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MLS NEXT Clubs Look to Clinch Postseason Berth at MLS NEXT Flex This Week

16 teams per age group will qualify for the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs through their performance at MLS NEXT Flex from May 12-16 at the Maryland SoccerPlex;

18 matches to stream live exclusively on MLS Season Pass, the subscription service available on the Apple TV app

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NEW YORK (Tuesday, May 9, 2023) – The top 64 teams in the U-15, U-16, U-17, and U-19 age groups that qualified based on their points-per-game rank in the 2022-23 MLS NEXT regular season division standings descend upon the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md. for MLS NEXT Flex, with the opportunity to clinch a postseason berth in the 2023 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs.

Qualifying teams were drawn into sixteen groups of four, and the winners of each of these groups will automatically qualify for the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs. The 80-minute U-15 matches and 90-minute U-16, U-17, and U-19 matches that end regulation in a draw will move to penalty kicks. The winner of penalty kicks will earn two points, while the loser will take home one point.

Eighteen MLS NEXT Flex games will stream live on MLS Season Pass, the subscription service from Apple and Major League Soccer on the Apple TV app, available in more than 100 countries and regions. All matches will feature MLS academies against non-MLS academies in the U-15, U-16, U-17, and U-19 age groups. MLS Season Pass marks the official kickoff of the 10-year partnership between MLS and Apple, a historic first for a major professional sports league.

“The excellent quality of play at MLS NEXT Flex provides a unique opportunity for players and teams to compete against the best clubs from all over the country,” said MLS Vice President of Player Youth and Development Fred Lipka. “With postseason berths at stake, this event demonstrates the rich talent and heightened level of competition that is evident throughout each age group in MLS NEXT.”

The MLS NEXT season concludes with the 2023 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs at Toyota Soccer Center and MoneyGram Soccer Park in Dallas-Fort Worth from June 17-25, 2023. 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 be held at the same venue.

MLS NEXT Flex Broadcast Schedule

Date

Time (in ET)

Age Group

Home Team

Away Team

May 12

9:00 AM

U-16

Atlanta United

Murrieta Soccer Academy

May 12

11:30 AM

U-16

LA United Futbol Academy

FC Dallas

May 12

2:00 PM

U-16

Inter Miami CF

San Francisco Glens

May 12

4:30 PM

U-19

City SC

Sporting Kansas City

May 13

9:00 AM

U-15

Wake FC

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

May 13

11:30 AM

U-17

New England Revolution

FC DELCO

May 13

2:00 PM

U-17

Chicago Fire FC

BW Gottschee Academy

May 13

4:30 PM

U-17

Nashville SC

New York Soccer Club

May 14

9:00 AM

U-17

RSL Arizona

Colorado Rapids

May 14

11:30 AM

U-17

Michigan Jaguars

Charlotte FC

May 14

2:00 PM

U-17

Sacramento Republic

Philadelphia Union

May 14

4:30 PM

U-15

Real Salt Lake

Real Colorado

May 15

8:30 AM

U-19

Columbus Crew

Met Oval

May 15

11:00 AM

U-19

Vardar

Toronto FC

May 15

1:30 PM

U-19

Miami Rush Kendall SC

FC Cincinnati

May 16

8:30 AM

U-17

Orlando City SC

Sockers FC

May 16

11:00 AM

U-17

ALBION SC San Diego

CF Montréal

May 16

1:30 PM

U-17

Barca Residency Academy

Seattle Sounders FC

MLS NEXT Flex will also provide an opportunity for North America’s top youth talent to be seen by college, youth national team and professional coaches, as well as scouts and evaluators, in a single location. The MLS Match Evaluator program, which features former professional players who are trained on-site to identify top talent, will continue at both MLS NEXT Flex and in the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs.

View the MLS NEXT Flex schedule | LINK

Download MLS NEXT Flex Logos | **LINK**

Below are details on how to qualify for the 2023 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs in each age group, which can be found in more detail HERE.

Under-15 Age Group

32 total teams will qualify for the U-15 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs. Eight non-MLS academies and eight MLS academies 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 12-16.

CLICK HERE for U-15 MLS NEXT regular season standings and results

Under-16 Age Group

32 total teams will qualify for the U-16 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 12-16.

CLICK HERE for U-16 MLS NEXT regular season standings and results

Under-17 Age Group

32 total teams will qualify for the U-17 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs. Eight non-MLS academies and eight MLS academies 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 12-16.

CLICK HERE for U-17 MLS NEXT regular season standings and results

Under-19 Age Group

32 total teams will qualify for the U-19 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 12-16.

CLICK HERE for U-19 MLS NEXT regular season standings and results

Subscribing to MLS Season Pass

With an MLS Season Pass subscription, fans can enjoy all MLS and Leagues Cup matches, and hundreds of MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT games, on billions of devices through the Apple TV app on smart TVs, streaming devices, Apple devices, set-top boxes, and game consoles, as well as on the web at tv.apple.com. Fans can subscribe to MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app for $14.99 per month during the season or $99 per season, and Apple TV+ subscribers can sign up at a special price of $12.99 per month or $79 per season.1 A subscription to MLS Season Pass will be included with each MLS Club full-season ticket account. Through Family Sharing, up to six family members can share the subscription using their own Apple ID and password.

1To watch MLS Season Pass, customers must update to iOS 16.2 or later, iPadOS 16.2 or later, tvOS 16.2 or later, and macOS 13.1 or later. Fans around the world can enjoy Major League Soccer matches on MLS Season Pass in English, Spanish, or French where available, including closed captions.

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 2022-23 season includes 137 clubs, 628 teams and over 13,000 players across the U.S. and Canada. Official partners of MLS NEXT include adidas, Allstate, DoorDash, and the University of South Carolina. For more information about MLS NEXT, visit www.mlssoccer.com/mlsnext.