MLS NEXT’s Age Group Decision

Starting with the 2026-27 season, player registration for within MLS NEXT will be as follows:

Allstate Homegrown Division will continue to use Birth-Year age groups (January 1 - December 31)

Academy Division will change to School-Year age groups (August 1 - July 31).

Background

Player registration via Birth-Year remains the optimal structure for the Allstate Homegrown Division, as it aligns with FIFA standards, the global professional pathway and greatly benefits our youth national teams.

The School Year age group system is the most suitable structure for the Academy Division, as it aligns with the broader youth soccer landscape across the United States and creates opportunities for continued collaboration and growth between MLS NEXT and the wider

See Full Page