For the second time in MNUFC Academy’s history, the U19 team competes in the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs – this year held in Nashville, Tenn. – vying to earn the title of MLS NEXT Cup Champions against a bracket made up of the best U19 teams across the U.S. and Canada. The single-elimination knockout tournament will be held from June 15-23 at Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro, Tenn. with the championship match contested on Sunday, June 23 at Nashville SC’s GEODIS Park. The first time a team from the MNUFC Academy competed in the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs was the U19 team during the 2021/2022 season.
The MNUFC Academy U19 squad learned it’s draw earlier this week and will face the FC Dallas U19 side in the Round of 32 match within the U19 bracket on Sunday, June 16. Kick is slated for 11:45 a.m. CT. The full schedule for the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase will be available HERE and the final 2023-24 final league standings are available HERE.
The 2024 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs is the culmination of the 2023-24 MLS NEXT season, featuring 32 of the top teams in each of the four different age groups (U15, U16, U17, U19). The MNUFC U19 team qualified by going an impressive 3-0-0 (W-L-D) and winning their respective group at MLS NEXT Flex, a qualifying event that took place from May 10-14.
22 MLS NEXT Cup Playoff games, including all four championship matches, will stream live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, the subscription service from Apple and Major League available in more than 100 countries and regions. Across the four age groups represented in the playoffs, two round of 32 matches, two round of 16 matches, six quarterfinal games, and each of the eight semifinal contests will also be available to watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs matches will be 90 minutes in the U19 age group. If the match is tied at the end of regulation, all games will head to penalty kicks, except for the championship matches, which will feature two five-minute periods of extra time. If the championship matches are still tied after the extra time periods, they will then head to penalty kicks to decide a winner.
Teams that do not qualify for the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs can also participate in the MLS NEXT Cup Showcase. The Showcase provides MLS NEXT players an opportunity to compete in front of hundreds of collegiate, international, and professional coaches and scouts. Additionally, the U13 and U14 age groups will return this year to compete in the MLS NEXT Cup Showcase. All clubs participating in the MLS NEXT Cup Showcase will play three matches over a four-day span. Clubs who are eliminated in the first two rounds of the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs are also eligible to participate in the Showcase.
The event will also host five MLS NEXT ‘Best Of’ matches in which top players from MLS NEXT Cup Showcase teams will compete at the U13, U14, U15, U16, and U17/U18 age groups. These players are selected based on their performance in league play, at MLS NEXT Fest, and at MLS NEXT Flex. The ‘Best Of’ matches provide a unique opportunity for players to compete against one another as top collegiate, international, and professional coaches evaluate their performances.
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 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.
