Three GFI Academy 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 returned to action this past 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 just starting, we'd like to highlight a few players from each Texas team who could be set for strong performances. GFI Academy has had some really talented players over the last few years, and here are our picks for this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["350183"],"_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-6a95e62a22358"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Contreras will play for GFI Academy's U15 team in the upcoming season. A talented left-footed winger, he brings a lot of craftiness to their offense, combining superior playmaking and finishing skills. Contreras is very strong and direct when facing opponents 1v1, beating them with quick and creative moves to create space for him to finish or set teammates up. He's very accurate and efficient with his shots, showing great accuracy from mid and long range and consistently getting the ball out of the goalkeeper's range.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/DVEVdDvgCEK/","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/DVEVdDvgCEK/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["295675"],"_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-6a95e62a223c6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Park is part of GFI Academy's U17 team in 2026-2027. He can play different roles in the attack for them, but his best spot is operating as a second forward more to the right, where he can set plays up with his intelligent passing and finish from outside the box. A lefty, Park is incredibly skilled and creative, and he makes the most of his technical quality to make plays in the final third. The forward is very dangerous when isolated 1v1 on the right, but also does a good job of finding space in the central zone of the field to make runs and deliver passes. He's also lethal in set pieces, often scoring off free kicks and registering assists in dead-ball situations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o0hUhZ4_g0","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <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=9o0hUhZ4_g0 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":409037,"_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-6a95e62a22418"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Martinez is the captain of GFI Academy's U19 team. A tall center back, he offers them excellent coverage at the penalty box, dominating in the air and having great success in physical duels. Martinez also does well when defending higher up on the field, showing good mobility to cover space and keeping opponents under pressure when they play with their backs to the goal. He's also calm and composed on the ball, can dribble through opponents and deliver accurate long passes out of the back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":278550,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/02/2J4A0390.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-278550" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->