2025 MLS NEXT Fest to Feature the Top Teams from North America Competing at the Largest Youth Soccer Scouting and Talent Identification Event in the United States
More than 30,000 players and 1,400 teams will square off in Arizona from December 4-15
NEW YORK(Monday, November 24, 2025) – With more than 30,000 players, 2025 MLS NEXT Fest kicks off on December 4 and will mark the largest youth soccer scouting and talent identification event in the United States. MLS NEXT Fest is the premier winter showcase event in North American youth soccer and returns to Mesa, Arizona, where it will run from December 4-15. The 12-day event will include 1,474 teams from more than 250 different clubs with 2,400 matches in front of over 500 professional, national team, and college coaches in attendance.
The U15, U16, U17, and U19 age groups from both the MLS NEXT Allstate Homegrown Division and Academy Division will compete at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Arizona. For the first time since 2022, the U13 and U14 age groups will return to MLS NEXT Fest and play matches at the Scottsdale Sports Complex, Bell 94 Sports Complex, and Reata Sports Complex. To illustrate the connected pathway from academy to MLS, both MLS NEXT Fest and the MLS College Showcase (December 11-14) will occur simultaneously at the same venue, marking the second instance of this in program history.
2025 MLS NEXT Fest will also include the return of the 2026 Generation adidas Cup Qualifiers in the U16 and U15 age groups. The 2025 version will see an increase from 16 to 32 teams in each age group that will compete in a single-elimination tournament where the winner will earn a spot in the prestigious 2026 Generation adidas Cup. The 32 teams in each age group will earn a spot in the tournament by finishing the fall in the qualifying spots in their division’s power ranking. Additionally, three U15 teams from MLS NEXT Pro academies – Carolina Core FC, Chattanooga FC and CT United FC – will compete against one another at MLS NEXT Fest with the top team qualifying for Generation adidas Cup.
“MLS NEXT Fest brings together the top youth teams from across the United States and Canada, and it continues to stand as the best winter recruiting event in North America,” said MLS NEXT Technical Director Luis Robles. “With the introduction of the MLS NEXT Academy Division this year, we are proud to make this the largest event in our program’s history. We expect more than 1,400 teams from both the Homegrown and Academy divisions to participate, along with nearly 500 college scouts representing approximately 250 collegiate programs in attendance.”
Teams at MLS NEXT Fest will play three games in four days with matches scheduled based on division, past event competition, and standings from the MLS NEXT regular season, allowing clubs to play a variety of opponents from across the country. Players participating in MLS NEXT Fest are also eligible to be selected for MLS NEXT Fest Best Of matches, which consist of two games in the U17 age group on December 7, where top players compete against one another in front of evaluators. There will also be four ‘Uncommitted Matches’ for U19 players who are not yet committed to college, with all four matches occurring on December 6.
The full schedule of MLS NEXT Fest matches will be available HERE and to view and download MLS NEXT Fest logos, please click HERE.
For the first time, MLS NEXT will introduce the Player Pathway Speaker Series at MLS NEXT Fest. These expert-led sessions on December 6-7 will offer education sessions on player development for players, coaches, administrators, and parents to discuss topics like career next steps, scouting, improving technical standards, and life off the pitch. The Speaker Series will be in addition to various coaching education sessions on December 3-4 that will focus on game modeling, performance analysis, mental health, and more.
Further event integration at MLS NEXT Fest will include an MLS GO mini-pitch on December 6-7, FIFA World Cup 26™ Final Draw and MLS Cup presented by Audi watch parties, the adidas players’ lounge, a state-of-the-art fan zone, expanded retail opportunities, and much more.
MLS NEXT is proud to work collaboratively with the Arizona Office of Tourism, Visit Mesa, Tempe Tourism, Experience Scottsdale, Visit Chandler, Discover Gilbert, Visit Phoenix, the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance, and the Arizona Interscholastic Association to host the largest MLS NEXT Fest in program history with tens of thousands of players, fans, coaches, and evaluators attending the event in Arizona.
Launched in 2020, MLS NEXT is the most elite platform for youth player development in North America. With a commitment to innovation and inclusion, MLS NEXT players receive the best training and coaching as they prepare for their futures, both on and off the field. 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. With the addition of the new MLS NEXT Academy Division in 2025, membership for the 2025-26 season will include 30 MLS academies, 244 Elite Academies (274 total clubs), 2,189 teams and over 43,000 players across the U.S. and Canada. Official partners of MLS NEXT include adidas, Allstate, and Más+ by Messi. For more information about MLS NEXT, visit www.mlssoccer.com/mlsnext.
Welcome to the fourth annual MLB Pipeline Executive Poll. Starting before the 2023 season, we surveyed front offices across baseball — from general managers to scouting directors, farm directors, analysts and beyond — on a number of questions regarding prospects.
As has been our tradition, we’re beginning with who they think will win Rookie of the Year honors in each league in 2026. They started out on fire in ’23, choosing Gunnar Henderson and Corbin Carroll, both of whom took home that hardware. In 2024, winners Paul Skenes and Jackson Chourio got votes, though the survey leaders were Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the National League and Evan Carter in the American League.
Last year, the industry picked Dylan Crews and Roman Anthony (though most felt Roki Sasaki would be the front-runner in whichever league he signed). Drake Baldwin, the NL winner, didn’t appear on a ballot. In the AL, winner Nick Kurtz did get some attention and Anthony finished third in actual voting at season’s end.
Can front offices hit the nail on the head in ’26? There’s far from a consensus in either league this time around, with more than 40 front office officials weighing in on an array of topics that will be discussed in a week-long series.
Let’s kick things off with the results of the American League Rookie of the Year survey:
Also received votes: Jamie Arnold, LHP, A’s; Travis Bazzana, 2B, Guardians; Max Clark, OF, Tigers; Chase DeLauter, OF, Guardians; Leo De Vries, SS, A’s; Colt Emerson, SS, Mariners; Gage Jump, LHP, Athletics; Carson Williams, SS, Rays
That’s a total of 14 players getting at least one vote. And having two leaders at the top, one pitcher and one hitter, is something that will be mirrored when we get to the NL. It’s interesting, though, that the two tied in the AL are a pitcher who starred in the postseason and a hitter who has yet to play a game above Double-A.
Trey Yesavage (MLB No. 26), taken by the Blue Jays as the No. 20 overall pick in the ’24 Draft, had a meteoric rise through Toronto’s system in ’25, starting the season with Single-A Dunedin and finishing it by appearing in three World Series games as perhaps the most dependable arm on the postseason staff. He’s still only 22 and it will be fascinating to see if he can pick up where he left off and how the league adjusts after getting a longer look at him, especially that devastating splitter.
Kevin McGonigle (MLB No. 2) will be just 21 for most of the ’26 season and has a grand total of 46 games above A ball on his resume. But he also has a career .922 OPS in the Minors, and some voters were no doubt swayed by his Arizona Fall League showing in ’25, when he was named MVP after posting a .362/.500/.710 slash line with five homers and 19 RBIs in 19 games. He’s considered by many to be the best pure hitter in the Minors, with an advanced approach that should enable him to hold his own at the plate. Where he fits in the Tigers’ infield might be one of the more intriguing storylines in Lakeland this spring. He’s primarily been a shortstop (where he’ll see plenty of time in Spring Training), could no doubt handle second base and looked good at third in the AFL.
The other four on our leaderboard all have at least touched the big leagues. Samuel Basallo (MLB No. 7) debuted in August, just days after his 21st birthday, and homered four times in 109 at-bats. The power will play and it’ll be interesting to see how the Orioles get him at-bats behind the plate, at first base and as a DH. Carter Jensen (MLB No. 39) was a September callup for the Royals and after a solid debut (.941 OPS in 60 ABs), he should get a chance to make the Opening Day roster, learning behind Salvador Perez and getting plenty of plate appearances as a DH as well. Payton Tolle (MLB No. 28) and Connelly Early (BOS No. 4) are two Red Sox lefties who showed glimpses of what might be possible with a full season in Boston’s rotation.
In addition to the Red Sox, the Tigers (Max Clark, McGonigle), Guardians (Chase DeLauter, Travis Bazzana) and A’s (Jamie Arnold, Leo De Vries) all had multiple vote-getters. It was the Athletics who finished 1-2 in the AL ROY voting in ’25, with Jacob Wilson (who got multiple survey votes a year ago) right behind Kurtz.
Also received votes: Carson Benge, OF, Mets; Aidan Miller, SS, Phillies; Thomas White, LHP, Marlins
There was a clear top three among the 10 players who received votes in the NL, and like with the AL, it’s led by a hitter who has yet to get a single big league at-bat and a pitcher who made a very strong first impression at the highest level.
Cardinals infielder JJ Wetherholt (MLB No. 5) had an outstanding first full season of pro ball after being the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 Draft, splitting the year between Double-A and Triple-A and posting a combined .306/.421/.510 slash line with 17 homers and 23 steals. Some were surprised he didn’t get a late-season audition in St. Louis, but you have to figure his bat will work its way into that lineup sooner rather than later. He’s played three infield positions, which should help give the big league staff options for him to make the Opening Day roster.
Like Yesavage, Nolan McLean (MLB No. 11) not only made his Major League debut, but did so under a very large spotlight, making eight outstanding starts down the stretch during the Mets’ ill-fated playoff push. With a 2.06 ERA, 10.7 K/9 rate and .200 average-against, McLean was the Mets’ best starter at the end of the season and is the only vote-getter in either ’26 survey to have received actual ROY votes in ’25. He was just two innings shy of surpassing rookie status for the upcoming season.
Behind the two leaders is No. 1 prospect Konnor Griffin, and the fact he received such a healthy percentage of votes shows how far and how fast he’s come. The No. 9 overall pick in the ’24 Draft, Griffin went from Single-A Bradenton to Double-A Altoona and hit absolutely everywhere, finishing with a combined .333/.415/.527 line, 21 homers and 65 steals, making him the easy pick for MLB Pipeline’s Hitting Prospect of the Year award. He should get a long look this spring at shortstop and clearly several executives believe he belongs.
Of the remaining four on the leaderboard, Bubba Chandler (MLB No. 14) and Sal Stewart (MLB No. 31) have big league time, while Justin Crawford (MLB No. 54) and Zyhir Hope (MLB No. 20) do not. Chandler should be in the Pirates’ rotation (and is the only player who got votes in last year’s poll to appear this time around), and Stewart in the Reds’ lineup, from Day 1 of the ’26 season. All signs point to Crawford getting every chance to roam the outfield for Philadelphia on Opening Day, while Hope is a bit of a long-shot play.
With Griffin and Chandler, the Pirates are the only team with two players among the leaders, but the Phillies (Aidan Miller, Crawford) and the Mets (Carson Benge, McLean) also had multiple prospects receiving votes.
The subject of what agency will provide youth sports programs in Englewood in the future will be explored at the meeting that will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 16 in the community room on the second floor of the Englewood Civic Center. “The city parks and recreation program will put on the summer baseball program this year but that will be the last youth sports program we will offer,” said Gerald Black, parks and recreation director. In a letter sent to members of youth sports programs and the Englewood school district, Black explained the changes are a result of the need to meet 2014 budget requirements. For years, Englewood Parks and Recreation Department offered an extensive youth sports program that included baseball, basketball and tackle football. A few years ago, the department abolished the tackle-football program, which led to the creation of the Englewood Youth Football Association. The association grew, offering competitive baseball, softball and basketball programs so the name was changed to the Englewood Youth Sports Association. Also, the middle school established separate seventh- and eighth-grade basketball teams for boys and girls. “We don’t really know where we will go from here now that the recreation department is no longer doing youth sports programs,” said Debbie Penn, EYSA board member and community relations representative. “There are options available but we’ll have to see how programs develop.” She said Jan. 16 is a brainstorming session about the future of youth sports programs. Penn said issues include access to facilities at fees that keep youth sports participation costs reasonable for Englewood families. She added that the association is currently operated by a small group of volunteers. “We’ll need some volunteers to help us if we add additional programs or expand our existing programs,” she said. “The current handful of association volunteers can’t efficiently operate expanded programs.”
LIHUE (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Kauai Police Activities League is now accepting applications for the 2026 flag football season.
For years, K‑PAL has connected hundreds of local youth with its athletic programs to further its mission and empower them to live drug-free lives and reach their full potential through positive activities, mentorship, and fun.
The K‑PAL flag football program is open to school-aged youth from kindergarten through high school seniors.
Registration is free and available online through April 1, 2026. Early registration is encouraged, as space is limited. Applications received after the deadline will be placed on a waitlist and are not guaranteed a spot.
Practices will begin on May 1. Games will take place on Saturdays at the auxiliary field next to Vidinha Stadium, starting in June and running through mid-July.
K‑PAL is also seeking volunteer coaches. If you’re passionate about football and want to make a difference in the lives of Kaua‘i’s youth, please visit the K‑PAL website and complete the Volunteer Form.
For more information, call (808) 241-1924 or email KPAL@kauai.gov.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Over 700 bills compiled covering youth sports and physical activity legislation at state and federal levels
11 policy categories tracked, including concussion protocols, mental health training requirements, and abuse prevention standards
Interactive map reveals gaps in coaching qualifications, safety protocols, and recess mandates across states
Free resource developed by University of Washington Center for Leadership in Athletics with four partner organizations
First comprehensive tool to centralize fragmented youth sports legislation into one searchable database
USE THE TOOL HERE: Youth Sports and Physical Activity Legislation Tracker, The Sports Institute, University of Washington, (2025). https://thesportsinstitute.com/youth-sports-and-physical-activity-legislation-tracker/
A Centralized View of Fragmented Policy
The University of Washington Center for Leadership in Athletics released the Youth Sports and Physical Activity Legislation Tracker, a free interactive tool that compiles state and federal laws affecting youth sports programs. The resource was developed in partnership with The Sports Institute at UW Medicine, King County Play Equity Coalition, Susan Crown Exchange, and LiFEsports at The Ohio State University.
The tracker includes over 700 bills and allows users to search by state or topic. It covers legislation on concussion management, cardiac arrest protocols, abuse prevention, coaching qualifications, recess requirements, and physical activity standards in schools.
What the Tracker Covers
The tool organizes legislation into 11 categories. Safety-related topics include concussion protocols, sudden cardiac arrest response standards, general safety requirements, and abuse prevention measures. Training categories address both school sport coaching qualifications and youth sports (non-school) coaching requirements. Additional sections cover mental health training mandates, physical activity minimums in schools, and recess policies.
Each category includes definitions and context. For example, the concussion section tracks which states require return-to-play protocols and assigns responsibility to coaches, schools, or organizations. The mental health category identifies states requiring coaches to complete training on adolescent mental health or suicide prevention.
The abuse prevention section focuses on background checks, mandatory reporting requirements, and codes of conduct. The tracker notes that while most states require background checks for paid school employees, significant gaps remain for volunteer and unpaid coaches.
Addressing Policy Inconsistencies
The tracker highlights variation in requirements across states. Concussion and cardiac arrest protocols differ by jurisdiction. Coaching qualification standards for school sports vary significantly, and requirements for non-school youth sports coaches are even less consistent.
Physical activity and recess policies also show disparities. Not all states mandate minimum recess time for elementary students or require specific amounts of daily physical activity that align with CDC recommendations of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity.
Who Benefits From This Resource
The tool serves coaches, program administrators, policymakers, and facility operators who need to understand compliance requirements. Youth sports organizations operating in multiple states can use it to identify different standards across their footprint. School districts can compare their policies to state requirements or peer districts.
Advocacy groups and researchers can use the data to identify gaps in youth athlete protection or inconsistencies in safety standards. The tracker provides a baseline for understanding where policy exists and where it does not.
Building Toward Standardization
The release of this tracker provides the youth sports industry with its first comprehensive view of legislative requirements across jurisdictions. Access to centralized policy data may support efforts to address gaps in coach training, safety protocols, and athlete protection standards.
The tool’s ability to filter by topic or geography allows users to identify specific compliance needs or compare approaches across states. As youth sports organizations face increasing scrutiny around safety and accountability, this resource offers a practical starting point for understanding the regulatory landscape.
YSBR provides this content on an “as is” basis without any warranties, express or implied. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, legality, reliability, or use of the information, including any images, videos, or licenses associated with this article. For any concerns, including copyright issues or complaints, please contact YSBR directly.
About Youth Sports Business Report
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Our core mission: Make Youth Sports Better. As the leading authority in youth sports business reporting, we deliver unparalleled coverage of sports business trends, youth athletics, and emerging opportunities across the youth sports ecosystem.
Our expert editorial team provides authoritative, in-depth reporting on key youth sports industry verticals including:
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Whether you’re a sports industry executive, institutional investor, youth sports parent, coach, or sports business enthusiast, Youth Sports Business Report is your most reliable source for the actionable sports business insights you need to stay ahead of youth athletics trends and make informed decisions in the rapidly evolving youth sports landscape.
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Are you a brand looking to tap into the world’s most passionate fanbase… youth sports?
Introducing Play Up Partners, a leading youth sports marketing agency connecting brands with the power of youth sports. We specialize in youth sports sponsorships, partnerships, and activations that drive measurable results.
About Play Up Partners
Play Up Partners is a leading youth sports marketing agency connecting brands with the power of youth sports. We specialize in youth sports sponsorships, partnerships, and activations that drive measurable results.
Why Sponsor Youth Sports?
Youth sports represents one of the most engaged and passionate audiences in sports marketing. With over 70 million young athletes and their families participating annually, the youth sports industry offers brands unparalleled access to motivated communities with strong purchasing power and loyalty.
What Does Play Up Partners Do?
We’ve done the heavy lifting to untangle the complex youth sports landscape so our brand partners can engage with clarity, confidence, and impact. Our vetted network of accredited youth sports organizations (from local leagues to national tournaments and operators) allows us to create flexible, scalable programs that evolve with the market.
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We have answers. Reach out to info@playuppartners.com to learn how Play Up Partners can help your brand navigate the youth sports landscape.
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The San Antonio Spurs, in partnership with UT Health San Antonio, the clinical enterprise of The University of Texas at San Antonio, took charge of the physical education classes at Park Village Blended Learning Academy on Dec. 9 as part of a program to give back to the community and talk to kids about how to make healthy choices.
Park Village is a small, Title I elementary school in the Judson Independent School District. As of the 2023-2024 school year, it had 400 students, with around 70% of its students considered at risk of dropping out of school. The event was an opportunity for the students to participate in a day of fun that helped them feel part of their community.
“Having this type of event shows that our community cares,” said Kayone Bedford, principal of Park Village. “Sometimes our kids will say, nobody thinks about us because we’re such a small school or because of what side of town we’re from. But for an organization as large as the Spurs to come out here, that makes our kids feel proud and like they’re part of something bigger.”
The Spurs PE Takeovers are part of the Spurs Sports Academy’s broader community impact programs that also include community-wide events, clinics and camps offered to kids from six years old to 18.
“Our objective is to come and spread joy for these kids and have a good time while teaching basketball skills,” said RJ Sanchez, community sports manager for the Spurs Sports Academy. “Since our partnership with UT Health San Antonio, we’ve implemented a learning curriculum to teach the kids about their health and the value of exercise. But the most important thing we bring to every school is the joy factor.”
Kevin Ozment, MD
During the event, Kevin Ozment, MD, sports medicine physician at UT Health San Antonio and assistant clinical professor in the Department of Rehabilitation in the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at UT San Antonio, taught the students healthy lifestyle tips, emphasizing the importance of sleep, exercise and nutrition. After the lesson, the Spurs Sports Academy coaches led the students in warm-up drills and basketball skills from ball handling to passing and shooting. Then the Spurs Hype Squad, donning black and silver Santa hats, got the students moving with festive dance moves, offering something for everyone.
Ozment emphasized that building healthy habits early can have lasting benefits.
“I see a lot of patients who weren’t as involved in regular exercise or physical activity when they were younger, which can translate to potential health issues when they get older,” Ozment said. “That’s why it’s important to get involved early and implement healthy habits. A little bit of knowledge about healthy lifestyle choices can go a long way.”
Ozment also noted that while getting involved in sports is important, any kind of movement or activity — like riding a bike, taking a walk or going for a swim — can be beneficial for kids.
“It’s also important that kids diversify their sports and activities. When your kid is young, they don’t need to just stick to only one sport. By trying out different sports and being open to all kinds of activity, they can activate different muscle groups and down the line be less prone to injuries,” he advised.
UT Health San Antonio is the official sports medicine partner of the San Antonio Spurs. In 2023, the Spurs announced a multi-year partnership with UT Health San Antonio in a joint effort to pursue innovations in human performance and improve the health of the greater San Antonio community.
Former Marshalltown Police Chief Mike Tupper, who served the community for 13 years before retiring in February of 2025, has announced that he will be running for a seat in Iowa House District 52 as a Democrat, according to a press release issued Monday.
District 52 covers the city of Marshalltown and southeastern Marshall County, and the seat is currently held by Republican David Blom, also of Marshalltown. Before Blom defeated Sue Cahill in the 2024 election, the seat had been held by Democrats for over two decades. Notably, Democrat Mark Smith represented Marshalltown from 2001 to 2020.
“I’m running for the Iowa House to restore community-focused leadership and trust at the Capitol. Every day, I hear from neighbors who feel left behind by politicians in Des Moines, and I know I can rebuild that trust by showing up and listening to our community, as I did for years in law enforcement,” Tupper said.
In the press release, Tupper indicated that his priorities would be “fully funding our public schools, tackling the affordability crisis in Iowa by working to make housing cheaper for working families, and working with local officials to keep our communities safe.”
As the next Representative from Marshalltown, I will focus on:
“As a longtime community leader and recently retired Chief of Police in Marshalltown, I know folks across House District 52 know me as someone who leads with integrity and puts our community first. They can trust that I’ll be a reliable advocate for them in the Iowa House,” he said.
Tupper worked for 32 years as a police officer in Iowa and served as a police chief for 20 of those years in Nevada and Marshalltown. He currently works as a law enforcement consultant in the public entity insurance industry, has served as a community volunteer, nonprofit board member, youth sports coach and church leader. He is married to Sarah Tupper and has four daughters and one son.
Blom, the incumbent, issued the following statement when contacted by the T-R Monday.
“I’m running for re-election to the Iowa House to continue fighting for property tax relief, a major factor in rent and housing affordability, Marshall County jobs and economic development, Iowa veterans, teachers, and Marshall County families. It’s my honor to serve and I look forward to working to earn every vote in 2026,” he said.
Influenza remains a health concern going into the new year, both in Marshall County and internationally. A mutated …
