MLS Next Cup Texas Team Preview: GFI Academy U16

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.   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.   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:   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">GFI Academy U16</h2>   How did they qualify? GFI Academy was among the 16 teams to have earned a spot during the MLS Next Flex event held in Frisco in April. The team from Houston ended up in Group D after beating Orlando City Youth SC 2-1, Los Angeles SC 2-0 and the New York Red Bulls 3-1.   What is their squad like? [player_tooltip player_id='349100' first='Mattias' last='Karlsson'] starts in goal most of the time, being backed by [player_tooltip player_id='295660' first='Marco' last='Meza'] and Andoni Moreno. David Pedraza, Ryan Quinn, Anthony Portillo and [player_tooltip player_id='295596' first='Rylan' last='Morrison'] are the main options in central defense. The outside back spots are taken by [player_tooltip player_id='210677' first='Alexander' last='Salinas'], [player_tooltip player_id='294954' first='Alejandro' last='Lares'] and Alejandro Aguero. In midfield, [player_tooltip player_id='349097' first='Ayden' last='Cessac'], [player_tooltip player_id='349980' first='Landry' last='Dupre'], Noah Brenson, Federico Ortega and Francisco Rodriguez split the playing time. Up top, [player_tooltip player_id='295675' first='Andrew' last='Park'], Marcelo Ramirez-Gil, Samuel Castro, [player_tooltip player_id='295582' first='Emilio' last='Maldonado'] and Miguel Campos provide the firepower.   Who do they play in the first round of the playoffs? Pennsylvania's Philadelphia Union, on May 23, at 1:15 PM MT.   Players to Watch    Aguero is a left back for GFI Academy. He's very offensive-minded and can also play further up on the field as a midfielder on the left. He does a very good job of staying wide and consistently offering a passing option to his teammates, even at the start of their buildup. Aguero is skilled on the ball and can beat opponents 1v1 or connect with his teammates in tight spaces. He plays with great intensity and works hard off the ball, too, showing solid effort when playing defense.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/02/2J4A0007.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-349935" /></figure>    Quinn is a center back with GFI Academy. He stands out at defending the penalty box, using his size and solid positioning to win duels in the air and on the ground and make strong plays that deny opponents the opportunity to finish chances. Quinn also demonstrates good mobility, efficiently covering ground in the defensive half, and works well with one or two center backs by his side. He also makes interesting plays in possession, showing the confidence and the vision to play progressive passes out of the back.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/02/2J4A0134_f96e85.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-349971" /></figure>    A mid-season addition to GFI Academy, Ramirez-Gil plays primarily on the wing for them. He typically features on the left for them and is very aggressive and productive on the ball, having solid success in his plays out wide. Ramirez-Gil is very creative with his dribbling and uses his pace to create separation from opposing defenders when going at them in space. He also shows well inside the box to finish chances and is very disciplined defensively, dropping back to help his team off the ball.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/04/2J4A0230.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-355572" /></figure>

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.

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.

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:

GFI Academy U16

How did they qualify? GFI Academy was among the 16 teams to have earned a spot during the MLS Next Flex event held in Frisco in April. The team from Houston ended up in Group D after beating Orlando City Youth SC 2-1, Los Angeles SC 2-0 and the New York Red Bulls 3-1.

What is their squad like? Mattias Karlsson Mattias Karlsson 5'8" | GK State TX starts in goal most of the time, being backed by Marco Meza Marco Meza 6'0" | GK State TX and Andoni Moreno. David Pedraza, Ryan Quinn, Anthony Portillo and Rylan Morrison Rylan Morrison 5'8" | D/M Dawson | 2029 State TX are the main options in central defense. The outside back spots are taken by Alexander Salinas Alexander Salinas 5'7" | D/M State TX , Alejandro Lares Alejandro Lares 5'9" | D/M The Woodlands | 2028 State TX and Alejandro Aguero. In midfield, Ayden Cessac Ayden Cessac 5'9" | M Kingwood | 2028 State TX , Landry Dupre Landry Dupre 5'5" | M Bridgelandscho | 2028 TX , Noah Brenson, Federico Ortega and Francisco Rodriguez split the playing time. Up top, Andrew Park Andrew Park 5'6" | F Grand Oaks | 2029 State TX , Marcelo Ramirez-Gil, Samuel Castro, Emilio Maldonado Emilio Maldonado 5'5" | M/F | 2029 State TX and Miguel Campos provide the firepower.