MLS Next Cup Playoffs: Preview - FC Dallas U15

<p>After over nine months of action, the MLS Next season is about to come to an end soon as the MLS Next Cup Playoffs will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, from June 14-22, determining the league's 2025 champions.</p>   <p>The playoffs will feature 32 teams in the U15, U16, U17 and U19 age groups, reuniting MLS academies and other teams that compete in the league and rewarding those who got the best results during the season.</p>   <p>The state of Texas will be represented in all four age groups, with teams from [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC'], [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'], Global Football Innovation (GFI) Academy and the [program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] making the trip to Tennessee to compete for the title.</p>   <p>In the days leading up to the tournament, we're previewing the Texas teams qualified for the MLS Next Cup playoffs:</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] U15</h2>   <p>The academy team from MLS club [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] accumulated 26 points (eight wins, two losses, two ties) in their league campaign this season. They qualified for the playoffs at the MLS Next Flex event, in May, and will have Massachusetts' Intercontinental Football Academy (IFA) as their opponents in the Round of 32 in Nashville.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='295598' first='Knox' last='Stover'] typically starts in goal for Dallas, having Eduardo Salas as his backup. [player_tooltip player_id='210656' first='Patrick' last='Arne'], [player_tooltip player_id='210651' first='Christian' last='Guillen-Lopez'] and Daniel Orta are the primary options at center back, with [player_tooltip player_id='210652' first='Justus' last='Jones'], Wallace Smith and [player_tooltip player_id='210661' first='Seif' last='Awad'] filling the outside back spots. In midfield, [player_tooltip player_id='280130' first='Alex' last='Soria'], [player_tooltip player_id='280110' first='Johan' last='Padilla Canales'] and [player_tooltip player_id='210667' first='Sammy' last='Guevara'] do the two-way job, while [player_tooltip player_id='211221' first='Nathan' last='Ochoa'] appears as the team's main chance-creator. [player_tooltip player_id='210654' first='Tamba' last='Hallie II'], [player_tooltip player_id='210669' first='Xavier' last='Gomez'], Jayven Perry and Angel Monsivais are extremely dangerous on the wings, with Angelo Caiafa Barrios filling the striker role in the team.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Players </h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">A center back with superior physical and technical skills, Guillen-Lopez is a key cog in [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas']' defensive system. He's typically used in the center of the team's back three, from where he controls everything inside and outside the penalty box. Guillen-Lopez is very physical, which helps clear crosses into the box and makes of him a tough matchup in 1v1 situations, but he's also mobile enough to defend higher up on the field or out wide when needed. The center back is very active in possession too, helping his team move the ball from one side of the field to the other quickly and efficiently, and also connecting long passes when he sees an opportunity. He has a good presence in the penalty box in set pieces and often scores off headers.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/04/2J4A0280.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-285260" /></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">An extremely technical and intelligent outside back, Jones captains [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] and is a very important player for them. Capable of playing as a left back in a line of four or as a wingback in front of three defenders, he stands out for his quality and quickness in possession. Jones is capable of manipulating the ball in a way that few players are, but one of the best things about his game is that he doesn't need much time on the ball to make an impact, consistently connecting first-time passes and moving off the ball to get it back. He very rarely puts his foot wrong in the final third, picking the right passes and executing them perfectly - the left back is also very good at making runs behind the backline out wide and sending accurate crosses into the box. A bit undersized, Jones plays hard on defense and consistently manages to shut down more physical opponents.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DKIGDeWuGDR/ </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">A central midfielder, Soria is one of the engines of the team, playing with good intensity and intelligence for [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas']. He plays a box-to-box role for them, and one of his main responsibilities is to take the ball to the attacking half. A lefty, he delivers extremely well in that regard, taking great care of the ball and displaying excellent chemistry with fellow midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='280110' first='Johan' last='Padilla Canales'] as the two do a great job of working off of each other and connecting through the center of the field. Soria has great calm and composure on the ball, never rushing plays and always picking the right options. He's very good at shifting the point of attack with long passes, but also thrives at feeding teammates with through balls behind the backline.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/04/2J4A0235.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-285249" /></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Ochoa is one of [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas']' main attacking players, bringing an interesting ability to create and finish chances for their offense. An attacking midfielder, he's extremely dangerous in the final third, displaying excellent vision and intelligent movement off the ball. A lefty, Ochoa likes to play more centrally, and he does an excellent job of connecting with the wingers and the striker, picking the right moments to give them the ball and immediately moving to offer a passing option. The midfielder is lethal in transition as he finds the wide players with well-weighted passes and sprints into the penalty box to get to the end of crosses.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DHPbF57SNog/?img_index=3 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">A highly technical and physically gifted forward, Hallie is a nightmare to opposing defenders in the final third. He's not only very fast and skilled, but also extremely intense and can keep a high level of play throughout entire matches. Hallie is more commonly used on the left side of [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas']' attack, but he has the green light to move around and does it with great intelligence and efficiency, often bringing the ball inside from the left to his preferred right foot and coming centrally to combine with the midfielders. He works well in quick plays through the middle, but is also very dangerous when isolated in 1v1 plays out wide. Hallie is very calm in front of the goal and typically finishes chances with great precision, having scored big goals for the team this season.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DGrljvkO2uR/ </div></figure>

After over nine months of action, the MLS Next season is about to come to an end soon as the MLS Next Cup Playoffs will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, from June 14-22, determining the league's 2025 champions.

The playoffs will feature 32 teams in the U15, U16, U17 and U19 age groups, reuniting MLS academies and other teams that compete in the league and rewarding those who got the best results during the season.

The state of Texas will be represented in all four age groups, with teams from Austin FC , FC Dallas , Global Football Innovation (GFI) Academy and the Houston Dynamo making the trip to Tennessee to compete for the title.

In the days leading up to the tournament, we're previewing the Texas teams qualified for the MLS Next Cup playoffs:

FC Dallas U15

The academy team from MLS club FC Dallas accumulated 26 points (eight wins, two losses, two ties) in their league campaign this season. They qualified for the playoffs at the MLS Next Flex event, in May, and will have Massachusetts' Intercontinental Football Academy (IFA) as their opponents in the Round of 32 in Nashville.

Knox Stover Knox Stover 5'10" | GK TX typically starts in goal for Dallas, having Eduardo Salas as his backup. Patrick Arne Patrick Arne 6'3" | D Frisco Lone Star | 2029 State TX , Christian Guillen-Lopez Christian Guillen-Lopez D State #65 Nation TX and Daniel Orta are the primary options at center back, with Justus Jones Justus Jones D State #14 Nation TX , Wallace Smith and Seif Awad Seif Awad M State TX filling the outside back spots. In midfield, Alex Soria Alex Soria M/D State #5 Nation TX , Johan Padilla Canales Johan Padilla Canales M State TX and Sammy Guevara Sammy Guevara 5'6" | M Turner | 2028 State TX do the two-way job, while Nathan Ochoa Nathan Ochoa 5'10" | M/F homeschool | 2028 State TX appears as the team's main chance-creator. Tamba Hallie II Tamba Hallie II F State #49 Nation TX , Xavier Gomez Xavier Gomez F State TX , Jayven Perry and Angel Monsivais are extremely dangerous on the wings, with Angelo Caiafa Barrios filling the striker role in the team.

Key Players

Christian Guillen-Lopez

TX #4

D #3

POS D

CLASS 2028

View Player

Christian Guillen-Lopez

State: Texas

Club: FC Dallas Academy

A center back with superior physical and technical skills, Guillen-Lopez is a key cog in FC Dallas ' defensive system. He's typically used in the center of the team's back three, from where he controls everything inside and outside the penalty box. Guillen-Lopez is very physical, which helps clear crosses into the box and makes of him a tough matchup in 1v1 situations, but he's also mobile enough to defend higher up on the field or out wide when needed. The center back is very active in possession too, helping his team move the ball from one side of the field to the other quickly and efficiently, and also connecting long passes when he sees an opportunity. He has a good presence in the penalty box in set pieces and often scores off headers.