MLS Next Pro

MLS Next Pro is a professional men’s soccer league in the USA, primarily consisting of reserve teams from Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs. It was founded in 2021 and operates in the third tier of the United States soccer league system, beneath the MLS (1st tier) and USL Championship (2nd tier), and alongside USL League One and the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA).

Affiliated with Major League Soccer, MLS Next Pro is open to clubs from both the USA and Canada. The season runs from spring to fall, kicking off in March, with over 20 teams divided into Western and Eastern Conferences. Each MLS Next Pro club plays 28 matches during the regular season. The team that accumulates the most points across both conferences is awarded the regular season champion title, equivalent to the MLS Supporters’ Shield. There is no promotion or relegation in this league.

At the end of the MLS Next Pro regular season, the top teams from each conference advance to the playoffs. The number of playoff spots has increased since the league's inception—from four teams per conference during the inaugural season to eight per conference by 2024. The playoffs consist of three rounds (the conference quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals) to determine which two teams compete in the MLS Next Pro final. The winner of this final is crowned the overall champion.

Columbus Crew 2 made history in MLS Next Pro's inaugural season by winning both the regular season and the playoffs. They nearly achieved this again in 2023 but ultimately lost 3-1 to Austin FC II in the final.