This coming weekend, the first big event of the 2024/25 MLS Next season kicks off as the 2024 MLS Next Fest takes place from December 6-11 at the Empire Polo Ground in Indio, California. It returns to Southern California after being located in Phoenix, Arizona last year. MLS Next Fest serves as the first opportunity for top teams around the country to face off in the U15, U16, U17, and U19 age groups and is a great way for players from the over 400 teams competing to be scouted by colleges and professional clubs. MLS Next also revealed a new addition to the event this year called the MLS Next Fest Power Rankings, which rank teams based on an advanced formula that includes points earned, strength of schedule, and other factors. The top two teams from each division will play in the 16-team GA Cup qualifiers at MLS Next Fest, with the winners qualifying directly to the 2025 edition of the Generation Adidas Cup. Only MLS Next Elite Academies (non-MLS affiliated MLS Next clubs) in the U16 and U19 age groups are eligible for these power rankings, providing a way for smaller academies to make a name for themselves. However, all eyes will be on the Pro Player Pathway section of MLS Next Fest, where the top young stars from MLS academies will get a chance to face off against new opponents.

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One of the most anticipated matchups in the U16 division occurs on Sunday December 8th as the Philadelphia Union face off against FC Dallas. Long regarded as the two top academies in the United States, Philadelphia and Dallas have had some bad blood recently as their second teams played each other in the MLS Next Pro final in November. North Texas SC, FC Dallas’s second team, took home the trophy with a thrilling 3-2 win, which the Union will be looking to avenge in this U16 fixture. They come into it in red-hot form as the only undefeated U16 MLS team remaining, having won 8 of their 10 matches and drawn the other 2 while outscoring their opponents by a whopping 52-6 margin. USYNT striker Malik Jakupovic will lead the way after a brace against New York Red Bulls at Subaru Park in their latest match, while Mexico U16 goalkeeper Marcelo Avalos is one of the best shot-stoppers in the nation for his age. FC Dallas will look to hand the Union their first loss as they have also enjoyed a successful start to the season, winning 3 of their 4 division games in MLS Next. Key players for Dallas are attacking midfielder Christopher “Steel” Cook, who was with the USA U15s earlier this year and was the second-youngest debutant in MLS Next Pro this season, and left back Liam Vejrostek, who received his first USYNT call up this month.

The U18 age group also has an undefeated MLS academy, and they might be in even better form than Union U16. Orlando City U18 have won 11 of their 12 matches so far this season, only dropping points in a 1-1 draw with Athletum FC in September. Led by USA U18 striker Justin Ellis, they’ve beaten Inter Miami and Charlotte FC twice as well as defeating Atlanta United and CF Montréal, outscoring their opponents 42-12 along the way. Their most intriguing matchup in MLS Next Fest is against the LA Galaxy on Monday December 9. The Galaxy still have several of their key players from the U17 team that won MLS Next Cup in June including the midfield of Nathan Nava, Dylan Vanney, and Brett Phan and boast USA U17 center back Enrique Martinez as the staple of their back line. They’ve only lost 1 of their 11 games this season and have beaten the likes of Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids. Speaking of Real Salt Lake, their U19s also have a marquee matchup against Philadelphia Union. This is a rematch of the round of 16 playoff match from last year that the Union won in penalties after a 90th minute equalizer by Kellan LeBlanc. The two sides also faced off in last season’s edition of MLS Next Fest, with the Union claiming a comfortable 3-0 win. Talented dual-national striker Anisse Saidi is the player to watch after an incredible international break with Tunisia U17 where he scored 4 goals and provided an assist in AFCON Qualifying. RSL will have to find a way to stop him if they want revenge for those two losses last season.

With the MLS Next Pro season concluding, it’s the perfect time for some of the top prospects in the country to explore their options in Europe. It was reported earlier this week by journalists Fabrizio Romano and Tom Bogert that Philadelphia Union II star center back Neil Pierre is on trial with Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach. He was at their match against St. Pauli, which coincidentally was USMNT right back Joe Scally’s 100th Bundesliga game. Pierre, 17, captained the USA U19s recently and is also receiving interest from Premier League and La Liga clubs. His MLS Next Pro contract will convert to a MLS homegrown deal in January and with a new manager coming in for the Union first team, Pierre has a big opportunity to earn substantial MLS minutes.

Neil Pierre isn’t the only USA U19 international that went on trial with a European club over the past week. The Orlando City B duo of 17 year old defensive midfielder Colin Guske and 18 year old left back Tahir Reid-Brown trained with Portuguese giants Sporting CP as a result of the official technical partnership between the two clubs, which was announced in September. Guske played over 2000 minutes in MLS Next Pro this season and started in 24 of the 25 matches he featured in, including Orlando City B’s lone playoff game against FC Cincinnati 2. Reid-Brown played more sporadically, racking up just over 600 MLS Next Pro minutes in 18 appearances, 6 of them starts. If either of them were to make the move to Lisbon they would join former New York Red Bulls homegrown midfielder Bento Estrela at the club, who signed in late August and has played for Sporting’s U19s.