MLS Next Cup Texas Team Preview: Austin FC U19

<!-- wp:paragraph {"anchor":"block-620b6a9e-c4d4-4a8f-9b44-6bbee92730fa"} --> <p id="block-620b6a9e-c4d4-4a8f-9b44-6bbee92730fa">The culminating event of the 2025-2026 MLS Next season is coming up shortly, as the MLS Next Cup is set to take place at the Regional Athletics Complex in Salt Lake City, Utah from May 23-31.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"anchor":"block-483e7add-75e1-4b05-a213-86ca6370602a"} --> <p id="block-483e7add-75e1-4b05-a213-86ca6370602a">The playoffs will reunite the best teams from the regular season, with 32 sides that qualified either via the MLS Next Flex event or league play in the Homegrown Division competing in a single elimination format in Utah.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"anchor":"block-d2161841-3dc6-41f6-9bcc-28f383300632"} --> <p id="block-d2161841-3dc6-41f6-9bcc-28f383300632">Fifteen teams from the state of Texas will be in contention for the titles after achieving significant results in their seasons. We're now previewing each of them:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC'] U19</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How did they qualify?</strong> [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC'] were among the 16 pool winners in the MLS Next Flex event in Frisco in April. They finished first in Group R after beating Sockers FC Chicago 1-0, Southern Soccer Academy 5-0 and CF Montreal 1-0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What is their squad like?</strong> Nico Aristizabal, Liam Flynn and Cooper Roney are the goalkeepers in [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC']'s squad. [player_tooltip player_id='337491' first='Daniel' last='Wright'], Jose Moreno, Alvaro Gonzalez and Ryan Klinger occupy the outside back spots while [player_tooltip player_id='90389' first='Sebastian' last='Seiterle'], [player_tooltip player_id='148170' first='Jonathan' last='Ayala'], [player_tooltip player_id='321202' first='Andrey' last='Yeager'] and [player_tooltip player_id='355014' first='Vona' last='Dievbiere'] appear in central defense. The options in midfield include Landry Moncrief, [player_tooltip player_id='146769' first='Luke' last='Chamberlain'], [player_tooltip player_id='148169' first='Christian' last='Ayala'], Abner Zuniga, Mohammad Badawiya and Damion Perez. In the attack, Austin have [player_tooltip player_id='288405' first='Jacob' last='Peale'], Aiden Hale, Dominic Dono, David Romero Jr, [player_tooltip player_id='284290' first='Lucas' last='Hernandez'] and Nicolas Rojas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Who do they play in the first round of the playoffs?</strong> New Jersey's Cedar Stars Academy Bergen, on May 24, at 5:00 PM MT.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["90881"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0f1b0234c14"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Aristizabal is typically Austin's starting goalkeeper. He has solid experience, having even played for the Puerto Rican senior national team, and his play reflects that, as he approaches the game with a high level of maturity. Aristizabal has very solid technical skills and will rarely make a mistake with his actions. He's also explosive to get to shots between the posts, does a good job of controlling the penalty box in crosses, and is very efficient with his feet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXXV2_NE0pU/","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <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/reel/DXXV2_NE0pU/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["337491"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0f1b0234c75"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wright is a right back with [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC']. He's among the most promising players in the position in the entire country, combining incredible athleticism, solid technical skills and strong decision-making. Wright makes more of an impact on offense, using his ability to cover ground while in possession and his vision to deliver passes in the final third and combine with his teammates to make plays on the right side of their attack - also coming inside on some occasions. Wright also does solid defensive work, overpowering opponents and using his pace to challenge wingers 1v1 out wide.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkmkLYrpXXQ","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkmkLYrpXXQ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["146769"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0f1b0234cb3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Chamberlain is the engine in [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC']'s midfield. He plays with great energy, covers a lot of ground and is very active on both sides of the ball. Chamberlain is very productive defensively, sitting in front of the team's backline and stopping opponents with well-timed tackles. He's also an excellent passer, who helps distribute the ball in the center of the field, and is also capable of creating goalscoring opportunities with his long balls and final passes, even when operating under pressure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/20007070/69d9b0a91b1803129538db88u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0f1b0234e3f"} /-->