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NEW YORK (Monday, May 5, 2025) – The top players and teams in MLS NEXT will showcase their talents at MLS NEXT Flex in Boyds, Md. from May 9-13, as they look to clinch a berth in the 2025 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs. Held at the Maryland SoccerPlex, the event will feature 232 teams across the U15, U16, U17, and U19 age groups. Each team qualified based on their points-per-game ranking in the 2024-25 MLS NEXT regular season division standings. The qualifying teams in each age group were drawn into groups of four – U15 and U17 (16 groups) and U16 and U19 (13 groups) – and the winners of each group will automatically qualify for the 2025 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs.
Last year, two teams that won their group at MLS NEXT Flex, went on to win MLS NEXT Cup – U16 FC DELCO and U17 LA Galaxy. Each club will play three matches against teams from clubs outside of their regular season divisions. The U15 age group will play 80-minute matches, while the U16, U17, and U19 age groups will play 90 minutes. Games that end in a tie will be decided by penalty kicks, where the winner of penalty kicks will earn two points, and the loser will receive one point.
The culminating event of the 2024-25 MLS NEXT season, the 2025 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs, will take place from June 14-22 in Nashville, Tenn. The tournament will be held at Richard Siegel Soccer Complex with all four championship matches taking place on Sunday, June 23.
A single-elimination competition, 32 teams per age group will qualify for the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs based on their regular season play or by winning their group at MLS NEXT Flex. Teams who do not qualify for the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs participate in the MLS NEXT Cup Showcase, which will also include the U13 and U14 age groups and be held at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex.
MLS NEXT Flex will also give an opportunity for North America’s top young players to be seen by college, youth national team and professional coaches, as well as scouts and evaluators, in a single location. In 2024, more than 400 college scouts attended the event with representation from over 225 different schools.
View the MLS NEXT Flex Schedule | LINK
Download MLS NEXT Flex Logos | LINK
Below are details on how teams can qualify for the 2025 MLS NEXT Cup in each age group.
U15 Age Group
32 total teams will qualify for the U15 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs. Sixteen teams will qualify based on regular season performance in their division. Sixteen additional teams will qualify through MLS NEXT Flex, the competition at the Maryland SoccerPlex from May 9-13.
CLICK HERE for U15 MLS NEXT regular season standings and results.
U16 Age Group
32 total teams will qualify for the U16 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs. Eleven MLS NEXT Elite and eight MLS academies will qualify based on regular season performance in their division. Thirteen additional teams will qualify through MLS NEXT Flex, the competition at the Maryland SoccerPlex from May 9-13.
CLICK HERE for U16 MLS NEXT regular season standings and results.
U17 Age Group
32 total teams will qualify for the U17 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs. Sixteen teams will qualify based on regular season performance in their division. Sixteen additional teams will qualify through MLS NEXT Flex, the competition at the Maryland SoccerPlex from May 9-13.
CLICK HERE for U17 MLS NEXT regular season standings and results.
U19 Age Group
32 total teams will qualify for the U19 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs. Eleven MLS NEXT Elite and eight MLS academies will qualify based on regular season performance in their division. Thirteen additional teams will qualify through MLS NEXT Flex, the competition at the Maryland SoccerPlex from May 9-13.
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