The 2025/26 MLS NEXT season could not have started in more spectacular fashion. Opening weekend was a wild showcase of attacking football, fierce rivalries, and lopsided scorelines that set the stage for what promises to be a thrilling year. From Texas to Florida, and from the Midwest to the West Coast, the country’s best academies wasted no time reminding us why this league is the heartbeat of youth soccer in America.

Texas Heats Up Early

The first Texas showdown lived up to the hype. Austin FC U16 toppled Houston Dynamo 3–1 in a match tighter than the final score suggested. Tobias Trujillo struck first for Austin, only for Santiago Alvarez to equalize before halftime. But the second half belonged to Walter Lazo, whose late brace—capped off by a 90+5’ dagger—sealed the win and the bragging rights.

Meanwhile in Orlando, local bragging rights were on the line as Orlando City U16 clashed with Orlando City Youth. The City side, built around their 2011-born core fresh off last year’s U14 title, looked sharp. Goals from Maxi Alvarez, Ibrahima Ba, and Paolo Venditti proved enough in a nervy 3–2 win, with the Youth side refusing to go quietly.

Ruthless Performances in the Midwest

St. Louis City SC U16 were merciless, dismantling Bavarian SC 7–0 in one of the weekend’s most dominant displays. Charles Thomson opened within seconds, and Hudson Burrows’ second-half brace was the exclamation point.

Chicago provided more drama, though. Columbus Crew U16, led by a Jamil Danjaji hat trick, stormed past Chicago Fire 5–2. Michael Gomez’s brace gave the Fire hope, but Tiago Kennedy and Jorge Salmeron slammed the door shut late.

Nashville and Atlanta Bring the Fireworks

If you like goals, Nashville was the place to be. Nashville SC U17 demolished Lanier 11–0, with Giuliano Rodrigues bagging a hat trick and four other teammates also finding the net. Hours later, Atlanta United U16 tried to one-up them with a 10–0 rout of Nashville United. Noe Santillan’s four-goal blitz inside 25 minutes was one of the most jaw-dropping individual displays of the weekend.

On the West Coast, San Jose Earthquakes earned a measured 3–1 win over Portland Timbers, with Jeffrey Lara, Xavier Rodríguez, and Jacob Galván each finding the back of the net.

U19 Chaos: Shock Upsets and Star Performances

The U19s brought no shortage of drama. Sporting Kansas City outlasted SC Wave 7–3 in a rollercoaster of a game where Makhi Francis and Tomiwa Adewumi stole the headlines. Albion San Diego pulled off the shock of the weekend, edging LA Galaxy 4–3 thanks to early goals from Hayes Kinkead and Warner Black. For Galaxy—last year’s U18 champs—this was a harsh reminder that repeating at a higher age group won’t come easy.

And then there was Barca Academy’s jaw-dropping 13–0 win over City SC. Joshua Boney lit up the scoreboard with five goals in the first half alone, instantly putting himself on everyone’s radar as a name to watch this season.

NYCFC U16 joined the blowout parade, hammering Westchester 7–0, while Nashville U17 capped off their dream weekend with a 5–0 win over KSA.

The Big Picture: Youth Movement Accelerates

One of the biggest storylines already clear after Week 1? The rapid push toward younger age groups. Clubs are increasingly leaning on 2010 and 2011-born players, testing them against older opposition. The result? Energy, unpredictability, and goals—lots of them. It’s a bold move, but early signs suggest the gamble is paying off.

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Reality Check vs. Momentum for the U.S.

The MLS NEXT action wasn’t the only talking point this week—U.S. youth national teams were busy abroad, and the results were… mixed.

U17s Back to the Drawing Board

The U17s ran into a buzzsaw against the Netherlands, falling 2–1 and 8–2 in back-to-back matches. Cavan Sullivan again proved his class with a goal in the opener, while Chase Adams and Máximo Carrizo scored in the second game.

But the defensive breakdowns were glaring, leaving serious questions ahead of the World Cup in Qatar later this year. A final camp next month will be make-or-break, both for roster spots and for confidence.

U20s Send a Message On the International Stage

The U20s, on the other hand, are peaking at the right time. Their camp closed with a commanding 4–1 win over Morocco, highlighted by goals from Zavier Gozo, Joshua Wynder, Matthew Corcoran, and Marcos Zambrano. More than the scoreline, the U20s looked cohesive, mature, and hungry. With the World Cup in Chile just weeks away, this group is shaping up as one of the deepest and most balanced U20 sides in recent memory.

Final Whistle

If the opening weekend is any indication, the 2025/26 MLS NEXT season will be one for the books. From blowouts to upsets, and from future stars to national team intrigue, the narratives are already writing themselves. And with the U17 and U20 World Cups on the horizon, the spotlight on American youth soccer has never been brighter.

The journey has just begun—buckle up.