PPA Accepted into MLS NEXT Academy Division — What This Means for Our Players

Mar 9
3 min read

Updated: Mar 17

March 9th, 2026

A Major Milestone for Our Club

We are proud to announce that our Boys Premier Soccer Program has been accepted into the MLS NEXT Academy Division beginning next year.

This achievement represents a major step forward in the continued growth of our club and provides our players with access to one of the most advanced development environments in North American youth soccer.

“What makes this moment special isn’t just the league we’re entering — it’s how we got here.”— Annie Worden, Director of Premier Soccer (NWSL Champion, Washington Spirit Assistant Coach)

“From day one, our focus has been on the process: building a strong culture, developing the whole player, and creating an environment where players grow both on and off the field. We’ve never chased results — we’ve trusted that if we build the right way, the results will follow.”

“MLS NEXT validates the work that’s been happening behind the scenes for years.”— Kofi Opare, Director of Coaching (Former D.C. United Player)

“This level looks for clubs that are intentional about development — how they train, how they support players, and how they build pathways. Our commitment to hiring and developing great coaches, and putting players in the right environment, is what made this possible.”

“What excites me most is what this means for our players moving forward.”— Matt Thompson, Technical Director (Head Coach, University of D.C.)

“With MLS NEXT on the boys side and Girls Academy Aspire on the girls side, we now have a complete elite pathway. Players in our program can develop within one system, guided by a leadership team aligned around long-term growth — not short-term wins.”

What is MLS NEXT?

MLS NEXT is the premier youth soccer development platform in the United States and Canada. Launched by Major League Soccer in 2020, it was created to provide elite training environments, high-level competition, and a clear pathway for top youth players.

MLS NEXT currently features hundreds of elite academies and thousands of players across North America competing in age groups from U13 through U19.

The league is designed to:

Raise the standard of youth development
Create consistent elite competition
Provide national scouting exposure
Support pathways to college and professional soccer

Many MLS academies and top independent clubs compete within this platform.

What is the MLS NEXT Academy Division?

MLS NEXT Academy Division is an expansion within MLS NEXT designed to bring additional high-performing clubs into the MLS NEXT ecosystem.

With this expansion - MLS NEXT will now be represented in 40 states, along with the District of Columbia, and will now include 318 clubs and over 53,000 players across both Divisions.

Key features include:

Regional Competition: Teams primarily compete within regional divisions, reducing travel while maintaining strong competition.
National Events and Showcases: Teams participate in major MLS NEXT showcase events where college and professional scouts attend.

Integration with the MLS NEXT ecosystem: Clubs are evaluated annually and may progress within the MLS NEXT structure over time.
Balanced Schedule: The competition calendar is designed to work alongside high school seasons while maintaining elite development standards.

Why This Matters for Our Players

Joining MLS NEXT represents a significant step in the pathway available to players within our club.

Players will benefit from:

Higher-Level Competition: MLS NEXT clubs compete against some of the best academies in the country, creating an environment that challenges players to

grow.

Increased College Exposure: National showcases and MLS NEXT events attract college coaches, professional scouts, and national team evaluators.

Professional Pathways: The MLS NEXT platform is connected to a broader professional development pipeline that includes opportunities to advance toward professional soccer environments.