Long Island Pro Soccer

MLS NEXT FAQs

MLS NEXT is the youth player development platform of Major League Soccer (MLS). MLS NEXT provides the most comprehensive and effective player development experience in North America. With a commitment to development, innovation and providing access and representation, MLS NEXT players receive the best training and coaching as they prepare for their futures, both in soccer and in life.

Since its introduction in 2020, MLS NEXT has experienced rapid growth and expansion in membership. The 2025-26 season includes 29 MLS Academies, 123 Elite Academies (152 total clubs), over 700 teams and more than 15,000 players across the U.S. and Canada competing in six age groups: U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U19. MLS NEXT players also make up a majority of the U.S. and Canadian Youth National Teams.

MLS NEXT teams do not hold traditional tryouts. All players are evaluated through invite-only trial training sessions as part of our scouting and talent identification processes. However, players who wish to be considered may submit an application, which will be reviewed by our technical staff. Selected applicants may then receive an invitation to attend an upcoming trial event.

The Island FC will host six age groups – U13 through U18/19 – competing in MLS NEXT.  These teams will begin play in the Fall of 2026 (2026-27 season).

The MLS NEXT program is a year-round program that includes scheduled breaks around public school calendars, holidays, developmental soccer breaks and end-of-the-season play. A full yearly schedule is supplied by the club after rosters are formed. Yearly plans serve as guidelines and may be adjusted throughout the year.

The Island FC will be in Nassau and  Suffolk County. We will plan MLS NEXT training sessions and game day locations to accommodate our membership as best as possible. Access to top facilities in both Nassau and Suffolk County ensures the MLS NEXT platform is available for Long Island’s top-level players.

MLS NEXT requires travel from New Hampshire to New Jersey for league matches in the Northeast division. There are typically one to two longer away matches per month during league play (3+ hours). The Club plans to participate in all MLS NEXT events which may require travel outside of the Northeast region. We will also participate in nationally ranked events and invite-only showcases.

Information on tuition & fees for the upcoming 2026-2027 season will be provided in the coming weeks. 

The tuition payment schedule will be outlined along with the tuition fees in your club information packet. Families may pay in full or register for the installment plan/payment schedule. These are not monthly fees. Installment plans are provided to alleviate fewer/higher payments.

The Island F.C. is committed to ensuring that all potential players have the opportunity to receive the benefits of participation regardless of economic status. The Island F.C. registration process includes an option to apply for an The Island F.C. Scholarship/Financial Aid. Applications are then submitted along with the necessary financial documentation and reviewed by The Island F.C. Scholarship Committee.

The Island F.C. boasts access to the top facilities in the region. MLS NEXT teams will train and play at the most pristine fields in Nassau and Suffolk County, Long Island.

LISC & THE ISLAND FC

The current Nassau-based LISC MLS NEXT divisions will transition to operate under The Island FC beginning in the 2026-27 season.

The broader Long Island Soccer Club continues and becomes The Island FC’s first strategic Club Affiliate Partner.
Families will receive communication specific to their child’s platform or team environment. In general, if your child is part of the MLS NEXT Homegrown or Academy pathway in Nassau, this announcement applies more directly to your team structure.
Affiliate means LISC continues to operate as an active and valued part of the broader player development ecosystem connected to The Island FC. In practical terms, that means LISC is not going away, LISC remains meaningful to the club landscape on Long Island, and families should not interpret affiliate status as being excluded, downgraded, or pushed aside.

No. LISC will continue to operate as a club and remains an important part of the overall structure. This announcement reflects a structural alignment, not the elimination of LISC.

No. This announcement should not be interpreted as a statement about a player’s value, potential, or future. What is changing is the organizational structure of certain platforms, not the worth of individual players or families.

Yes. A major reason for this structure is to create a more connected pathway across Long Island, not to narrow opportunity. While not every player or every team sits in the same place within that pathway at the same time, this structure is intended to create greater alignment and more clarity over the long term.

This is a major and exciting step for the future of soccer on Long Island. Not every part of LISC is changing in the same way. LISC is not going away. Families should not interpret this as a statement of value about their child. More specific communication will continue where details apply directly to a team or pathway.

Please contact Miquel Gasparin at miquel.ferrando@theislandfc.com and the club will make sure your question is answered appropriately. If your question is team-specific or program-specific, it may be routed to the appropriate club leader, so you receive the most accurate information possible.