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The only professional club unifying MLS NEXT into an Island‑wide development pathway
Uniondale, NY – March 19, 2026 — The Island FC today announced a major milestone in Long Island player development, confirming the completion of a unified MLS NEXT pathway spanning the Island and establishing a clear, and identifiable youth‑to‑college‑to‑professional progression under one professional club.
Beginning with the 2026–27 season, The Island FC will operate the MLS NEXT Homegrown (Tier 1) and Academy (Tier 2) platforms across both Suffolk and Nassau Counties. Through a partnership with Long Island Soccer Club (LISC), The Island FC will assume operation of the LISC MLS NEXT divisions in Nassau, while the broader LISC organization will serve as the club’s first strategic Club Affiliate Partner. This collaboration enables the immediate delivery of the pathway while providing a clear and connected development experience for local players and families.
As part of the partnership, the LISC MLS NEXT divisions will be branded under The Island FC, aligning Long Island’s elite youth platforms directly with the professional club ahead of its full MLS NEXT Pro brand reveal expected early this summer. This milestone represents the next phase of the vision first outlined during The Island FC’s official MLS NEXT Pro launch in October 2025, when club leadership committed to building a connected youth development pathway designed specifically for Long Island players and families.
Supporting this structure, The Island FC continues to advance facility expansion plans across the Island. By developing multiple training and competition hubs, the club aims to reduce cross‑county travel, allowing players to train closer to home while giving families more time to focus on development, academics, and recovery rather than spending hours commuting.
“For decades, my family has invested in Long Island in ways that create lasting quality‑of‑life benefits,” said Mitchell Rechler, Principal Owner, and Chairman of The Island FC. “By establishing a true development structure under one professional club, we’re making a long‑term commitment—one that expands opportunity, strengthens local programs, and gives Long Island a pathway it can rely on for generations.”
In practice, this pathway aligns with the development principles underpinning MLS NEXT Pro, reinforcing the importance of clear connections between elite youth platforms and the professional game.
“MLS NEXT Pro is designed to support developing youth players for professional careers,” said Ali Curtis, EVP, MLS & President, MLS NEXT Pro. “Creating aligned pathways across an entire market, directly connected to a professional club, helps raise standards and expand opportunity for players.”
“This is about providing Long Island players a complete and connected pathway,” said Peter Zaratin, Team President of The Island FC. “For the first time, families can see a real progression to the highest levels of the game—without having to leave Long Island.”
The LISC partnership represents the first of several strategic Club Affiliate Partner announcements, as The Island FC continues to align with community clubs committed to elevating development standards and cultivating Long Island’s talent through a cohesive development pathway.
As part of its broader vision, which includes the launch of a professional women’s team, The Island FC also plans to extend this pathway on the girls’ side, ensuring equivalent opportunities for female athletes to develop and advance at the highest levels of the game on Long Island.
Visit our new MLS NEXT page for complete details.
To find out more about MLS NEXT visit their website here.
About The island FC
The Island FC is Long Island’s professional soccer club, preparing to launch an MLS NEXT Pro men’s team in 2027 while advancing plans for a professional women’s team. With a deep commitment to community and long‑term player development, the club is building a unified pathway spanning Nassau and Suffolk Counties, creating clear opportunities for local players to progress from youth soccer to the professional game on Long Island.
