MLS Next U-17 Win Southwest Division; U-16, U-17, U-19 Qualify for MLS Next Playoffs

May 3, 2024

Barca Residency Academy’s U-17 team has won the 2023-24 MLS Next League Southwest Division Championship and earned a spot in the 2024 MLS Next Cup Playoffs this June in Nashville, Tennessee.

Under the leadership of Coach Chris Rogers, the U-17 squad has not just clinched the division, but they have done so with dominance, boasting a 13-1-1 season record. They earned an impressive 40 points in the Southwest Division, comprised of 16 teams, including opponents such as Strikers FC, Santa Barbara SC, and Ventura Fusion.

Barca Residency Academy’s success isn’t limited to the U-17 team. Both the U-16 and U-19 MLS Next teams have also clinched 2024 MLS Next Cup Playoff berths and are in position to win the Southwest Division for their respective age groups. Should these teams succeed, it would mark a historic achievement for Barca Residency Academy, celebrating a clean sweep of the division championships across three of its four teams for the first time.

MLS NEXT FLEX

All four Barca Residency Academy MLS Next teams are geared up for the upcoming MLS Next Flex, set to take place May 10-14 in Boyds, Maryland. This event serves as a qualifying competition for the 2024 MLS Next Cup Playoffs, with 64 teams from each age group (U15-U19) vying for a coveted spot in the postseason. The top seed in each group will punch their ticket to the season-culminating MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs.

For Barca’s U-16, U-17, and U-19 teams, the MLS Next Flex will act as an essential phase of playoff preparation. Having already qualified for the playoffs this summer, these matches will provide them with a perfect opportunity to fine-tune their play and build momentum into the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the U-15 squad will aim to secure a spot in the playoffs by winning their group. Success at the MLS Next Flex would propel them into the playoff rounds and affirm Barca Residency Academy’s comprehensive strength across all age groups.