Toronto FC Academy’s U-15 team finished as the top seed in their four-team group at the MLS NEXT Flex tournament, securing a spot in the 2024 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs, scheduled to take place in Nashville, Tennessee, from June 15 to 23.
The U-15 Academy team traveled to Boyds, Maryland, to compete in the MLS NEXT Flex tournament from Friday, May 10 to Tuesday, May 14. The three-game tournament placed TFC in a group with Santa Barbara Soccer Club, Minnesota United, and Austin FC, with the top seed earning a spot in the 2024 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs.
TFC Academy’s U-15 team went undefeated (3W-0L-0T) across three matches and finished top in their group with nine points. They defeated Minnesota United (3-0) and Austin FC (3-2), before facing off against Santa Barbara SC, the only other undefeated team in the group. In the final game of the MLS NEXT Flex tournament, TFC secured a 2-1 victory over Santa Barbara, earning their ticket to the playoffs in June.
The playoffs will feature 32 teams from each age group (U-15, U-16, U-17, U-19). TFC’s U-15 Academy team and 15 other teams have earned a spot into the playoffs after their MLS NEXT Flex qualification. The remaining 16 teams will qualify based on their MLS NEXT league standings from September 2023 to June 2024.
TFC’s U-17 Academy team also competed in the MLS NEXT Flex tournament and finished second (1W-1L-1T) in their group with Orlando City (first), Barca Residency Academy (third) and TSF Academy (fourth). The U-17s resume MLS NEXT league action in June and currently ranks second in the U-17 East (North) Division.