2024 MLS Next Pro season
Football league season
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The 2024 MLS Next Pro season was the third season of MLS Next Pro, the second-tier league of Major League Soccer. It began March 15 and concluded on October 6.
(regular season)
| Season | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Dates | March 15 – October 6 (regular season) |
| Champions | North Texas SC (1st Title) |
| Regular season title | North Texas SC (1st Title) |
| Matches | 421 (406 RS, 15 PO) |
| Goals | 1,445 (3.43 per match) (1386 RS, 59) |
| Best player | |
| Top goalscorer | (18 goals) |
| Best goalkeeper | |
| Biggest home win | NTX 8–2 MU2 (October 6) |
| Biggest away win | NYR 1–5 PU2 (May 26) TFC 1–5 CHA (September 29) |
| Highest scoring | NYR 5–5 (4–3 PK) CHI (April 14) NTX 8–2 MU2 (October 6) |
| Longest winning run | 4 VEN |
| Longest losing run | 3 HD2 |
| Highest attendance | 12,022 STL 5–0 TAC (October 6) |
← 2023 2025 →
All statistics correct as of October 6, 2024. | |
Austin FC II and the Colorado Rapids 2 are the defending playoff and regular season champions, respectively.
Two independent clubs, Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga FC began play in the league. Chattanooga previously played in the National Independent Soccer Association, while Carolina Core is an expansion club.
Teams
Stadiums and locations
Personnel and sponsorship
Regular season
During the regular season, teams played 28 matches each in a mostly regionalized schedule. Each conference was divided into divisions of seven or eight teams for scheduling.[25]
Conference standings
Eastern Conference
| Pos | Div | Team | Pld | W | SOW | SOL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NE | FC Cincinnati 2 | 28 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 47 | 34 | +13 | 54 | Qualification for the Playoffs |
| 2 | NE | Philadelphia Union II | 28 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 59 | 41 | +18 | 52 | |
| 3 | SE | Inter Miami CF II | 28 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 53 | 45 | +8 | 48 | |
| 4 | NE | Chicago Fire FC II | 28 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 51 | 51 | 0 | 47 | |
| 5 | SE | Orlando City B | 28 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 53 | 42 | +11 | 46 | |
| 6 | NE | New York City FC II | 28 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 58 | 46 | +12 | 45 | |
| 7 | NE | Columbus Crew 2 | 28 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 53 | 47 | +6 | 45 | |
| 8 | SE | Crown Legacy FC | 28 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 51 | 46 | +5 | 45 | |
| 9 | SE | Chattanooga FC | 28 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 45 | 42 | +3 | 45 | |
| 10 | SE | Carolina Core FC | 28 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 39 | 45 | −6 | 43 | |
| 11 | NE | New York Red Bulls II | 28 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 56 | 61 | −5 | 40 | |
| 12 | NE | Toronto FC II | 28 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 44 | 51 | −7 | 37 | |
| 13 | SE | Atlanta United 2 | 28 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 42 | 64 | −22 | 32 | |
| 14 | SE | Huntsville City FC | 28 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 39 | 53 | −14 | 29 | |
| 15 | NE | New England Revolution II | 28 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 37 | 59 | −22 | 22 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
Western Conference
| Pos | Div | Team | Pld | W | SOW | SOL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FR | North Texas SC | 28 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 56 | 32 | +24 | 62 | Qualification for the Playoffs |
| 2 | FR | St. Louis City 2 | 28 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 53 | 35 | +18 | 56 | |
| 3 | PC | The Town FC | 28 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 41 | 28 | +13 | 51 | |
| 4 | PC | Tacoma Defiance | 28 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 59 | 53 | +6 | 46 | |
| 5 | PC | Los Angeles FC 2 | 28 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 51 | 54 | −3 | 45 | |
| 6 | PC | Ventura County FC | 28 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 49 | 49 | 0 | 43 | |
| 7 | PC | Whitecaps FC 2 | 28 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 45 | 44 | +1 | 40 | |
| 8 | FR | Houston Dynamo 2 | 28 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 46 | 45 | +1 | 39 | |
| 9 | PC | Real Monarchs | 28 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 39 | 41 | −2 | 39 | |
| 10 | FR | Sporting Kansas City II | 28 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 53 | 57 | −4 | 38 | |
| 11 | PC | Portland Timbers 2 | 28 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 43 | 45 | −2 | 38 | |
| 12 | FR | Austin FC II | 28 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 44 | 49 | −5 | 36 | |
| 13 | FR | Minnesota United FC 2 | 28 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 43 | 73 | −30 | 32 | |
| 14 | FR | Colorado Rapids 2 | 28 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 37 | 54 | −17 | 23 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
Overall table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | SOW | SOL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Texas SC | 28 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 56 | 32 | +24 | 62 | Regular season champion |
| 2 | St. Louis City 2 | 28 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 53 | 35 | +18 | 56 | |
| 3 | FC Cincinnati 2 | 28 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 47 | 34 | +13 | 54 | |
| 4 | Philadelphia Union II | 28 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 59 | 41 | +18 | 52 | |
| 5 | The Town FC | 28 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 41 | 28 | +13 | 51 | |
| 6 | Inter Miami CF II | 28 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 53 | 45 | +8 | 48 | |
| 7 | Chicago Fire FC II | 28 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 51 | 51 | 0 | 47 | |
| 8 | Tacoma Defiance | 28 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 59 | 53 | +6 | 46 | |
| 9 | Orlando City B | 28 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 53 | 42 | +11 | 46 | |
| 10 | Los Angeles FC 2 | 28 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 51 | 54 | −3 | 45 | |
| 11 | New York City FC II | 28 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 58 | 46 | +12 | 45 | |
| 12 | Columbus Crew 2 | 28 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 53 | 47 | +6 | 45 | |
| 13 | Crown Legacy FC | 28 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 51 | 46 | +5 | 45 | |
| 14 | Chattanooga FC | 28 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 45 | 42 | +3 | 45 | |
| 15 | Carolina Core FC | 28 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 39 | 45 | −6 | 43 | |
| 16 | Ventura County FC | 28 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 49 | 49 | 0 | 43 | |
| 17 | Whitecaps FC 2 | 28 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 45 | 44 | +1 | 40 | |
| 18 | New York Red Bulls II | 28 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 56 | 61 | −5 | 40 | |
| 19 | Houston Dynamo 2 | 28 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 46 | 45 | +1 | 39 | |
| 20 | Real Monarchs | 28 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 39 | 41 | −2 | 39 | |
| 21 | Sporting Kansas City II | 28 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 53 | 57 | −4 | 38 | |
| 22 | Portland Timbers 2 | 28 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 43 | 45 | −2 | 38 | |
| 23 | Toronto FC II | 28 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 44 | 51 | −7 | 37 | |
| 24 | Austin FC II | 28 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 44 | 49 | −5 | 36 | |
| 25 | Minnesota United FC 2 | 28 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 43 | 73 | −30 | 32 | |
| 26 | Atlanta United 2 | 28 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 42 | 64 | −22 | 32 | |
| 27 | Huntsville City FC | 28 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 39 | 53 | −14 | 29 | |
| 28 | Colorado Rapids 2 | 28 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 37 | 54 | −17 | 23 | |
| 29 | New England Revolution II | 28 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 37 | 59 | −22 | 22 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
Player statistics
- As of October 6, 2024
Goals
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[26] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago Fire FC II | 18 | |
| 2 | St. Louis City 2 | 16 | |
| 3 | New York City FC II | 14 | |
| 4 | Philadelphia Union II | 13 | |
| 5 | Chattanooga FC | 12 | |
| 6 | Toronto FC II | 11 | |
| Carolina Core FC | |||
| Sporting Kansas City II | |||
| Orlando City B | |||
| 10 | Tacoma Defiance | 10 | |
| North Texas SC | |||
| North Texas SC | |||
| Houston Dynamo 2 | |||
| Colorado Rapids 2 | |||
| Los Angeles FC 2 |
Hat-tricks
| Player | Team | Against | Score | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sporting Kansas City II | Colorado Rapids 2 | 3–5 (A)[27] | April 7 | |
| New York Red Bulls II | Chicago Fire FC II | 5–5 (4–3 PK)(H)[28] | April 13 | |
| Chicago Fire FC II | New York Red Bulls II | 5–5 (3–4 PK)(A)[28] | April 13 | |
| Minnesota United FC 2 | Portland Timbers 2 | 3–4 (A)[29] | April 21 | |
| Sporting Kansas City II | Minnesota United FC 2 | 4–1 (H)[30] | April 28 | |
| FC Cincinnati 2 | Philadelphia Union II | 3–1 (H)[31] | April 28 | |
| Portland Timbers 2 | Sporting Kansas City II | 5–2 (H)[32] | July 25 | |
| Houston Dynamo 2 | Minnesota United FC 2 | 4–1 (H)[33] | August 21 | |
| Huntsville City FC | Atlanta United 2 | 3–6 (A)[34] | September 15 | |
| FC Cincinnati 2 | Orlando City B | 3–1 (H)[35] | October 6 | |
| Los Angeles FC 2 | Sporting Kansas City II | 4–3 (A)[36] | October 6 |
- Notes
(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team
- ^ Scored four goals.
Assists
| Rank | Player | Club | Assists[37] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston Dynamo 2 | 10 | |
| Crown Legacy FC | |||
| 3 | Austin FC II | 9 | |
| Orlando City B | |||
| 5 | Chattanooga FC | 8 | |
| Philadelphia Union II | |||
| 7 | Huntsville City FC | 7 | |
| Carolina Core FC | |||
| New York City FC II | |||
| Chattanooga FC | |||
| Columbus Crew 2 | |||
| Inter Miami CF II | |||
| Orlando City B |
Clean sheets
| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets[38] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Town FC | 6 | |
| North Texas SC | |||
| St. Louis City SC 2 | |||
| 4 | Austin FC II | 5 | |
| 5 | North Texas SC | 4 | |
| St. Louis City SC 2 | |||
| 7 | Chicago Fire FC II | 3 | |
| Whitecaps FC 2 | |||
| New York City FC II | |||
| 10 | Carolina Core FC | 3 | |
| Philadelphia Union II | |||
| FC Cincinnati 2 | |||
| Inter Miami CF II | |||
| FC Cincinnati 2 | |||
| Portland Timbers 2 | |||
| Inter Miami CF II | |||
| Minnesota United FC 2 | |||
| Real Monarchs | |||
Playoffs
Bracket
| Conference Quarterfinals October 20 | Conference Semifinals October 26–27 | Conference Finals November 2 | MLS Next Pro Final November 9 | ||||||||||||||||
| E3 | Inter Miami CF II | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| E7 | Columbus Crew 2 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| E7 | Columbus Crew 2 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| E4 | Chicago Fire FC II | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| E4 | Chicago Fire FC II (p) | 1 (5) | |||||||||||||||||
| E5 | Orlando City B | 1 (4) | |||||||||||||||||
| E7 | Columbus Crew 2 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Philadelphia Union II | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | FC Cincinnati 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E8 | Crown Legacy FC | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| E8 | Crown Legacy FC | 1 (3) | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Philadelphia Union II (p) | 1 (4) | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Philadelphia Union II | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E6 | New York City FC II | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Philadelphia Union II | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | North Texas SC | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | North Texas SC | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| W7 | Vancouver Whitecaps 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | North Texas SC | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W4 | Tacoma Defiance | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W4 | Tacoma Defiance | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W6 | Ventura County FC | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | North Texas SC (a.e.t.) | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Western Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| W2 | St. Louis City 2 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| W3 | The Town FC | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| W8 | Houston Dynamo 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W3 | The Town FC | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| W2 | St. Louis City 2 (a.e.t.) | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W2 | St. Louis City 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| W5 | Los Angeles FC 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
Conference Quarterfinals
Eastern Conference
| Philadelphia Union II | 1–0 | New York City FC II |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
| FC Cincinnati 2 | 1–2 | Crown Legacy FC |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Inter Miami CF II | 2–6 | Columbus Crew 2 |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Western Conference
| The Town FC | 2–1 | Houston Dynamo 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| North Texas SC | 3–2 | Whitecaps FC 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Tacoma Defiance | 4–0 | Ventura County FC |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
Conference Semifinals
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
| North Texas SC | 4–1 | Tacoma Defiance |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Conference Finals
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
2024 MLS Next Pro Cup Final
| North Texas SC | 3–2 | Philadelphia Union II |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Most Valuable Player:
Herbert Endeley (North Texas SC)
League awards
Individual awards
| Award | Winner | Team | Reason | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Boot | Chicago Fire FC II | 18 goals | [40] | |
| Goalkeeper of the Year | North Texas SC | 6 clean sheets; 73.1% save percentage | ||
| Coach of the Year | FC Cincinnati 2 | Lead team to the Eastern Conference title | ||
| Most Valuable Player | Chicago Fire FC II | Golden Boot winner and Best XI team | [41] |
MLS Next Pro Best XI
| Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [40] |
MLS Next Pro Match Officials of the Year
| Referee | Assistant Referee | Fourth Official | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joshua Encarnacion | Jackson Krauser | Braeden Frey | [40] |
Monthly awards
Weekly awards
Mid-Season Awards
| Player of the Mid-Season | Rising Star of the Mid-Season | Goalkeeper of the Mid-Season | Coach of the Mid-Season | Team of the Mid-Season | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sporting KC II | St. Louis City SC 2 | North Texas SC | FC Cincinnati 2 | Philadelphia Union II | [109] | ||||