May 12, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK – Major League Soccer’s stars of tomorrow continue their push for a position in the 2022 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs, as clubs in the U15, U16, U17 and U19 age groups vie to earn the title of MLS NEXT Cup champions. The top 128 teams in the program – 32 from each age group – will participate in the tournament to determine the champions of the 2021-22 MLS NEXT season.
The MLS NEXT season culminates with the 2022 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs, which will take place at Toyota Soccer Center in Frisco, Texas from June 25 to July 3, 2022. A single-elimination competition, teams can qualify for the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs based on their play in the regular season or by winning their respective group at the inaugural MLS NEXT Flex.
The race to secure a spot in the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs continues this week with MLS NEXT Flex, a competition featuring 64 of the best MLS NEXT clubs from the U15, U16, U17 and U19 age groups. The event will take place at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, MD, from Friday, May 13 through Tuesday, May 17, 2022, and will provide the opportunity for 16 teams in each age division to secure a place in MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs.
“The assembled group of clubs at MLS NEXT Flex represent the best academies across the United States and Canada, all of which have demonstrated a strong history of player development and sought the highest levels of competition,” said MLS Vice President, Player and Youth Development Fred Lipka. “MLS NEXT Flex is an essential addition to the MLS NEXT season and developmental process and will be instrumental in further enhancing the competition in our league.”
Clubs in each of the four age groups qualified for MLS NEXT Flex on a points-per-game basis in each of MLS NEXT’s eight divisions. Qualifying clubs were assigned into sixteen groups of four via a draw in the month of April and the champions of each of these groups will automatically qualify for the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs. The…
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