HERRIMAN, Utah (Thursday, June 12, 2025) - Real Salt Lake’s pair of Academy teams depart this weekend to kick off competition in this year’s edition of the MLS NEXT Cup, to be held at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Path to 2025 MLS NEXT Cup:
RSL U18 - Qualifying though the MLS NEXT Flex tourney last month in Maryland, RSL’s senior group finished group play unbeaten, sporting a 2-0-1 (W-L-T) record and collecting eight points. The RSL U18’s punched its ticket to hunt the Cup in the automatic-qualifying event. Outscoring opponents 5-3 throughout the competition, RSL’s only draw of the group stage came against MLS academy side New York Red Bulls in the final group match, where it outlasted the Eastern Conference side 5-4 via shootout for the extra point.
U18 Scores - RSL Academy / Group E
5/9 vs Miami Futbol Academy Rush - W (2-1)
5/10 vs City SC San Diego - W (1-0)
5/12 vs New York Red Bulls - T (2-2; 5-4 shootout victory)
U19 Group E Final Standings
- Real Salt Lake, 8 pts, 2-0-1
- New York Red Bulls, 4pts, 1-1-1
- City SC San Diego, 3 pts, 1-2-0
- Miami Futbol Academy Rush, 3pts, 1-2-0
Recognized throughout the Club as a U18 squad, RSL Academy participates in MLS NEXT’s U19 age group, a league where rosters are made up of primarily U18 players but allows three U19 player exemptions. The elder RSL group was recently recognized as MLS NEXT’s May “Team of the Month” for its consistently excellent displays.
RSL U16 - Failing to qualify for the postseason at this year's MLS NEXT Flex tournament after a heartbreaking shootout defeat to New York Red Bulls, RSL U16’s qualified for this week in Nashville by earning an at-large bid. After the disappointing defeat in Maryland, following a stellar 2025 Generation adidas Cup title run, it’s May 31 date with Seattle remained the most important match of the MLS NEXT regular season. Circled on the calendar, RSL Academy traveled to face the Sounders in search of three points. Conceding first in the match, with the season on the line, RSL rattled off three consecutive goals from Rylan Hashimoto, Andreo Gajek, and Captain Javier Martinez to secure the necessary and vital three points.
The win clinched RSL an at-large bid, finishing third in the U16 West Division behind LA Galaxy and LAFC.
Tournament Format: MLS NEXT Cup is an annual tournament in which the best youth teams in the United States and Canada compete to be crowned MLS NEXT Cup Champions for the 2024-25 season. Thirty-two of the top teams in each of the four different age groups (U15, U16, U17, U19) will square off in a single elimination bracket starting on June 14 to battle it out for each age group’s respective title. Teams qualify for the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs based on results from league play or by winning their respective group at MLS NEXT Flex. MLS NEXT Cup Playoff matches will last 90 minutes in both the U16 and U19 age groups. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, all playoff matches will head to kicks from the penalty spot, except for the four championship matches, which will feature two five-minute periods of extra time.
Schedule: Real Salt Lake U16s start the competition on opening day, Sat., June 14, taking on Bethesda SC in the Round of 32. Should the U16’s advance, they will meet either Charlotte FC or Barca Residency Academy in a heavyweight second-round matchup.
The Real Salt Lake U18 squad kicks off its quest for the Cup on Sun., June 15, matching up against Michigan Jaguars in the first round, with the possibility of facing Real Colorado or FC Westchester pending a win.
19 MLS NEXT Cup matches will be streamed live on MLS’ YouTube page throughout the tournament, including the final of all age divisions. The 2025 MLS NEXT Cup broadcast schedule with the Round of 32 matches already announced. Click here to follow the updated broadcast schedule as the tournament progresses.
Real Salt Lake Academy is the official MLS NEXT affiliate of MLS side Real Salt Lake. Leading Major League Soccer in homegrown signees, RSL welcomed four homegrown signees earlier this year, welcoming Omar Marquez, Aiden Hezarkhani, Owen Anderson and Gio Villa to its 2025 class. The quartet of RSL Academy products boosts the number of homegrown signings to 45, after all four inked their deals with the Claret-and-Cobalt.
