How U13 and U14 Teams Qualify for the MLS NEXT Cup
A complete breakdown of how U13 and U14 teams qualify for the MLS NEXT Cup, including conference seeding, bracket structure, match format, and the April 26 qualification deadline.
MLS NEXT Cup is one of the biggest events of the youth season, and for the younger age groups (U13 and U14), qualification is based on conference performance and seeding throughout the season.
With the qualification cutoff approaching, here is a breakdown of how teams get in, how the brackets work, and what the tournament format looks like.
Tournament Structure
The MLS NEXT Cup for U13 and U14 is divided into two brackets per age group:
- Championship Bracket
- Premier Bracket
Each bracket includes 32 teams, meaning 64 teams total per age group competing at the event.
Teams qualify based on their conference standing when qualification closes. The last day of competition that counts toward qualification is April 26, meaning teams have until that date to secure their position in the standings.
How Qualification Works by Conference
MLS NEXT uses conference seed allocations to determine how many teams qualify from each region.
U13 Qualification
| Conference | Championship Bracket | Premier Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | Seeds 1–4 | Seeds 5–8 |
| Frontier | Seeds 1–3 | Seeds 4–5 |
| Mid-America | Seeds 1–4 | Seeds 5–8 |
| Mid-Atlantic | Seeds 1–4 | Seeds 5–8 |
| Northeast | Seeds 1–5 | Seeds 6–10 |
| Northwest | Seeds 1–4 | Seeds 5–8 |
| Southeast | Seeds 1–3 | Seeds 4–7 |
| Southwest | Seeds 1–5 | Seeds 6–10 |
U14 Qualification
| Conference | Championship Bracket | Premier Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | Seeds 1–3 | Seeds 4–7 |
| Frontier | Seeds 1–4 | Seeds 5–6 |
| Mid-America | Seeds 1–4 | Seeds 5–8 |
| Mid-Atlantic | Seeds 1–4 | Seeds 5–8 |
| Northeast | Seeds 1–5 | Seeds 6–10 |
| Northwest | Seeds 1–4 | Seeds 5–8 |
| Southeast | Seeds 1–3 | Seeds 4–7 |
| Southwest | Seeds 1–5 | Seeds 6–10 |
This structure ensures representation from every MLS NEXT conference, while still rewarding the strongest teams with Championship Bracket spots.
MLS NEXT Cup Match Format
Once teams qualify, the event moves quickly. The entire tournament is played in four days. If a team reaches the final, they will play five matches in four days.
Match Structure
- All bracket matches are 2 x 30-minute halves
- Round of 32 through Semifinals — if the match is tied after regulation, the winner is determined by penalty kicks
- Final — if tied after regulation, teams play two 5-minute extra time periods before going to penalties if needed
Tournament Schedule
Both U13 and U14 follow the same schedule.
| Date | Round |
|---|---|
| May 28 | Round of 32 + Round of 16 |
| May 29 | Quarterfinals + Showcase Matches |
| May 30 | Semifinals + Showcase Matches |
| May 31 | Final |
First kickoff begins May 28 at 9:00 AM, and the finals are scheduled for May 31 at 11:00 AM.
Showcase Matches
One interesting aspect of the MLS NEXT Cup is that teams continue playing even after elimination.
Once a team is knocked out of the bracket, they transition into showcase matches, which follow the regular season match structure. This ensures that:
- Every team still gets meaningful games
- Players remain visible to scouts and coaches
- Teams travel for more than just a single knockout match
What This Means for the Standings
Because qualification depends on conference seeding, every remaining regular-season match before April 26 becomes critical.
For teams sitting near the qualification cut line, a single result can determine whether they:
- Reach the Championship Bracket
- Drop into the Premier Bracket
- Miss the event entirely
Tracking Qualification with UpNextAnalytics
At UpNextAnalytics, we track MLS NEXT standings, rankings, and performance trends across every conference.
As the season approaches the April 26 qualification deadline, we will continue monitoring:
- Conference standings
- Team power rankings
- Key matches that impact qualification
You can track where teams currently stand across every MLS NEXT age group inside the UpNextAnalytics dashboard.
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