Philadelphia Union Academy will have all three of its teams represented at the 2024 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs as the U-17 squad secured their postseason appearance with a 3-0 win over Charlotte FC on Sunday afternoon at the WSFS Bank Sportsplex.
Under the direction of Head Coach Pete McDonnell, the U17s earned their spot via the league table that sees the Baby Snakes atop the East (North) division which features Toronto FC, CF Montreal, New York City FC, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls and D.C. United. The two-time defending Generation adidas Cup champions are 9-2-2 in league play this season and own of the top goal differentials in all of MLS NEXT this season.
Thirty-two of the top teams from the regular season will compete to win an MLS NEXT Cup championship in four different age groups (U-15, U-16, U-17, U-19) at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex. Teams that do not qualify for the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs can participate in the MLS NEXT Cup Showcase, which will be held at the same venue. U-13 and U-14 age groups will also participate in the MLS NEXT Cup Showcase in 2024.
Sixteen of the 32 teams will qualify for MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs based on their standings in the league table. League matches will be played on a regional basis from September 2023 to June 2024, featuring eight divisions – Florida, Frontier, Mid-America, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest. The other 16 teams will qualify for MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs based on their performance at MLS NEXT Flex in May 2024.
