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

Published on May 9, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release

NEW YORK - 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.

Below are details on how to qualify for the 2023 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs in each age group.

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.

Major League Soccer Stories from May 9, 2023

• Inter Miami CF Advances to Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 With Win Over Charleston Battery - Inter Miami CF
• Minnesota United Downs Philadelphia Union - Philadelphia Union
• Chicago Fire FC Advances to Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 with 2-1 Win Against St. Louis CITY SC at SeatGeek Stadium - Chicago Fire FC
• St. Louis CITY SC Bows Out of Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup - St. Louis City SC
• CF Montréal Advances to Canadian Championship Semifinals - Club de Foot Montreal
• Revolution Fall to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, 1-0, in U.S. Open Cup - New England Revolution
• Toronto FC (1) - CF Montreal (2) Postgame Summary - Toronto FC
• Orlando City SC Bows Out of Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup After a 1-0 Defeat to Charlotte FC - Orlando City SC
• THREE POINTS: Houston Dynamo FC Host Sporting Kansas City in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 - Houston Dynamo FC
• Full Time: Charlotte FC Advances in the U.S. Open Cup After Defeating Reigning Champions Orlando City - Charlotte FC
• New York Red Bulls Signs NYRB II Midfielder Amos Shapiro-Thompson to Short-Term Loan Ahead of Tuesday's U.S. Open Cup Match - New York Red Bulls
• Sporting KC Signs SKC II Duo on Short-Term Loan - Sporting Kansas City
• The Pitch (Matchday 12): Top Things to Watch in MLS this Week - MLS
• Nashville SC Continues Quest for U.S. Open Cup against FC Dallas at GEODIS Park - Nashville SC
• Real Salt Lake Travels to Portland Wednesday to Continue 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup - Real Salt Lake
• FC Cincinnati Host New York City FC in U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 - FC Cincinnati
• MLS NEXT Clubs Look to Clinch Postseason Berth at MLS NEXT Flex this Week - MLS
• Minnesota United FC vs. Philadelphia Union Preview - Minnesota United FC
• Inter Miami CF and Charleston Battery Set to Clash in U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 at DRV PNK Stadium - Inter Miami CF
• Sporting KC Heads to Houston for U.S. Open Cup Clash on Wednesday - Sporting Kansas City
• St. Louis CITY SC at LAFC MLS Regular-Season Match Moved to July 12 - St. Louis City SC
• LAFC Announces Date Change for Home Match against St. Louis City SC - Los Angeles FC
• Iconic Utah Venue America First Field Welcomes Club America v Deportivo Toluca FC - Real Salt Lake
• Charlotte FC vs. Orlando City SC to Air on CBS Sports Golazo Network - Charlotte FC
• FC Cincinnati Foundation Cleat Drive Aims to Outfit Children Across Cincinnati with Soccer Cleats - FC Cincinnati
• U.S. Open Cup Preview: Charlotte FC vs Orlando City - Charlotte FC
• Rapids at Sacramento Republic FC Preview - Colorado Rapids
• FC Cincinnati Celebrate 513 Day - FC Cincinnati

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.