of the new competition tier contribute to the overall growth and financial sustainability of MLS NEXT and its member clubs?
Kyle Albrecht: We believe this new tier will play a crucial role in maximizing club resources and continuing the strong financial sustainability of our members. By aligning with leading local operators as part of this new tier, MLS NEXT is helping simplify the landscape and create more efficiencies for our clubs and players through scheduling, travel, and more. Overall, Major League Soccer is dedicated to growing the game at the youth level – not just at MLS club academies but within clubs across the country – and this new competition tier is going to play a leading role in that.
Roger Hampel: Are there any new sponsorship or partnership opportunities that the expansion of MLS NEXT opens up, particularly with the inclusion of more clubs and regional tournaments?
Kyle Albrecht: MLS NEXT has tremendous partners in adidas and Allstate supporting our programming and this next generation of players. MLS is actively talking to new partners on potential partnership opportunities ahead of the launch of the new tier in September 2025. Given the program’s membership will be more than doubling in size and the strong engagement we see from our MLS NEXT audience, we are confident about potential partnership opportunities that this evolution of the program will present.
Future Outlook
Roger Hampel: How do you see this expansion shaping the future of youth soccer in the U.S. and Canada over the next decade?
Kyle Albrecht: This new tier along with our recently announced Strategic Alliance with the Girls Academy is about growing youth soccer in North America and creating more alignment within the MLS Player Pathway. These steps are indicative of MLS’ commitment to the youth game and developing the best talent through our clubs. We are confident that this expansion will not only increase the level of talent in the U.S. and Canada, but also assist in the development of clubs, coaches, referees, administrators, and more. With the FIFA World Cup coming to the region in 2026, this new competition tier will continue to grow within MLS NEXT and be the home of talented players for years to come.
Roger Hampel: For clubs considering applying to the new tier, what advice or guidance would you give them?
Kyle Albrecht: When evaluating expansion clubs, MLS NEXT prioritizes clubs that show a strong commitment to accessibility, representation, and player development. We are looking for clubs that are helping young players grow, not just on the field, but also as they mature off the field. Prospective clubs that display this infrastructure and a strong leadership structure are ones we value highly. If a club is unsure about applying to this new competition tier, I would encourage them to reach out to our MLS NEXT staff as we are happy to learn more about their situation and answer any questions they may have.
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