MLS Next Cup Texas Team Preview: Capital City SC U16

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 --> <p>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 --> <p>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='283624' first='Capital' last='City SC'] U16</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How did they qualify?</strong> [program_tooltip program_id='283624' first='Capital' last='City SC'] qualified for MLS Next Cup by ranking first in the Frontier Division during league play. The team from Austin collected 19 points in seven matches, beating Albion SC Colorado 2-0, [program_tooltip program_id='321473' first='AC' last='River'] 6-0, GFI Academy 2-1, Tulsa Greenwood SC 3-1, IDEA Toros 16-0 and the [program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers'] 2-1 and tying the [program_tooltip program_id='283639' first='Dallas' last='Hornets'] 0-0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What is their squad like?</strong> Sol Buckingham and [player_tooltip player_id='295662' first='Gavin' last='Meraz'] are the goalkeepers on the roster. The outside back spots are taken by Gabriel Gallegos and Wesley Hamilton, who play on the right, and Giovanni Sotelo, who appears on the left. Team captain Jaxon Sapp and Joshua Simoneuax are the starting center backs, backed by Giovanny Vazquez. Among the many midfield options are Sawyer Hunt, Christian Ledezma, Kayden Contra, Camden Spitzer, Dylan Romero and Joel Emagueu. Leading the offense are Kelby Spitzer, Diego Valverde, Nico Siqueiros, Cooper Nelson, Osmar Ocampo and Cooper Waddell.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/DW1eMEVgNh6/?img_index=5","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/p/DW1eMEVgNh6/?img_index=5 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Who do they play in the first round of the playoffs?</strong> California's Albion SC Los Angeles, on May 23, at 12:30 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_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Joshua Simoneaux","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Academia Bejarano","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='283624' first='Capital' last='City SC']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a039dacc4424"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Simoneaux is a center back in the Capital City team. His duo with Jaxon Sapp is one of the team's main strengths and has led them to conceding only three goals in seven league matches. Standing at 6'1", Simoneaux has a strong presence to clear crosses and make stops inside the box, but he also reads plays well and often stands out with quick moves to intercept long passes. The center back is calm and composed on the ball and distributes it efficiently out of the back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kayden Contra","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Homeschool","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='283624' first='Capital' last='City SC']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a039dacc4491"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Contra plays as a central midfielder for Capital City. He has a solid all-around game and can be used in a box-to-box role or, more advanced, as an attacking midfielder. Contra's ability to take the ball forward through the middle with strong, direct runs and intelligent passing makes a major impact in the team's offense, as he's very good at quickly turning defense into offense. He makes good decisions under pressure in the final third and also finishes well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Nico Siqueiros","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"103","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Vista Ridge","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='283624' first='Capital' last='City SC']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a039dacc44d9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Siqueiros plays as a forward for Capital City. He can play as a center forward or on the left wing and is very mobile and skilled on the ball. On either spot, Siqueiros stands out for his ability to get into good spots in the penalty box and convert chances at a very good rate. He's very calm in front of the goal and always keeps his cool to make good decisions and get the ball past the opposing goalkeeper. Siqueiros also does well in set pieces, delivering excellent service.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->