As the New Year begins, more youth soccer players across Long Island will have access to the premier pathway for elite player development, as Long Island Soccer Club (LISC) scores its NEXT Big Goal with the expansion of MLS NEXT to include all six youth age categories for boys.
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.
LISC first brought MLS NEXT to Long Island in May of this year with teams in the boys U13 and U14 age groups. In their first season of play in MLS NEXT, those teams are experiencing tremendous success, including:
U13 team
- Finished Fall Season in 8th place (out of 20)
- Only team to defeat CSA Bergen (ranked #4 in the country)
U14 team
- One player identified for U.S. Youth National Team ID Center
- Two players actively being recruited by MLS Professional Academies
With today’s announcement and beginning with the 2025-26 season, LISC will offer competition in all six youth age categories: U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U19.
Since its introduction in 2020, MLS NEXT has experienced rapid growth and expansion in membership. The 2024-25 season includes 29 MLS Academies, 123 Elite Academies (152 total clubs), over 700 teams and more than 15,000 players across the U.S. and Canada competing in six age groups. MLS NEXT players also make up a majority of the U.S. and Canadian Youth National Teams.
“LISC is absolutely delighted that Major League Soccer has invited the club to expand its presence within MLS NEXT to field teams in all six age groups,” said Gary Book, MLS NEXT Academy Director for LISC. “The invitation marks yet another milestone in LISC’s mission to provide the outstanding Long Island soccer community with the most comprehensive access, support and player development opportunities possible.”
Today’s news follows the announcement on December 17 of the formation of a strategic alliance between MLS NEXT and the Girls Academy (GA), a leading youth development platform for female soccer players in the United States. MLS NEXT and the GA will collaborate on membership opportunities, event integrations and technical standards to enhance player development throughout North America.
In addition, MLS announced the formation of a Tier 2 league program to be launched in Fall 2025. This will mean that LISC will have both its first and second teams participating in MLS youth platforms.
Founded in 2020, the Girls Academy provides elite competition and player development opportunities for female athletes, featuring 114 clubs and over 16,000 players, including 48 clubs that already have a boys team in MLS NEXT. GA member clubs compete in U13 to U19 age groups split into 11 conferences across the country. MLS NEXT will integrate select GA clubs into a girls competition at the 2025 Generation adidas Cup, creating a high-level showcase at the prestigious tournament.
LISC is the only club on Long Island that is a member of both the GA and MLS NEXT.
Tryout Information
Tryouts for LISC’s MLS NEXT program will be held throughout the winter at locations across Long Island. For a full schedule of tryout dates and locations, including the application form, please visit MLS NEXT
For more information, MLS NEXT
