Top U15 teams at MLS Next Cup

2023 MLS Next Cup kicks off on Saturday, June 17th in Frisco, Texas and marks the end of the 2022 - 2023 MLS Next season. The final 32 team brackets are out and the first round matchups are set. The left side of the bracket is stacked with a lot of good teams. Whoever comes through that side will be very battle tested. I've analyzed the bracket and have curated a list of teams that I think have the best chance to take home the trophy.

Philly reached the finals of the Generation Adidas Cup back in April and has been widely considered the most talented U15 team in MLS Next — led by Cavan Sullivan, Anisse Saidi and Peter Doran. After their heartbreaking loss to Austin FC in the GA Cup final, I am betting this team is hyper motivated to win some hardware.

LAFC was knocked out of the GA Cup by a very talented Real Madrid team. LAFC have looked dominant at times and will be a tough team to beat in this tournament. The question will be if they will be able to score the goals needed to beat good sides.

Orlando has been one of the standout teams throughout the year at the U15 level and went toe to toe with Philly in the semi-finals at GA Cup. Gustavo Caraballo Delgado has been one of the best attacking players in MLS Next and will look to get some revenge on Philly in this tournament.

Heading into the knockout stages, RBNY looked like the most dominant team in the tournament with their leading goal scorer, Julian Hall, looking nearly unstoppable. In their quarter-final matchup against eventual champions, Austin FC, Hall received an early red card. That really hurt the Red Bulls chances of advancing and their tournament was cut short. This will be a team on a mission to prove that they should have been a trophy contender.

The right side of the bracket is more open than the left, so there are some teams that you may not expect have a chance to make it to the final. I like NYCFC because they can score goals with Zidane Yanez leading the attack. NYCFC could be a team to look out for on the right side of the bracket.

Austin comes into this tournament with a target on their back after taking home the Generation Adidas Cup trophy. The attack is led by the very talented Viggo Ortiz and the defense is anchored by Gavin Wolff Gavin Wolff 5'9" | D State #29 Nation TX . Austin plays very well as a team and will be a difficult out in this tournament.

If there is one non MLS academy to watch, for me, it would be Real Colorado. Real Colorado showed well in league play against MLS academies and they have a very intriguing winger in Owen Anderson. He is a player that has to be on MLS academies radar. I like the way the bracket unfolds for Real Colorado and they could be a dark horse in this tournament.