2026 MLS Next Pro season
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Season2026
DatesFebruary 27 – September 20 (regular season)
TBD (playoffs)
TBD (playoffs)
Matches106
Goals338 (3.19 per match)
| Season | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dates | February 27 – September 20 (regular season) TBD (playoffs) |
| Matches | 106 |
| Goals | 338 (3.19 per match) |
| Top goalscorer |  Rodolfo Aloko(Crown Legacy FC)  Nimfasha Berchimas(Crown Legacy FC)  Edouard Nys(North Texas SC) (6 goals each) |
| Biggest home win | Crown Legacy FC 7–2 Huntsville City FC (March 6) Houston Dynamo 2 5–0 Portland Timbers 2 (March 15) |
| Biggest away win | Sporting KC II 0–5 Real Monarchs (March 8) NYCFC II 0–5 Toronto FC II (March 19) |
| Highest scoring | Crown Legacy FC 7–2 Huntsville City FC (March 6) |
| Longest winning run | 5 games Crown Legacy FC (March 1 – April 3) |
| Longest unbeaten run | 7 games Crown Legacy FC St. Louis City 2 |
| Longest winless run | 7 games Inter Miami CF II Sporting Kansas City II Tacoma Defiance |
| Longest losing run | 4 games FC Cincinnati 2 |
| Highest attendance | 4,016 Carolina Core FC 2–3 Orlando City B (March 14) |
← 2025 2027 →
All statistics correct as of April 15, 2026. | |
The 2026 MLS Next Pro season is the fifth season of MLS Next Pro, the second-tier league of Major League Soccer. The regular season began on February 27 and will end on September 20.
Stadiums and locations
Personnel and sponsorship
| Team | Head coach |
|---|---|
| Atlanta United 2 |  Jose Silva Caparros |
| Austin FC II |  Jason Shackell |
| Carolina Core FC |  Donovan Ricketts[22] |
| Chattanooga FC | Richard Dixon (interim) |
| Chicago Fire FC II | Mike Matkovich |
| FC Cincinnati 2 | Sammy Castellanos |
| Colorado Rapids 2 | Erik Bushey |
| Columbus Crew 2 |  Federico Higuaín |
| Crown Legacy FC | Kevin Sawchak |
| CT United FC | Shavar Thomas |
| Houston Dynamo 2 | Jeremy Hurdle |
| Huntsville City FC | Chris O'Neal |
| Inter Miami CF II | Cristian Ledesma |
| Los Angeles FC 2 | Fabian Sandoval |
| Minnesota United FC 2 |  Fanendo Adi |
| New England Revolution II | Pablo Moreira |
| New York City FC II | Matt Pilkington |
| New York Red Bulls II |  Dominik Wohlert |
| North Texas SC |  John Gall |
| Orlando City B | Manuel Goldberg |
| Philadelphia Union II | Ryan Richter |
| Portland Timbers 2 |  Serge Dinkota |
| Real Monarchs | Mark Lowry |
| San Jose Earthquakes II | Dan DeGeer |
| Sporting Kansas City II | Lee Tschantret |
| St. Louis City 2 | David Critchley |
| Toronto FC II | Gianni Cimini |
| Tacoma Defiance |  Paulo Nagamura |
| Ventura County FC | Matt Taylor |
| Whitecaps FC 2 | Rich Fagan |
Coaching changes
| Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin FC II | Brett Uttley |
Contract expired | November 21, 2025 | 9th in West | Jason Shackell |
November 21, 2025 [23] |
| Atlanta United 2 | Steve Cooke |
Left to join Lexington SC | July 23, 2025 [24] | 10th in East | Jose Silva Caparros |
December 15, 2025 [25] |
| New England Revolution II | Richie Williams |
Contract expired | November 5, 2025 [26] | 3rd in East | Pablo Moreira |
December 3, 2025 [27] |
| FC Cincinnati 2 | Tyrone Marshall |
Not retained | December 8, 2025 [28] | 7th in East | Sammy Castellanos |
January 8, 2026 [29] |
| Minnesota United FC 2 | Jeremy Hall |
Left for USYNT | January 7, 2026 [30] | 11th in West | Fanendo Adi |
January 15, 2026 [31] |
| New York Red Bulls II | Michael Bradley |
Promoted to 1st Team | December 15, 2025 [32] | 1st in East | Dominik Wohlert |
January 21, 2026 [33] |
| Crown Legacy FC |  Gary Dicker |
Promoted to first team | January 21, 2026 [34] | 13th in East | Kevin Sawchak |
January 21, 2026 [35] |
| Portland Timbers 2 | Serge Dinkota |
Option Declined | October 13, 2025 [36] | 10th in West | Jack Cassidy |
January 28, 2026 [37] |
| Chattanooga FC | Chris Nugent |
Mutual parting | February 2, 2026 | 4th in East | Richard Dixon (interim) |
February 2, 2026 [38] |
| Sporting Kansas City II |  István Urbányi |
Relieved of duties | August 12, 2025 [39] | 14th in West | Lee Tschantret |
February 3, 2026 [40] |
| Tacoma Defiance |  Hervé Diese |
Relieved of duties | July 23, 2025 [41] | 12th in West | Paulo Nagamura |
February 3, 2026 [42] |
| Los Angeles FC 2 | Junior Gonzalez |
Not retained | December 23, 2025 [43] | 13th in West | Fabian Sandoval |
February 11, 2026 [44] |
| Whitecaps FC 2 | Ricardo Clark |
Took position with Sounders FC | January 12, 2026 [45] | 7th in West | Rich Fagan |
February 25, 2026 [46] |
| Orlando City B | Manuel Goldberg |
Promoted to first team assistant | March 11, 2026 | 11th in East | Julian Vergara (interim) |
March 11, 2026 [47] |
Regular season
Each team plays 28 matches during the regular season in a mostly regionalized schedule. Each conference is divided into divisions of seven or eight teams for scheduling. The top eight teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs.[48]
Conference standings
Eastern Conference
| Pos | Div | Team | Pld | W | SOW | SOL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SE | Crown Legacy FC | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 8 | +17 | 21 | Playoffs |
| 2 | NE | New York Red Bulls II | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 7 | +11 | 17 | |
| 3 | NE | Philadelphia Union II | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 14 | |
| 4 | NE | Columbus Crew 2 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 14 | −1 | 14 | |
| 5 | SE | Atlanta United 2 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 8 | +4 | 13 | |
| 6 | SE | Orlando City B | 7 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 17 | −2 | 12 | |
| 7 | NE | Toronto FC II | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 8 | +5 | 11 | |
| 8 | SE | Chattanooga FC | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 12 | +1 | 10 | |
| 9 | NE | New England Revolution II | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 10 | |
| 10 | SE | Chicago Fire FC II | 7 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 10 | |
| 11 | SE | Huntsville City FC | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 16 | −4 | 9 | |
| 12 | NE | CT United FC | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 15 | −5 | 6 | |
| 13 | NE | New York City FC II | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 10 | −6 | 6 | |
| 14 | SE | Carolina Core FC | 7 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 14 | −5 | 5 | |
| 15 | SE | Inter Miami CF II | 7 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 18 | −10 | 4 | |
| 16 | NE | FC Cincinnati 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 11 | −7 | 3 |
Updated to match(es) played on April 26, 2026. Source: MLSNP
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total regulation wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) total shootout wins; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) fewer disciplinary points; 11) drawing of lots
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total regulation wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) total shootout wins; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) fewer disciplinary points; 11) drawing of lots
Western Conference
| Pos | Div | Team | Pld | W | SOW | SOL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FR | St. Louis City 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 8 | +12 | 22 | Playoffs |
| 2 | FR | Houston Dynamo 2 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | +15 | 20 | |
| 3 | PC | Ventura County FC | 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 10 | +3 | 14 | |
| 4 | FR | Minnesota United FC 2 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 12 | |
| 5 | FR | North Texas SC | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 12 | +1 | 11 | |
| 6 | PC | San Jose Earthquakes II | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 6 | +5 | 10 | |
| 7 | PC | Real Monarchs | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 10 | |
| 8 | FR | Austin FC II | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 10 | |
| 9 | PC | Portland Timbers 2 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 10 | |
| 10 | PC | Los Angeles FC 2 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 18 | −5 | 10 | |
| 11 | PC | Whitecaps FC 2 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 16 | −3 | 9 | |
| 12 | PC | Tacoma Defiance | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 13 | −5 | 6 | |
| 13 | FR | Sporting Kansas City II | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 24 | −15 | 6 | |
| 14 | FR | Colorado Rapids 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 16 | −8 | 3 |
Updated to match(es) played on April 26, 2026. Source: MLSNP
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total regulation wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) total shootout wins; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) fewer disciplinary points; 11) drawing of lots
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total regulation wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) total shootout wins; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) fewer disciplinary points; 11) drawing of lots
Overall table
| Pos | Div | Team | Pld | W | SOW | SOL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FR | St. Louis City 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 8 | +12 | 22 | Regular season champion |
| 2 | SE | Crown Legacy FC | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 8 | +17 | 21 | |
| 3 | FR | Houston Dynamo 2 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | +15 | 20 | |
| 4 | NE | New York Red Bulls II | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 7 | +11 | 17 | |
| 5 | NE | Philadelphia Union II | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 14 | |
| 6 | NE | Columbus Crew 2 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 14 | −1 | 14 | |
| 7 | PC | Ventura County FC | 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 10 | +3 | 14 | |
| 8 | SE | Atlanta United 2 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 8 | +4 | 13 | |
| 9 | FR | Minnesota United FC 2 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 12 | |
| 10 | SE | Orlando City B | 7 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 17 | −2 | 12 | |
| 11 | NE | Toronto FC II | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 8 | +5 | 11 | |
| 12 | FR | North Texas SC | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 12 | +1 | 11 | |
| 13 | PC | San Jose Earthquakes II | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 6 | +5 | 10 | |
| 14 | SE | Chattanooga FC | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 12 | +1 | 10 | |
| 15 | PC | Real Monarchs | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 10 | |
| 16 | NE | New England Revolution II | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 10 | |
| 17 | FR | Austin FC II | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 10 | |
| 18 | PC | Portland Timbers 2 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 10 | |
| 19 | PC | Los Angeles FC 2 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 18 | −5 | 10 | |
| 20 | SE | Chicago Fire FC II | 7 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 10 | |
| 21 | SE | Huntsville City FC | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 16 | −4 | 9 | |
| 22 | PC | Whitecaps FC 2 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 16 | −3 | 9 | |
| 23 | NE | CT United FC | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 15 | −5 | 6 | |
| 24 | PC | Tacoma Defiance | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 13 | −5 | 6 | |
| 25 | NE | New York City FC II | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 10 | −6 | 6 | |
| 26 | FR | Sporting Kansas City II | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 24 | −15 | 6 | |
| 27 | SE | Carolina Core FC | 7 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 14 | −5 | 5 | |
| 28 | SE | Inter Miami CF II | 7 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 18 | −10 | 4 | |
| 29 | NE | FC Cincinnati 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 11 | −7 | 3 | |
| 30 | FR | Colorado Rapids 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 16 | −8 | 3 |
Updated to match(es) played on April 26, 2026. Source: MLSNP
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total regulation wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) total shootout wins; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) fewer disciplinary points; 11) drawing of lots
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total regulation wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) total shootout wins; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) fewer disciplinary points; 11) drawing of lots
Player statistics
League awards
Monthly awards
| Week | Player of the Month | Rising Star of the Month | Goalkeeper of the Month | Coach of the Month | Team of the Month | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Club | Player | Club | Player | Club | Player | Club | |||
| March | Rodolfo Aloko |
Crown Legacy FC | Dylan Vanney |
Ventura County FC | Pedro Cruz |
Houston Dynamo 2 | Jeremy Hurdle |
Houston Dynamo 2 | Crown Legacy FC | [54] |
