FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – New England Revolution II will be one of 21 clubs joining MLS NEXT Pro for the new professional league’s inaugural season in 2022.
Established by Major League Soccer, MLS NEXT Pro offers players the ability to complete an integrated player pathway from MLS NEXT to MLS first teams, giving both young and experienced professionals the opportunity to develop and showcase their talents within a competitive professional league. Cities across North America will experience the excitement and passion of professional soccer through the inclusion of both independent teams and MLS-affiliated teams.
New England Revolution II enters its third season in 2022 after playing its first two seasons in USL League One. Over the team’s first two years of existence, 30 players have made their professional debuts with Revolution II, including 18 current or former members of the Revolution Academy. Designed to accelerate the development of the top prospects in New England’s player pathway, Revolution II has already produced multiple players who became regular contributors at the MLS level, including inaugural team members Jon Bell and Maciel. This November, Maciel became the first Revolution II graduate to appear in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
The 21 clubs competing in MLS NEXT Pro’s inaugural season include 20 teams affiliated with MLS clubs and one independent club, Rochester NY FC. New England joins the league alongside Chicago, Colorado, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Minnesota, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, Rochester, Salt Lake City, San Jose, Seattle, St. Louis, Toronto, and Vancouver. Eight additional MLS-affiliated teams will join MLS NEXT Pro in 2023, including: Atlanta United, Austin FC, Charlotte FC, D.C. United, LA Galaxy, LAFC, Nashville SC, and New York Red Bulls. Additional independent clubs will also join the league in 2023 and beyond.
The 2022 season is slated to begin in March and culminate in the MLS NEXT Pro Championship in September. The team’s full match schedule will be announced at a later date. Visit MLSNEXTPro.com for more information on the new professional league.
