Today, MLS NEXT announced eight new clubs as part of the program’s expansion for the 2024-25 season.
The league says each new member is committed to fostering elite player development with a local community framework aimed at nurturing well-rounded individuals. All eight clubs will begin play in the fall of 2024.
One of the eight new clubs resides right here in New England.
That would be Connecticut United Football Club (CT United Academy), which will join the MLS NEXT platform at the U-14 and U-16 levels. CT United Academy will join Carolina Core FC (U-13, U-14) as independent clubs in MLS NEXT Pro that will have their fully-funded academies participate in MLS NEXT. Chattanooga FC, which started competing in MLS NEXT Pro in 2024 as an independent club, will join MLS NEXT in 2025-26.