What's Happening?
MLS NEXT and Taka have announced a three-year renewal of their partnership, solidifying Taka's role as a key technology and performance analysis platform for MLS NEXT. This extended collaboration ensures that every MLS NEXT player and coach across the Homegrown
and Academy Divisions will receive premium access to Taka's tools for the next three seasons. The partnership aims to support player development, coaching education, talent identification, and performance analysis within the MLS NEXT ecosystem. Luis Robles, General Manager of Sporting Operations for MLS NEXT, emphasized that this renewal reflects Major League Soccer's commitment to developing future talent by providing best-in-class tools. Since 2024, Taka has analyzed 36,000 MLS NEXT matches, generating over 13 million highlights and seeing broad adoption with more than 35,000 players and 3,600 coaches creating accounts. The renewal builds on MLS NEXT’s investment in player development, including the launch of Quality of Play rankings for U13 and U14 age groups, which evaluate offensive and defensive actions.
Why It's Important?
This renewed partnership is crucial for the advancement of youth soccer development in North America. By providing advanced performance analysis tools to all MLS NEXT players and coaches, it ensures a standardized and high-quality approach to training and talent identification. The individual highlights and personalized performance insights offered through Taka's Individual Development Plans will help players understand their strengths and weaknesses, fostering targeted growth. For coaches, access to detailed match data and video content linked to statistics will streamline player evaluation and feedback. This technological integration enhances the player pathway, increasing visibility for young talents to college scouts and professional teams. The success of MLS NEXT alumni, with 1,661 players entering collegiate soccer and 162 on MLS rosters in 2026, demonstrates the program's effectiveness and the importance of such partnerships in nurturing the next generation of soccer stars.
What's Next?
Over the next three seasons, MLS NEXT players across all six age groups will continue to receive individual highlights and personalized performance insights through Taka’s Individual Development Plans. Coaches will have full access to match highlights, key moments, and advanced statistics, all linked directly to video, facilitating comprehensive player evaluation and development planning. The partnership will also expand exposure for players in the U14-U19 age groups to college scouts, with their profiles and highlights available to over 2,300 college coaches and scouts who utilize Taka for talent identification. This ongoing investment in technology and analysis is expected to further enhance the quality of play and increase the number of MLS NEXT alumni transitioning to collegiate and professional soccer, reinforcing MLS NEXT's position as a premier youth development platform.
