How to Position Your Soccer Player for the MLS
How to Position Your Soccer Player for the MLS
Somewhere between the scraped knees of youth soccer and the floodlights of a packed stadium, many parents who’ve paced the sideline have silently asked: How does a child make it to Major League Soccer?
With the expansion of MLS and the emergence of elite youth development frameworks like MLS NEXT, the aspiration to go pro may no longer seem more readily accessible. Yet the limb remains steep, selective, and oftentimes clouded by myth and misinformation.
As the Owner of GoSoccerPro.com and SoccerTalented.com, parents constantly ask me: How does my child get noticed? Drafted? Signed? In this article, I’ll share a general overview of the MLS Draft, the relatively new role of MLS NEXT, and what steps families can take to support their child’s dream of playing professional soccer.
Three Avenues to the Big Stage: How Talent Touches the MLS Roster
MLS player acquisition typically flows through three principal pathways. Each part is distinct and requires a different blend of perseverance, timing, and ability.
1. MLS Super Draft: The Collegiate Gauntlet
In 1996, Major League Soccer held its first MLS Player Draft, which is similar to the NFL draft in some ways.
The order of picks for the NFL and MLS drafts depends on the prior year’s standings. Teams with lower records receive higher picks and can trade draft picks.
There are also some differences between the two. The NFL draft has seven rounds, while the MLS draft only has three. Also, the MLS draft focuses primarily on college players from the US and Canada.
MLS scouts consider some NCAA Division I stars, those tapped by the Generation Adidas initiative, and other talent. In 2025, 90 players were selected from the MLS SuperDraft. The year before, in 2024, 87 players were selected to join the MLS.
There is a second round of the draft called the Waiver Draft. It allows established teams to pick up players released from their MLS clubs.
2. Homegrown Signings
This is where MLS seems to be trying to create its future. Clubs are funneling increased resources into in-house academies. They aim to develop young players from youth soccer and elevate them directly to the senior roster as Homegrown Players.
Imagine interning at a firm for years and then being handed a key to the executive suites. These signings bypass the draft and embody the club’s culture, style, and ethos.
For players, this underscores the importance of earning a berth in an MLS academy. In theory, the daily exposure to high-level coaching and scouting may fast-track a child’s ascent. In reality, very few players will make it to the MLS through this route.
3. Free Agency & Transfers: The Global Exchange
Older or seasoned players—often with international credentials—enter the MLS through free agency or paid transfers. While leagues like the Premier League have specific transfer windows in which they can sign players from other clubs, free agents can be signed anytime.
Though this path is beyond the reach of youth athletes, it frames the larger truth: MLS rosters still mix homegrown players, draftees, and global imports. The talent pool is not just national; it’s international.
MLS NEXT: The New Identification and Training Program
In 2020, MLS raised the bar for youth development by launching MLS NEXT, a sweeping evolution of the now-retired US Soccer Development Academy.
MLS NEXT is a nationwide system of top-tier youth clubs, including MLS academies and high-caliber affiliate programs spanning U13 to U19. These teams battle in competitive fixtures, high-visibility showcases, and national tournaments.
Players undergo high-level training, access credentialed coaches, and enter the spotlight before college recruiters and MLS scouts. The goal is to refine raw promise into professional-grade talent.
Why This League Could Change Your Child's Future
Selection for a MLS NEXT squad, whether under an MLS academy or a top-tier affiliate means a player is playing at a high level. This will increase the likelihood that scouts will be watching his games.
Many US-grown contracts begin here. Those who don’t ascend to the MLS often receive scholarship offers from prestigious NCAA programs. Bear in mind that the majority of soccer scholarship money still goes to International students. If your soccer player hopes to play in college, it would still benefit them to have high grades to help obtain an academic scholarship.
Some players go directly into MLS NEXT Pro, the developmental proving ground that transitions athletes from adolescence to the adult game.
How Does One Gain Entry to MLS NEXT?
Clubs may host annual ID camps or selectively scout based on word-of-mouth and tournament performance.
MLS NEXT comes at a steep price, with players often paying about $3500 a year for participation in the program and separate fees for kits.
Players in MLS NEXT teams are not allowed to play high school soccer. They can only participate in approved outside tournaments and events. To be granted permission to do so, they need to complete an Outside Competition Form. The MLS EXT Staff evaluates every request and decides. Players may not participate in approved talent ID events with the US Soccer and CSA National Teams.
What Clubs Seek in Player Talent
Since I started GoSoccerPro, almost eight years ago, I’ve interviewed coaches, scouts, agents, and club managers to learn as much as possible to share with others. Whether they’re watching a teenager at a showcase, a senior in college, or an international free agent, the evaluation parameters rarely change. Here’s what matters:
- Technical Finesse: Ball control, precision in passing, elegance in striking.
- Tactical Cognition: Game IQ—positioning, vision, and adapting within a team structure.
- Physical Resilience: Endurance, acceleration, and durability against the physicality of pro-level opposition.
- Coachability: The player’s openness to feedback and their rate of improvement.
- Mental Mettle: Their composure when pressured, capacity for resilience, and hunger to overcome adversity.
- Work Ethic: Consistent intensity in training and off-field discipline.
Coaches are not trying to find flawless players, but are seeking motivated, multi-dimensional players who combine talent with teachability.
What Can Parents Realistically Do to Help Their Child Thrive?
- Champion Growth, Not Glory: Prioritize skill development and maturity over trophies and stat sheets.
- Safeguard Their Wellness: Encourage balance—physical training, academic stability, and emotional well-being.
- Temper Expectations: Only a very small percentage of players will turn pro. But soccer can offer rich rewards through college scholarships, friendships, and experiences that will last a lifetime.
- Stay Educated: Learn the ins and outs of youth systems, college recruiting calendars, and exposure opportunities.
- Let the Passion Be Theirs: Soccer must remain the child’s calling, not the parent’s dream or ambition.
In Closing: One Dream, Many Journeys
Making it into professional soccer is a formidable goal, but it is no longer uncharted. MLS clubs are investing in domestic talent, and the system now offers structured, visible routes to becoming a pro. Yet every player’s story is distinct. Some rise through academies, others blossom in college, and a few bypass both and take their chances abroad.
Many players trained with US Soccer aim for the MLS, but it’s not the only option. In www.GoSoccerPro.com, we’ll provide other avenues for American players to go pro, including training in Europe, enrolling in elite independent academies, or signing with USL teams. More than one path can lead to reaching the dream of playing professional soccer.
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