Five Texas Forwards with Game-Changing Ability at MLS Next Fest

<p>The MLS Next League is set to host its first national event of the 2025-2026 season in the next few days, as the MLS Next Fest tournament will go from December 4-15 in Mesa, Arizona.</p>   <p>Having the Scottsdale Sports Complex, Bell 94 Sports Complex and Reata Sports Complex as the venues, 1,474 teams representing over 250 different clubs will compete in more than 2,400 matches over the course of 12 days.</p>   <p>Many MLS Next teams from Texas that compete in the league's Homegrown Division will make the trip to Arizona, with [program_tooltip program_id='321473' first='AC' last='River'], [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC'], [program_tooltip program_id='283624' first='Capital' last='City SC'], [program_tooltip program_id='283639' first='Dallas' last='Hornets'], [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'], [program_tooltip program_id='283654' first='Global' last='Football Innovation Academy'] (GFI), [program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'], [program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers'] and IDEA Toros combining to have 32 teams in action in the U14, U15, U16, U17 and U19 divisions of the event.</p>   <p>These squads feature some of the most talented and promising young players from the Lone Star State, and we're taking the days leading up to the event to introduce some of them. Today we get to the forwards:</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Kotun will lead the line for the GFI team that will play against Players Development Academy, FC Golden State and Albion SC Los Angeles in the U15 division in Arizona. A forward with interesting physical tools and a very intense game up top, he's the focal point of their offense, getting service in a variety of ways. Kotun's pace is one of his main strengths, and he uses it to attack the space behind the backline with strong and well-timed runs off the ball. The forward has solid ball control and is a very capable dribbler, at times getting to carry the ball for long distances on the field. He also gets into good spots in the box and is a capable finisher, converting chances at a solid rate.</p>    <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/DQMr5svEa4n/ </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Hallie and his [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] team are set to face FC Cincinnati, Phoenix Rising FC and New England Revolution in the U16 division. An electric and highly skilled forward, he's a key piece in their offensive system with his ability to create and convert chances. Hallie's skill set allows him to play basically anywhere up top, but he's most commonly used on the left, where he uses his superb dribbling skills to beat opponents 1v1 out wide, and more centrally as a second forward, where his ability to combine with his teammates and move off the ball generates chance after chance for Dallas. Hallie is also a very efficient finisher, who's always calm in front of the goal and has tremendous quality to beat opposing goalkeepers.</p>    <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=opbLZ5Ylayc </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Bishesari will be with the [program_tooltip program_id='283658' first='Houston' last='Rangers'] U16 team that is scheduled to play against City SC Southwest, Woodside Soccer Club and Tampa Bay United in Mesa. A winger, he joined the team this season and has been brilliant in the first half of their campaign, contributing many goals and assists and becoming a vital part of their offense. Most commonly used on the right side of their attack, he can use both feet equally well in possession and is very crafty and direct with his dribbling, rarely wasting time by taking the ball back or sideways. Bishesari also finishes well with both his right and his left foot, and his physical profile helps him sustain the pressure of opposing defenders.</p>    <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=NoYVuLLinh4 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">De La Cruz will lead [program_tooltip program_id='283624' first='Capital' last='City SC'] U17 in their matches against Sacramento Republic FC, PA Classics and FC Bay Area Surf. A product of [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC']'s academy, he's the team's most talented player and will have a big weight in their attacking efforts in Arizona. A lefty, De La Cruz typically plays as a right winger, tending to come inside to make plays from more of a central position. He uses his body well to absorb pressure and has excellent vision to find passes in tight spaces, operating well in more crowded areas of the field. The winger also does a great job with set pieces, firing dangerous shots on target and providing great service to teammates.</p>    <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/DE3Tv42PHk1/ </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Hernandez will represent [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC']'s U19 team in the event, in which they will have matches against FC Cincinnati, Sporting Kansas City and CF Montreal. A hard-working and talented forward, he's one of their options at the striker role and registered more than 20 goal contributions for them last season. Hernandez keeps opposing backlines under constant pressure with his ability to make runs in behind and eventually pushes them back, creating space in the center of the field for his teammates. He's excellent with his positioning inside the box, often getting on the end of crosses to finish chances with first-time shots, but also does very well when he gets the ball on the edge of the penalty box, making quick turns to beat defenders and finishing with power and precision from mid-range.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD0jUQ53NSQ </div></figure>   <p></p>

The MLS Next League is set to host its first national event of the 2025-2026 season in the next few days, as the MLS Next Fest tournament will go from December 4-15 in Mesa, Arizona.