The South African sensation is officially the man of the hour in Major League Soccer after being crowned Fire’s Player of the Month. The 22-year-old winger has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the United States since the World Cup resumption, proving he can compete with the very best in the business.
NYCFC has announced plans for their MLS Next Pro team to relocate and rebrand in nearby Middlesex County, N.J. The unbranded team, operating under the temporary name "New Jersey MLS Next Pro," is the first MLS affiliate to participate in MLS Next Pro's Hometown Soccer Holdings initiative, in which MLSNP teams will relocate to new markets - yet still serve as feeder clubs to MLS franchises.
The former Kaizer Chiefs youth prospect scored both goals in Chicago Fire's 2-1 Leagues Cup victory over Liga MX champions Cruz Azul to advance to the quarterfinals where they will meet CF Monterrey. Watch the goals, get his coach's reaction and check out how local fans praised the 22-year-old's man of the match performance.
MLS will be represented by a record 44 active players at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the most of any league in the Western Hemisphere. The league also announced that 103 current and former MLS players will compete in the tournament, highlighting the growing impact of MLS clubs, academies, and MLS NEXT Pro on the global stage.
Berhalter has hailed rising Mzansi star after the player's standout Major League Soccer debut. The 21-year-old was thrust into the starting XI as the Men in Red ran riot in a 5-0 demolition of rivals Sporting Kansas City, leaving the Chicago Fire mentor glowing over his prospect's immediate impact.
Cristo Fernandez, who played Dani Rojas in the beloved Apple TV series Ted Lasso, trained with MLS's Chicago Fire last month, the club confirmed Wednesday. GOAL reported the Mexican-born actor was on trial with USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive earlier this week, and could yet receive a contract. Fernandez played academy soccer in Mexico as a teenager.
MLS NEXT Pro officially announced its 2026 regular season schedule, marking the league’s earliest start to date and the expansion to 30 teams with the addition of Connecticut United FC. The season will feature 420 matches, run through the FIFA World Cup, and include key milestones such as a Decision Day, new venues, and increased pathways to MLS first teams.
Former USMNT star Michael Bradley earned his first coaching title as New York Red Bulls II captured the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Cup. His side erased a two-goal deficit to beat Colorado Rapids 2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw. A record crowd of 9,095 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J., watched the Eastern Conference champs claim the league’s fourth title.
MLS NEXT Pro announced North Texas SC forward Sam Sarver has been named the 2025 MVP after a breakout campaign that saw the 22-year-old captain rewrite his club’s scoring history and finish near the top of the league’s charts. Sarver’s award caps a season in which he finished as the runner-up in the Golden Boot race and earned a spot on the league’s Best XI.
MLS announced Charles Altchek has been named as Executive Vice President of Club Performance and League Growth while Ali Curtis takes over as President of MLS NEXT Pro and Executive Vice President of MLS Sporting Development. Altchek will work directly with team owners and executives to drive business growth, while Curtis takes control of MLS's developmental league.
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