Charlotte FC's Academy squads have wrapped up the 2024-25 regular season and two of its squads will kick off postseason runs this weekend. The single-elimination knockout tournaments will be held from June 14-22 at Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro, Tenn., with two championship matches contested on Saturday, June 21 and the final four championship games on Sunday, June 22.
CLTFC's U-15 team will kick off its MLS NEXT Cup Playoff run on Saturday, June 14 at 10:30 a.m. ET against MLS Academy side Houston Dynamo FC. The U-15s finished the regular season fifth in the Southeast Division with a 7W-4L-1D record, missing out on qualifying for the playoffs via league standings, but earning qualification through MLS NEXT Flex, where the team topped their group that included Orlando City SC, Michigan Wolves and Blau Weiss Gottschee.
The Crown's U-16 squad begins its postseason run against the Barca Residency Academy on Saturday, June 14 at 8:30 p.m. ET. The U-16s posted a 6W-7L-5D record in regular season play, falling short of qualification through the standings, but also punched their ticket via MLS NEXT Flex. In their group, the 16s faced the Baltimore Armour, Austin FC and Phoenix Rising FC.
2025 MLS NEXT Cup is the conclusion of the 2024-25 MLS NEXT season, featuring 32 of the top teams in each of the four different age groups (U15, U16, U17, U19) that qualified for the competition based on results from league play or by winning their respective group at MLS NEXT Flex, a qualifying event that took place from May 9-13.
MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs matches will be 80 minutes in the U15 age group and 90 minutes in the other three age groups. If the match is tied at the end of regulation, all games will head to penalty kicks, except for the four championship matches, which will feature two five-minute periods of extra time. If the championship matches are still tied after the extra time periods, they will then head to penalty kicks to decide a winner.
Nineteen MLS NEXT Cup games, including all four championship matches, will stream live on MLS’ YouTube page. Across the four age groups represented in the playoffs, five round of 32 matches, two round of 16 matches, four quarterfinal games, and four semifinal contests will also be available to watch on MLS’ YouTube page. Jalil Anibaba, Calen Carr, AJ Ricketts, and Evan Weston will be the broadcasters for the tournament from June 14-22 in Nashville.
