MLS Next Cup Texas Team Preview: FC Dallas U17

<!-- 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='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] U17</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How did they qualify?</strong> [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] were among the 16 pool winners in the MLS Next Flex event held in Frisco in April. They were in Group T and ranked first with seven points after defeating Miami Futbol Academy Rush 5-3 in PKs after a 2-2 tie, downing Indy Eleven 2-1 and overcoming Los Angeles FC 5-4 in the PK shootout after a 3-3 draw.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What is their squad like?</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='295563' first='David' last='Jaimes Martinez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='210676' first='Tito' last='Salas'] split time in goal for [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas']. The backline has [player_tooltip player_id='349090' first='Robert' last='Melvin'], [player_tooltip player_id='210652' first='Justus' last='Jones'], [player_tooltip player_id='352236' first='Elijah' last='Tayengo'] and [player_tooltip player_id='349832' first='Dariel' last='Orta'] occupying the outside back spots and [player_tooltip player_id='210656' first='Patrick' last='Arne'], [player_tooltip player_id='349088' first='Titus' last='Watson'] and Christian Guillen-Lopes as center backs. The options at midfield are [player_tooltip player_id='280110' first='Johan' last='Padilla Canales'], [player_tooltip player_id='210661' first='Seif' last='Awad'], Eli West, [player_tooltip player_id='349167' first='Angel' last='Monsivais Leos'] and [player_tooltip player_id='211221' first='Nathan' last='Ochoa']. [player_tooltip player_id='295568' first='Benjamin' last='Flowers'], [player_tooltip player_id='210654' first='Tamba' last='Hallie II'], [player_tooltip player_id='210669' first='Xavier' last='Gomez'], Alvin Tate, Quincy Lamar and Neil Akem are the forwards in the squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Who do they play in the first round of the playoffs?</strong> Pennsylvania's Philadelphia Union, on May 24, at 10:15 AM CT.</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":["295563"],"_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-6a04c3ddca4e5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Martinez is one of the top goalkeepers in the country. He plays up with this team and still manages to make a difference with his strong game between the posts. A very tall goalkeeper, he has excellent agility and reflexes and consistently comes up with big saves in key moments. Martinez is also excellent in the air, moving well inside the penalty box and using his length to get to the ball before everyone else. His feet have improved significantly since the start of the season, and he's now much more comfortable and efficient on the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":356273,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/04/2J4A0023_00560d.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-356273" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["210661"],"_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-6a04c3ddca5d5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas']' captain Awad can play a few different spots, but mostly appears in central midfield for them. He has a very clean and efficient game and makes a positive impact on the team by offering solid contributions on both sides of the ball. Awad is very disciplined and effective defensively, and does a good job of dispossessing opponents when sitting in front of the backline or when patrolling the wide areas of the field. He produces well in possession, too, distributing the ball efficiently with his intelligent passing and infiltrating the final third with strong runs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":356274,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/04/2J4A0025_fb5077.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-356274" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["210669"],"_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-6a04c3ddca69c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gomez plays as a forward for [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] and can be used anywhere up top for them. He's very quick and direct and is at his best when he has space in front of him to make runs and attack defenders. Gomez is a lethal finisher who typically scores in high volumes, and that makes of him a threat at the center forward spot, but he also has the vision and the quality to create chances for his teammates when deployed on the wings. The forward is relentless with his press and also appears well in set pieces, converting penalty kicks with impressive efficiency and creating goalscoring opportunities out of free kicks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/DVPvmjADqXr/","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/DVPvmjADqXr/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->