Vancouver Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy teams are set to take part in MLS NEXT Fest, starting this week.
MLS NEXT Fest, the premier winter showcase event in North American youth soccer, will kick off on Friday, December 6 at the Empire Polo Ground in Indio, California and run through Wednesday, December 11.
The 'Caps are competing in the U-19 and U-16 divisions.
In the U-19 division, they will play:
- Friday, December 6 vs. Houston Dynamo FC - 12:30 p.m. PT
- Saturday, December 7 vs. Sporting Kansas City - 10:15 a.m. PT
- Monday, December 9 vs. Minnesota United FC - 8:00 a.m. PT
In the U-16 division, they will play:
- Sunday, December 8 vs. Connecticut United FC - 10:15 a.m. PT
- Tuesday, December 10 vs. Atlanta United FC - 10:15 a.m. PT
- Wednesday, December 11 vs. Houston Dynamo FC - 10:15 a.m. PT
More than 400 of the best youth soccer teams will compete at the fourth-annual edition of the competition, featuring nearly 630 matches and over 7,000 players. MLS NEXT Fest provides an opportunity for top talent within the program to be evaluated by college, national team, and professional scouts.
The MLS NEXT Fest Showcase will have teams in four different age groups (U15, U16, U17, and U19) playing three games in four days. Matches are scheduled based on division, past event competition, and standings from the MLS NEXT regular season, allowing clubs to play a variety of teams from across the country. Players participating in MLS NEXT Fest are also eligible to be selected for MLS NEXT Fest Best Of matches, which consists of three games across the U15, U16, and U17 age groups from Dec. 8-9 in which top players compete against one another in front of evaluators.
Additionally, MLS NEXT will also feature two ‘Uncommitted Matches’ on December 8, which will provide a unique opportunity for college coaches to evaluate some of the top players in the U19 age group who have not yet made their collegiate decisions. The two Uncommitted Matches will be held in an East vs. West format, with 22 players per team.
Find more information at MLSsoccer.com/mlsnext.
