MLS NEXT Application for 2025-26 Season

MLS NEXT Application for 2025-26 Season

NOTE: We suggest you plan to complete the application in full once you start, as you may experience issues revisiting or reloading pages.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

MLS NEXT aims to provide the best player development experience in North America. Founded on a collaborative approach to governance and a commitment to innovation, MLS NEXT provides players with access to the highest levels of competition and training to prepare them for their futures, both in soccer and in life.

Non-Conflict - The Club confirms that the filing of this application is not in conflict with any agreement to which it is a party, including any agreement with another competition organizer. The Club further confirms that should its application be accepted, participation in MLS NEXT would not be in conflict with any agreement to which it is a party.

Technical Standards - The Club agrees to meet the MLS NEXT Technical Standards aimed at providing the highest level of training and competitive environments.

Safety and Well-Being - The Club agrees that it shall foster a culture of respect and a positive and safe environment for all MLS NEXT participants, provide its teams, coaches, and any other personnel with best-in-class support, training, and resources to promote respect, prevent abuse, and encourage safe play, and protect MLS NEXT Participants from physical and emotional abuse, violence, or any other misconduct with respect to any and all of the Club’s operations and services, which shall include background checks and other screening measures on all Club representatives and Club participants who have contact with Minor Players, and as further required pursuant to the MLS NEXT Rules and Policies.

I acknowledge that my Club understands and will meet all of the above expectations.*

BASIC INFORMATION

Club Name*

Name of Club Representative/Point of Contact*

Email address for Club Representative/Point of Contact*

Phone Number for Club Representative/Point of Contact*

Phone

Name of Owner/Ownership Group*

Full name of Club Owner/Ownership Group main point of contact*

Club Owner/Ownership Group main point of contact email*

Club Owner/Ownership Group main point of contact phone number*

Phone

Which tier(s) of MLS NEXT is your club applying for*

MLS NEXT Tier 1

MLS NEXT Tier 2

Both MLS NEXT Tier 1 & Tier 2

Which Region is your club located in?*

Select

In what year was the Club founded?*

CLUB PRESENTATION

File Upload*

Please upload a document (deck) to present the following areas:

1) Club Philosophy

Culture, mission, core values
Technical and training philosophies
Player ID and recruitment philosophies
Community engagement and impact

2) Education & Player Care

Personal development and life skills programs
Diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and programs
Support for players joining the Club and transitioning out of the Club

3) Player Pathways

Any player development success stories the Club would like to share e.g. youth national team players, senior national team players, professional players, NCAA players
Specific geographic and demographic information about where the club's current player pool and staff pool is pulled from
College pathway support

4) Facilities (need to include photos)

Additional information about primary home game and training facilities that would be used for MLS NEXT teams
Imminent expansion or building plans for new facilities
Ancillary facility details e.g. locker rooms, meeting space, classrooms etc.
Residency details if applicable
Access to performance, strength & conditioning, medical or physio/rehab facilities

5) Data & Player Insights

How the Club uses data to support player development
Access to video and/or performance analysis tools
How the Club monitors training load management
Example of IDP (Individual Development Plan) used for player development
Describe IDP process between staff and players
Describe how player development is individualized

6) Financial

What the Club does to reduce player fees
Details of any additional support provided to players who financially cannot afford to participate
Scholarship information

7) Governance & Staff

Information about current board of directors if applicable
Proposed MLS NEXT organizational chart (include specific roles and whether staff is full or part-time)
List all proposed MLS NEXT coaches and their highest valid coaching license
List specific staff who would be responsible for schedule and registration management

CLUB PRESENTATIONS SHOULD NOT BE MORE THAN THIRTY-FIVE (35) SLIDES TOTAL

Drag and drop files here or

CLUB BILLING ADDRESS

Line 1*

Line 2

City (Billing)*

State (Billing)*

Zip Code (Billing)*

CLUB SHIPPING ADDRESS

Line 1*

Line 2

City (Shipping)*

State (Shipping)*

Zip Code (Shipping)*

PROFESSIONAL CLUB RELATIONSHIPS

Does the Club have a relationship with an MLS Club?*

Yes

Please provide details of the Club's relationship with an MLS Club.*

Please list any international professional Club affiliations/relationships (formal and informal).*

CLUB STRUCTURE

Is the Club a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit or a for-profit organization?*

501(c)(3) not-for-profit

For-profit

Please select the option that best describes your coaching assignment plan for MLS NEXT teams.*

Each age group will have their own unique set of head coach and assistants (excluding goalkeeper coach.)

Each age group will have their own unique head coach but will share assistant coaches (excluding goalkeeper coach.)

Head coaches will manage multiple age groups.

Each age group's head coach will be unique but will serve as an assistant for other age groups.

Does the Club have a full-time administrator?*

Yes

ENVIRONMENT

What is the primary home facility that would be used by MLS NEXT teams?*

Primary Home Facility Address Line 1*

Primary Home Facility Address Line 2

City*

State*

Zip Code*

Does the Club own or rent the primary home facility?*

Own facility

Rent facility

How many full size fields does the Club have access to at the primary home facility?*

How many full size fields that the Club has access to at the primary home facility are GRASS?*

How many full size fields that the Club has access to at the primary home facility are TURF?*

Does the Club have indoor playing facilities including a full-sized field for matches?*

Yes

CLUB INFORMATION

How many total youth players (U19 and below) are in the Club?*

What percentage of those players participate in boys' teams?*

What percentage of those players participate in girls' teams?*

What leagues do your girls' teams participate in?*

Does the Club have a recreational soccer program?*

Yes

How many recreational players does the Club have?*

Which league do the Club's most competitive teams currently play in?*

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Will your NEXT teams be fully funded?*

Fully funded, meaning there are no costs to any MLS NEXT participants.

Yes

What percentage of Club revenue is from player fees?*

What percentage of Club revenue is from sponsorships?*

What percentage of Club revenue is from tournaments/camps?*

What percentage of Club revenue is from other sources?*

Please list any other revenue sources.*

Put n/a if 100% of club revenue is from player fees, sponsorships and tournaments/camps.

Please list all of your Club's major sponsors.*

What is the estimated total cost per player to participate on the Club's competitive teams (from U13 to U19).*

Including Club fees, travel costs, uniform costs, and any other costs for each age group.

What is the total value of scholarships provided by the Club each year?*

What is the average number of players on scholarships per team?*

Send me a copy of my responses

Privacy Notice|Report Abuse