First, MLS returned. Then, MLS NEXT was next. Now, you can watch MNUFC2 and MNUFC, too! At long last, all three levels of Minnesota United are back in action, as MLS NEXT Pro officially kicked off the 2025 season this week. Per usual, your Twos are starting the year on the road while they wait out the NSC Dome’s dismantling, with week one taking them down to the capital city of Texas (that would be Austin, for all you non-geography people).
It’s safe to say that 2024 was a growing year for MNUFC2. The Twos finished 13th in the Western Conference, racking up the league’s worst goal difference en route (-30). It wasn’t their goalscoring (43 goals for) that held them back, but rather a leaky defense (73 goals against) that kept the young Loons from earning a spot in the postseason. But in a developmental league like MLS NEXT Pro, winning, while an important piece of athlete development, is not the central focus.
Around the world, second teams are commonly used to develop a club’s future. They give young players a chance to take a step up while also giving first-team players a place to sharpen skills in a competitive environment. This valuable stepping stone serves as both a connection between amateur and professional soccer and a proving ground for any player seeking increased first-team involvement, whether they’ve already got a professional contract or not.
In 2024 alone, approximately 30% of MNUFC2 minutes were played by Academy players, spread throughout essentially every position on the field. From goalkeepers to midfielders, the next generation of Minnesota soccer talent was given a chance to step into the professional game (18 Academy players made their pro debuts), and it was the beginning of a trend that the club expects to continue in the coming years. The player pathway is getting smoother as more athletes get the opportunity to walk it, with the likes of Academy products Kage Romanshyn Jr. (out for the bulk of 2025 due to injury) and Darius Randell signing MNUFC2 contracts to prove that the next step is possible for anyone that impresses.
While first-team and Academy players get plenty of minutes with MNUFC2, there are several players signed directly to the second team as well. This offseason saw quite a bit of turnover in the roster available to Head Coach Jeremy Hall, including the addition of MLS SuperDraft picks Babacar Niang (2024) and Kieran Chandler (2025), with more signings yet to come. The bulk of these MNUFC2-specific contracts have secured younger players that the club sees potential in, with the hope being that they go on to earn first-team contracts in the coming years.
Before we move on from rehashing the past, let’s take a look at the squad’s performance against this Friday’s opponent. In three matches against Austin FC II last year, the Loons got a full slate, earning a win, a loss, and a draw. They won the shootout after the draw, meaning that our Twos got the edge in the head-to-head, but only by a single point.
ATX FC II finished just four points ahead of MNUFC2 last year, leaving both programs in a similar position this offseason. It’s hard to use last year’s results as an indicator for what will happen this week, as both teams will likely put out almost entirely different starting lineups. If we’re going to draw any conclusions from 2024, though, I’d say we can bet on a close game to open the season.
Friday’s match will be available exclusively on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass, with kickoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT. Grab some fellow Loon-following friends for the happiest of happy hours, turn the game on at home, or plan a last-minute trip to Texas. MNUFC2 is back; it’s time to watch the future of professional soccer.
