The Sporting Kansas City U19s have qualified for the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs at Toyota Soccer Center in Frisco, Texas from June 25 to July 3, 2022. The Sporting KC U19s were one of 16 MLS NEXT teams to qualify for the playoffs based on regular season performance after placing second in the Frontier Division with a successful 4-1-1 campaign.
The boys opened up the season on November 20, 2021, with a 1-1 draw against Real Colorado at Swope Soccer Village's Victory Field. After a three and a half month break, Sporting's U19s resumed their quest with a 10-0 thrashing of Louisiana TDP Elite on March 13. The next time out, they suffered their lone defeat of the season, a 3-2 loss to Solar SC.
May was a busy month for the U19s as they played in three MLS NEXT matches in three weeks and competed in MLS NEXT Flex. With three matches left in the regular season, the lads picked up three consecutive victories, scored 10 goals and conceded just twice. They bested RISE Soccer Club 2-0, knocked off RGV Toros FC 3-0 and beat the FC Dallas Academy U19s 5-2, punching their ticket to the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs.
The single-elimination tournament is set to take place at the end of June. The squad is highlighted by Alex Umana, an El Salvador U20 Men's National Team member, who netted a hat trick against FC Dallas on May 21. The U19s are also joined by Sporting KC II members Draven Barnett and Matthew Hudson.
Fans can track the Sporting KC Academy's performances by following @SKCAcademy on Twitter. More information on the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs, including a schedule of matches, will be shared at a later date. For more information on MLS NEXT, please visit https://www.mlssoccer.com/mlsnext.
Last Name |
First Name |
|---|---|
Baker |
Camden |
Barnett |
Draven |
Casanova |
Cody |
Dean |
Jack |
Dyke |
Zahir |
Gutierrez |
Daniel |
Hart |
Mason |
Hooper |
Dylan |
Hudson |
Matthew |
Jernigan |
Thomas |
Long |
Zion |
Medill |
George |
Palma |
Leonel |
Sharp |
Jeremy |
Umana |
Alex |
Van Deventer |
Jayvin |
Visconti |
Dalton |
About MLS NEXT
MLS NEXT is a new paradigm for player development, launched in 2020 to transform youth soccer in North America. Founded on a collaborative approach to governance and a commitment to innovation, MLS NEXT players have access to the highest level of competition, training and personal development opportunities that will prepare them for their futures, both in soccer and in life. Membership for the 2021-22 season includes 133 clubs, 598 teams and over 12,000 players across the U.S. and Canada. Official partners of MLS NEXT include adidas and Carolina Online at the University of South Carolina. For more information about MLS NEXT, visit www.mlssoccer.com/mlsnext
