Three Austin FC Players to Watch in the MLS Next Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just over two months after completing its 2025-2026 season, the MLS Next League is set to return to action this weekend, with the first games of 2026-2027 taking place all over the country.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For another season, Prep Soccer Texas will be following the league closely and providing wide coverage of the Lone Star State prospects, which will include match reports, player analysis and photo galleries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the season about to start, we'd like to highlight a few players from each Texas team who could be set for strong performances. Today we look into [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["381716"],"_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-6a91d8359f609"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kemuel will play for [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC']'s U15 team this season. A center back, he combines solid defensive instincts, great athleticism and good quality on the ball. He does a good job of defending inside the penalty box and is also very effective when he steps up to defend higher, being very firm with his tackles and keeping opponents under pressure. Kemuel's superior mobility helps him defend very well in transition and recover when opponents make runs in behind. He's been significantly expanding his passing range and is now capable of delivering accurate long balls out of the back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzurWV9bB6s","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=hzurWV9bB6s </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["377979"],"_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-6a91d8359f669"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Alvarez will be with [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC']'s U16 team in the 2026-2027 season. He joined the club last year and immediately became one of the main standouts in his age group. A direct and aggressive winger, he makes the most of his ability to dribble the ball with both feet to attack defenders with different moves. Alvarez is very creative with his dribbling and generates a handful of chances for his team with his plays out wide. He's good at providing service and scoring off set pieces, too, and is very disciplined and committed defensively, providing good support to the outside back playing behind him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/24460179/68f7fc849b11707a6ca1190cu0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a91d8359f6bc"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["349082"],"_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-6a91d8359f706"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Viana will permanently join [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC']'s U19 team after playing with them in some moments of last season. A striker with strong presence and excellent movement inside the penalty box, he's a goal poacher who's always looking to capitalize and convert the chances created by his team. Viana does a good job of battling opposing center backs inside the box and is an excellent finisher, showing calm and confidence in front of the goal. He also shows some quality when getting involved in the team's playmaking by dropping deeper and connecting good passes, and contributes to the team's defensive effort with relentless and intelligent press up top.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":355169,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/04/2J4A0146_eccc9d.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-355169" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->