Toronto FC Academy sends the U-18, U-16 and U-15 teams to MLS NEXT Flex from Friday, May 9 to Tuesday, May 13 at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Maryland. MLS NEXT Flex is the last qualifying competition for the 2025 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs held in Nashville, Tennessee, from June 14 - 22. Earlier this week, the TFC Academy’s U-18, U-16 and U-15 teams were each drawn into groups of four alongside three other clubs outside their regular season division. Each team will play three games, and the winner of each group will automatically clinch a spot in the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs.
“The MLS NEXT Flex event provides another opportunity for our Academy players to play a series of meaningful games as part of their development,” said Toronto FC Academy Director Anthony Capotosto. “Our U-15, U-16 & U-18 teams will play three games in four days, with the respective group winners automatically qualifying for MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs in June. We look forward to these upcoming games, which will be a great test as we continue to assess our players heading into the final stretch of the season.”
The U-18 team has been drawn into Group B alongside Orlando City Youth SC, Hoosier Premier and Seattle Sounders FC. TFC will open the tournament against Orlando on Friday, May 9, starting at 11:30 a.m. ET before facing Hoosier Premier the next day on Saturday, May 10, at 11:30 a.m. ET. The team will close out the competition with a match against Seattle on Monday, May 12, with a scheduled start time of 10:45 a.m. ET.
Drawn into Group M, TFC’s U-16 team will compete alongside Sockers FC Chicago, D.C. United and Houston Dynamo FC. The U-16s begin their MLS NEXT Flex action against Sockers FC Chicago on Saturday, May 10, with kick-off set for 9:00 a.m. ET. The team will then shift its focus to matches against MLS Academies, D.C. United on Sunday, May 11, and Houston Dynamo FC on Tuesday, May 13, with both games scheduled to start at 10:45 a.m. ET.
The U-15 team joins the rest of the Academy at Flex after being drawn into Group B with Chicago Fire FC, Real Colorado and Total Futbol Academy. Similarly to the U-16 schedule, the U-15s kicks off the tournament against Chicago Fire FC on Saturday, May 10, for a 4:30 p.m. ET start time. TFC will continue to play on Sunday, May 11, with a game against Real Colorado at 3:15 p.m. ET before battling Total Futbol Academy on Tuesday, May 13 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
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