Seacoast United is excited to announce that we will be joining MLS NEXT’s new competition tier this Fall. Both our Seacoast Bedford and Seacoast MA South groups will take part in the MLS NEXT 2 Tier and couldn’t be more excited!
“Seacoast United Bedford is excited to be part of the MLS NEXT pathway, after officially being selected to be a founding member of the MLS NEXT 2 tier starting in 2025. We are committed to providing families with the most competitive experiences in youth soccer, and we are proud to offer the opportunity to be a part of the prestigious MLS NEXT pathway. This league’s competitive environment, with its primary focus on player development, perfectly aligns with our mission and goals of fostering growth, excellence, and the development of each player both on and off the field.” -Lenny Webb, Seacoast Bedford Director
“Seacoast United Mass is delighted to join the MLS Next pathway. after officially being selected to be a founding member of the MLS NEXT 2 tier starting in 2025. The league’s competitive environment with a major focus on player development aligns with our mission and goals. We cannot wait to get started this fall.” -Rob Jones, Seacoast Mass South Technical Director
New MLS NEXT Tier Teams and Divisions
The new MLS NEXT tier will feature more than 1,200 teams from more than 220 clubs across regional divisions during the regular season. Of those clubs, more than half previously competed outside of MLS NEXT. Each division will be managed by leading league operators across the youth landscape with a strong commitment to player development – the National Academy League (NAL) operated by 3Step Soccer, Elite Academy League (EAL), Sporting Development League (SDL), Cobalt Sports, and Cal North Soccer Association.
Regular season play will begin in September 2025, which will be accompanied by regional tournaments and an opportunity to attend MLS NEXT national events, as well as coaching development and education programs. The regional tournaments will serve as qualifying for a championship event at the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs later in 2026. These events will be marquee talent identification opportunities for college, professional, and national team scouts to evaluate players. Players competing in the new tier will also be eligible to play high school soccer.
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. Membership for the 2024-25 season included 29 MLS academies, 122 Elite Academies (151 total clubs), 753 teams and over 16,000 players across the U.S. and Canada. Official partners of MLS NEXT include Adidas and Allstate. For more information about MLS NEXT, visit www.mlssoccer.com/mlsnext.
