MLS Next 2 Clubs in New York

Blau Weiss Gottschee (BW Gottschee) is a prominent youth soccer organization based in Middle Village, Queens, New York City. Established in 1951 by Austrian immigrants, it operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The club serves a wide range of age groups, including an intramural program for boys and girls aged 4 to 9, boys' developmental teams for U8-U11, and an academy for U12-U19 players. BW Gottschee is distinguished by its strong emphasis on the mastery of technical skills, individual creativity, and a holistic approach to player development. The club has a notable history of success, including national championships in 1985 and 2014. It is an Academy Affiliate of the New York Red Bulls, providing a clear pathway for players to potentially reach the professional level. BW Gottschee has produced several professional players, including Timothy Weah, Omir Fernandez, Jack McGlynn, and Dylan Nealis. Their teams compete in top-level programs such as MLS Next. The club is recognized as one of the nation's largest and most successful, significantly due to high volunteer involvement.

Leagues: MLS Next, MLS Next 2

Downtown United Soccer Club (DUSC) is a comprehensive youth soccer organization established in 1982 and based in New York City, primarily serving Downtown Manhattan and the greater NYC area. The club is organized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity dedicated to educating, training, and inspiring youth soccer players of all ages and abilities. DUSC aims to foster a community that reflects the diversity of New York City, helping children develop a lifelong love for soccer and realize their full potential. They offer a wide range of programs for players from age 3 (Mini Ballers Classes) up to highly competitive U23 Men's and Women's teams. DUSC is distinguished by its commitment to providing programs for all stages of development and interest, serving approximately 5,000 participants annually. The club offers top competitive programs, including MLS Next and Girls Academy (GA), providing a full pathway for advanced players. DUSC also emphasizes community impact, offering scholarships and partnering with organizations to increase access to soccer.

Leagues: MLS Next, Girls Academy, MLS Next 2

FA Euro New York is a youth soccer organization based in Brooklyn and Staten Island, New York. Established in 2013, it operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The club's mission is to develop exceptional soccer players and individuals through a player-centered, development-focused training model inspired by European soccer methodology. FA Euro New York offers programs for various age groups, from a grassroots initiative for ages 3-14 through its MLS GO program, to competitive programs for U7 to U19. A key focus is providing youth players with a direct pathway to play at professional and/or collegiate levels. The club is the only MLS Next club in Brooklyn and Staten Island, providing access to elite national-level competition. Additionally, its senior team competes in USL League Two. FA Euro also provides a student-athlete residency program and a supportive community with a Brooklyn-based clubhouse.

Leagues: MLS Next, MLS Next 2

FC Harlem is a youth soccer organization operating in Upper Manhattan, the Bronx, and Washington Heights, New York City. Established in 1991 as Harlem Youth Soccer, the club focuses on providing a competitive player development pathway for youth to pursue professional soccer careers both on and off the field. The club serves boys and girls from ages 5 to 18, with specific programs for various age groups. A distinguishing feature of FC Harlem is its commitment to offering a 100% free program for selected participants, addressing the inaccessibility of high-cost youth soccer. The club emphasizes holistic player development, encompassing wellness, leadership, academic achievement, and career development. FC Harlem has partnered with Toulouse FC, a top-ranked academy, to enhance its technical and coaching development methodology. FC Harlem offers elite competitive opportunities, including participation in MLS Next for boys' U13 and U14 teams starting in September 2025. The club also fields boys' and girls' USL Academy teams as early as 2024, establishing a youth-to-professional pathway for both men and women. Furthermore, FC Harlem holds exclusive rights to launch a USL League One expansion club by 2026, creating a direct professional pathway within its ecosystem. The organization boasts a strong track record, with 97% of its high school participants graduating and 80% attending college.

Leagues: MLS Next 2

FC Westchester is a premier youth soccer organization operating in Westchester County, New York. The club was founded to provide infrastructure and coaching access to facilitate player growth, and it is a founding member of MLS Next, which launched in 2020. FC Westchester serves a wide range of age groups, with programs for boys from U-9 to U-19 and girls from U-9 to U-23. The club's mission is to develop positive self-esteem and build character by instilling virtues such as hard work, respect, honesty, self-control, teamwork, and sportsmanship. A key distinguishing feature is its commitment to providing superior technical and tactical instruction to maximize player potential. For boys, FC Westchester offers highly competitive platforms, including MLS Next, the Northeast Academy League (NEAL), and the National Academy League (NAL). The girls' program competes in the North Atlantic Conference, managed by EDP Soccer, which aims to provide a "Good Game Every Week". The club emphasizes a collaborative approach to player development, preparing athletes for both soccer and life beyond the field.

Leagues: MLS Next, MLS Next 2

FC Westchester is a youth soccer organization based in Westchester County, New York. The club was established in 1984 with a mission to provide the necessary infrastructure and coaching to facilitate exponential player growth. FC Westchester emphasizes superior technical and tactical instruction to maximize player potential, adopting a long-term view to development. The club serves a wide range of age groups, from a Soccer School Academy for boys and girls aged 5-8 to competitive teams for boys U9 through U19 and girls U9 through U16. For boys, FC Westchester offers participation in elite competitive leagues such as MLS Next for U13-U19, the Northeast Academy League (NEAL) for U9-U12, and the National Academy League (NAL) for U13-U19. The club also operates a Girls Program with teams competing in various leagues. A unique aspect of their methodology includes cognitive development strategies and constraint-based training, focusing on technical mastery, soccer intelligence, and creativity. FC Westchester is a founding member of MLS Next, providing a platform that delivers high levels of competition and training to prepare young players for their futures in soccer. The club also prioritizes character development, instilling integrity, self-discipline, and sportsmanship in its players.

Leagues: MLS Next 2

New York Rush is a youth soccer organization operating across various locations in New York, including Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Westchester. It is part of the larger Northeast Rush and global Rush Soccer network, which was founded in 1997. The club provides programs for boys and girls ranging from U4 up to U19, with a focus on long-term player development. New York Rush emphasizes a player-centered approach, offering high-quality soccer training and a clear pathway for players to advance. A unique selling point of Rush Soccer is its extensive global community, connecting players to teams from over 110 clubs in more than 50 countries, which creates opportunities for growth, competition, and cultural exchange. The club also offers a College Advisory Program (CAP) to assist players with collegiate and professional pathways. For competitive play, New York Rush teams participate in various leagues, including the USYS National League North Atlantic Conference. Top players within the Rush system also have opportunities to compete in elite programs like Rush Select, which forms national teams for tournaments globally. The Rush organization has a history of developing players who achieve collegiate and professional levels, with over 91 athletes propelled to the professional level in its 25-year history.

Leagues: MLS Next 2

Long Island Soccer Club (LISC) is a youth soccer organization operating across the Long Island area, with training facilities in both Nassau and Suffolk counties. Founded in 2017, LISC provides a comprehensive professional learning environment for exceptionally committed, elite-level players. The club offers a complete player pathway, enabling youth players to develop and compete in top national-level leagues and tournaments. LISC teams participate in prominent competitive platforms, including MLS NEXT and the Girls Academy (GA). The club distinguishes itself through its experienced and professional coaching staff, dedicated to player development. LISC also engages in community initiatives, such as its "Kick Cancer with LISC" program supporting Breast Cancer Awareness. The club focuses on providing opportunities for select age groups to join its competitive teams.

Leagues: MLS Next, Girls Academy, MLS Next 2

The Long Island Slammers is a youth soccer club based in Long Island, New York, with an address in Stony Brook. The club has a long-standing history, with the broader Slammers brand founded in 1994, indicating decades of establishment and influence in the sport. A core unique selling point is their commitment to fostering personal growth and a family-oriented culture, emphasizing hard work and excellence both on and off the field. The club is highly regarded for its success in preparing and placing student-athletes into top collegiate programs across NCAA Division I, II, III, and NAIA, including Ivy League and major conferences. The Long Island Slammers Boys Program is joining MLS Next for Fall 2025, and the broader Slammers organization has a history of competing in top leagues like ECNL, with multiple club championships. They also offer a comprehensive NEAL and NAL pathway for various age groups.

Leagues: ECNL RL Girls, ECNL RL Boys, Pre-ECNL Girls, MLS Next 2

Metropolitan Oval is a historic soccer facility and academy in New York City dedicated to youth soccer development. As a founding member of MLS NEXT, Met Oval focuses on developing elite talent through its Youth Center of Excellence, offering programs for players from U-6 to U-19. They provide specialized training, team play, camps, and clinics with a focus on technical skills and player development. Met Oval is committed to offering opportunities to youth of all backgrounds, including providing need-based financial support. Their "Professional Pathway" aims to place players in youth national teams, MLS and international academies, and collegiate programs. Met Oval has a strong track record of placing players in MLS and international academies. The facility, originally built in 1925, has been recently updated with a new synthetic field and lighting.

Leagues: MLS Next, MLS Next 2

New York Soccer Club (NYSC) is a premier youth and amateur soccer organization based in Westchester County, NY, founded in 2009. They are a member of MLS NEXT and the Girls Academy League, providing training and competition for players aiming for high-level play. NYSC focuses on player development with a "player-first philosophy," experienced coaching, and a pathway to college and professional soccer. Their mission is to achieve the highest standard in youth development through an environment that fosters growth, enjoyment, and character within a unified club structure. NYSC has a distinct possession-based attacking style of play, emphasizing dominating possession, creating scoring opportunities, and playing through the lines. They currently have over 40 boys and girls youth teams competing in various leagues including MLS NEXT, Girls Academy League, EDP, and NYCFC-affiliate leagues. NYSC teams compete at state, regional, and national levels. The club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Leagues: MLS Next, Girls Academy, MLS Next 2

New York Elite Alleycats FC (NYEAFC) is a youth soccer organization operating in the Capital District of New York. The club formed in 2021 through the alliance of two longstanding premier boys soccer clubs in the region. NYEAFC is dedicated to being the premier youth soccer club in its area, providing a challenging and quality experience to develop players to their highest potential both on and off the field. The club serves various youth age groups, including U11 and U12 in the Northeast Academy League, and U13-U19 in the National Premier League. Their vision is to create opportunities for players to achieve their goals of competing at the collegiate level and beyond. A notable feature is their commitment to core values such as respect, integrity, accountability, and teamwork, which are integral to their organizational philosophy. NYEAFC offers top competitive programs, including the MLS Next New Tier, which provides a high level of national league play and a post-season pathway for qualifying teams. They also participate in the National Premier League (NPL) for U13-U19 teams and the Northeast Academy League (NEAL) for U11 and U12 players, which serves as a pathway to MLS Next. The club also provides opportunities for younger teams through the Capital District Youth Soccer League. NYEAFC emphasizes comprehensive player development, focusing on athleticism, mental toughness, strategic thinking, and strength of character, supported by a College Placement Coordinator.

Leagues: MLS Next 2

RNY FC's Boys MLS NEXT Academy offers a professional learning environment for youth soccer players in Western New York, emphasizing individual development as players, teammates, and people. As a founding member of MLS NEXT, the highest platform for youth player development in the US, the academy operates year-round. Their mission is to be a model program for elite amateur academies in North America's top youth soccer league. The academy focuses on a comprehensive approach to development, demanding excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in the community, and aims to instill life values such as commitment, sacrifice, discipline, humility, and hard work. The RNYFC Academy is located at the RNYFC Athletic Complex in West Henrietta, NY, a 60-acre facility with an indoor field, sports performance area, and outdoor turf field. The academy has a history that includes transitions from the Rochester Mavericks and Rochester Spirit to the Rochester Junior Rhinos and Empire United Soccer Academy before becoming Rochester NY FC Youth. They also have teams participating in various age groups within the MLS NEXT program.

Leagues: MLS Next, Girls Academy, MLS Next 2

Syracuse Development Academy (SDA) is a premier youth soccer organization operating in Central and Upstate New York. The club was originally established in 2004 as Syracuse FC, with its coaching staff's history in soccer dating back to the 1990s. SDA is recognized as the top provider of elite soccer player development in the region, offering programs for boys and girls aged 4 to 19. A distinguishing feature is its status as the only Nike Premier club in the region, a partnership formed in 2014. The academy provides high-quality indoor and outdoor training facilities and employs professional licensed coaches. SDA teams compete in top leagues and programs, including MLS NEXT's new competition tier, the National League, Region I League, and the GLA. They also participate in US Youth Soccer tournaments and the Olympic Development Program (ODP).

Leagues: Girls Academy, MLS Next 2