The 2025-26 MLS NEXT season officially kicked off this past weekend, with clubs across North America returning to action in the Homegrown and newly formed Academy leagues. Barça Residency Academy started the year in impressive fashion, as their Homegrown teams turned in a dominant, undefeated doubleheader at home, while the Academy sides faced a tough road test in Utah.
Homegrown Teams Set the Tone at Home
Barça’s Homegrown sides opened the new campaign in trademark fashion — with attacking flair, clinical finishing, and lock-down defending. Across eight matches against Ventura Fusion FC and City SC Southwest, the teams went undefeated, collecting eight wins, 49 goals, and conceding just one goal all weekend.
Against Ventura Fusion FC, the U19s posted a commanding 7-0 victory, powered by braces from Joshua Sosa and Nolan Tinsley. The U16s matched that energy with an 8-0 win, highlighted by a spread of goals from seven different players. The U15s impressed as well with a 7-1 win, while the U17s secured a comfortable 2-0 shutout.
The momentum carried into Sunday against City SC Southwest, where the U16s exploded for a 13-0 victory, led by a five-goal performance from Joshua Boney and a hat trick from Emanuel Recinos. The U19s added another eight-goal win, while the U17s and U15s each recorded 2-0 shutouts to cap off a perfect weekend.
MLS NEXT Homegrown vs. Ventura Fusion
U19: W 7-0 (Sosa x2, Tinsley x2, Cisneros, Rome, Padilla)
U17: W 2-0 (Selinger, Chappell)
U16: W 8-0 (Boney, Ramirez, Kong, Williams, Martins, Sanchez, Lopez, Ramirez)
U15: W 7-1 (Jackson, Lopez, Ramirez, Shepherd, Johnson, Alagha, Odom)
MLS NEXT Homegrown vs. City SC Southwest
U19: W 8-0 (Le, Tinsley x2, Sosa, El-Sherif, Ford, Padilla, Cisneros)
U17: W 2-0 (Lee x2)
U16: W 13-0 (Boney (5), Recinos (3), Kong (2), Ramirez, Creagh, VanCleave)
U15: W 2-0 (Jackson, Lopez)
Academy Teams Face Road Challenge in Utah
Meanwhile, Barça’s Academy teams traveled to Utah for their opening doubleheader, battling Utah Celtics FC and City SC Utah. The weekend delivered mixed results, but the U17s made a strong statement with two standout wins.
The U17 Academy side began with a 4-2 victory over Utah Celtics, featuring goals from Parady, Alonso, Antonio, and Martinez. They followed that performance with a 2-0 shutout of City SC Utah, as Aden Martinez and Nicholas Kazazian sealed a perfect start to their season.
The U15s also showed promise, opening with a thrilling 3-3 draw before narrowly falling 3-4 in their second match. Tobe Ezeanolue scored three goals across both games. The U16s and U19s will look to rebound after tough results.
MLS NEXT Academy vs. Utah Celtics FC
U19: L 0-4
U17: W 4-2 (Parady, Alonso, Antonio, Martinez)
U16: L 2-5 (Rodriguez x2)
U15: D 3-3 (Pachelli, Ezeanolue x2)
MLS NEXT Academy vs. City SC Utah
U19: L 1-4 (Ford)
U17: W 2-0 (Martinez, Kazazian)
U16: L 1-2 (Gaul)
U15: 3-4L (Lenz, Ezeanolue, Mackay)
Looking Ahead
The MLS NEXT Academy teams return home this weekend for an in-state matchup against FC Tucson at Grande Sports World — Home of Barça Residency Academy. Meanwhile, the Homegrown squads will hit the road for a California doubleheader, taking on LA Soccer Club on Saturday before facing Albion SC LA on Sunday.
