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MLS Awards West Virginia Soccer Entry Into MLS NEXT

Jefferson County, WV – Major League Soccer, MLS announced on Wednesday, March 22 that nine elite clubs were awarded entry into MLS NEXT for the 2023-24 season, positioning them to begin begin play this fall.

In addition, the newest independent MLS NEXT Pro club, Carolina Core, will have their U13 and U14 teams join MLS NEXT in 2024-25.

The nine newly-added clubs for 2023-24 are:

  • Athletum FC – Hialeah, Florida
  • Capital City SC – Austin, Texas
  • Ironbound SC – Newark, New Jersey
  • Los Angeles Bulls SC – Pacific Palisades, California
  • Los Angeles SC – West Covina, California
  • Modesto Ajax United – Modesto, California
  • Nashville United SA -0 Murfreesboro, Tennessee
  • Sporting Athletic Club – Wilmington, Delaware
  • West Virginia Soccer – Jefferson County, WV

“We are excited and honored for the opportunity to join MLS NEXT” said MLDA President Steven Wagoner. “The MLS NEXT platform provides our regional player pool additional professional and college pathways while competing at the highest levels in the country.”

West Virginia Soccer is an extension of the Washington D.C. Metro area. The club is located in Jefferson County, WV which borders Loudoun County and Winchester in Virginia, Frederick and Gaithersburg in Maryland as well as Pennsylvania. Given the club’s current regional player pool, WV Soccer plans to host Talent Centers in Loudoun County, VA and in Frederick County, MD in addition to its home base in Jefferson County, WV.

West Virginia Soccer joins a very competitive MLS NEXT Mid Atlantic division which currently includes MLS Academies such as D.C. United, New York Red Bulls and Philadelphia Union.

West Virginia Soccer was awarded the U13 and U14 age groups for fall 2023-24 and will begin hosting MLS NEXT Talent Centers for the upcoming season starting Monday, April 3rd. Additional sessions will be held throughout April and May regionally in the Eastern Panhandle surrounding areas.

For more information, please contact MLDA Technical Director, Brandon Ricker at bricker@mldasports.com

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