League to Play Regular Season Match at 2024 Generation adidas Cup;
Orlando City B vs. Inter Miami II – April 2 at IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL;
Match Available to Watch for Free on MLSNEXTPro.com in Four Different Languages Through First-of-its-Kind AI Technology
NEW YORK, NEW YORK (March 28, 2024) – MLS NEXT Pro today announced it will play a regular season match at the 2024 Generation adidas Cup, the premier international youth soccer tournament hosted by Major League Soccer and MLS NEXT. Orlando City B and Inter Miami II will face off at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 2 at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
Fans around the world will be able to watch the match for free on MLSNEXTPro.com with the ability to choose from four different languages. In addition to the usual English broadcast, for the first time ever fans will also be able to hear an MLS NEXT Pro match in French, Spanish and Portuguese, through the power of artificial intelligence.
This year’s Generation adidas Cup, taking place March 30 – April 7 at IMG Academy, features the most global field in the competition’s 15-year history. The tournament will see representation from every MLS academy and 49 different club academies, from a record-breaking 15 countries spanning four different continents, for a total of 80 teams (40 in each age group, U-17 and U-15). The participating teams and their families have been invited to attend the MLS NEXT Pro match.
"Generation adidas Cup is a global platform and will be a great environment to host an MLS NEXT Pro match,” said Charles Altchek, President of MLS NEXT Pro. “Top young players from around the world will be able to watch the stars of today and tomorrow competing to prove that they have what it takes to make it to the highest level.”
As part of the recently-launched **MLS Innovation Lab**, MLS NEXT Pro will partner with **Camb.AI** - an AI dubbing platform that instantaneously translates content into any language, all while maintaining the native speaker’s voice and tone – to offer the first-ever live sporting event to be broadcast simultaneously in multiple languages using artificial intelligence. Â
MLS Innovation Lab is a program designed to shape the future of sports through the identification of cutting-edge startups and advanced technologies to help develop the next generation of athletes, enhance the fan experience and drive continued growth for the League and its Clubs. The 2024 Generation adidas Cup is the second phase of the MLS Innovation Lab, which debuted at MLS NEXT Fest in December 2023 and will culminate during the 2024 MLS All-Star Week.
MLS NEXT Pro is also working with two other companies from MLS Innovation Lab’s initial cohort to test their capabilities at the April 2 match: Â
- **Fitogether**: A FIFA Preferred Provider for Live Player Tracking, will provide vests to both team's players to wear during the match, leveraging its technology that uses GPS to track on-field performance through a video hybrid system. This technology specifically caters to professional and academy levels.
- **STAIDIUM U.S**.: Will trial their AI-powered and 5G-enabled camera to offer a live stream and automated broadcast production of the match. Leveraging an OTT platform, the live stream will feature highlights and advanced game and player analytics.
“Soccer is a global game, as illustrated by the players and teams who will be competing at Generation adidas Cup, as well as in our MLS ecosystem every day, so it is fitting that we are able to offer this MLS NEXT Pro match broadcast in multiple international languages,” said Chris Schlosser, Senior Vice President of Emerging Ventures, MLS. “MLS NEXT Pro is a League of innovation and this is yet another example of the League’s ability to test cutting-edge technologies.”
Companies within the MLS Innovation Lab will have an unparalleled breadth of testing opportunities, and the Orlando vs. Miami MLS NEXT Pro match will provide a real-world environment for these three companies to test their respective capabilities. Following the conclusion of all testing opportunities, companies within the MLS Innovation Lab cohort will be selected to present to MLS executives and owners with the promising companies having the potential to earn long-term strategic partnerships and investment opportunities from the League.
About MLS NEXT
Launched in 2020, MLS NEXT is the most elite platform for youth player development in North America. With a commitment to innovation and providing access and representation, MLS NEXT players receive the best training and coaching as they prepare for their futures, both in soccer and in life. Throughout a season, MLS NEXT hosts four marquee events across the country, including the Generation adidas Cup, which features MLS academies playing against the top international clubs in a week-long tournament. Membership for the 2023-24 season includes 29 MLS academies, 114 Elite Academies (143 total clubs), 677 teams and over 15,000 players across the U.S. and Canada. Official partners of MLS NEXT include adidas, Allstate, and DoorDash. For more information about MLS NEXT, visit www.mlssoccer.com/mlsnext.
About MLS Innovation Lab
MLS Innovation Lab is the latest initiative from Major League Soccer, which has been recognized as a global leader in innovation. The program will identify and incubate the next generation of sports tech companies by utilizing the MLS ecosystem including MLS NEXT FEST, Generation adidas Cup, MLS NEXT Cup and the MLS NEXT All-Star Game presented by All-State, among others. Each year, a group of high-potential companies are invited to immerse themselves in this unique testing environment, fostering rapid development of novel products and technologies. MLS provides direct access to its expertise and network, ensuring accelerated development for participants. For more information on MLS Innovation Lab, or to be considered for the program in the future, visit MLSsoccer.com/InnovationLab.
About MLS NEXT Pro Â
Launched in 2022 by Major League Soccer, MLS NEXT Pro is a professional men’s soccer league in the United States and Canada that completes the pro player pathway from MLS NEXT to MLS first teams. MLS NEXT Pro continues to grow the game through innovation and diversity, bringing professional soccer to new communities and creating opportunities both on and off the field. MLS NEXT Pro is celebrating its third season in 2024 with 29 teams, 27 MLS-affiliated and two independent, Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga FC. Additional MLS-affiliated and independent clubs will join in the years ahead, including Cleveland, Jacksonville Armada FC and Connecticut United FC. The majority of MLS NEXT Pro’s matches are broadcast on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV as part of the groundbreaking partnership between Apple and MLS. For more information about MLS NEXT Pro, visit mlsnextpro.com.
