Footy Access coverage
Reporting, player profiles and analysis from across youth soccer. Follow the story, then explore the competition.
The 2026 MLS NEXT Pro playoffs are set to begin after a dramatic Decision Day. Austin FC II finished with the league’s best record, while Crown Legacy FC claimed the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The postseason introduces a new Play-in Round before bringing back the league’s Pick-Your-Opponent format. The MLS NEXT Pro Cup is scheduled for November 6-8.
Lucas Aguirre ·
Gyasi Zardes has announced his retirement from professional soccer at age 35, ending a 13-year MLS career. The former LA Galaxy Homegrown became a two-time MLS Cup champion with the Galaxy and Columbus Crew, scored 106 regular-season goals and earned 68 USMNT caps. His career also included an MLS All-Star selection, the 2018 Comeback Player of the Year award and two Concacaf Gold Cup titles with the United States.
Lucas Aguirre ·
Santiago Castañeda scored his first Bundesliga goal on Sunday as Paderborn defeated Hoffenheim 3-1 for its first win of the season. The Tampa-born midfielder took an unconventional route to Germany, developing in Florida before leaving Tampa Bay United for high school soccer, getting discovered during a talent-identification trip to Denmark, and signing with MSV Duisburg in 2023. After moving to Paderborn in 2024, he helped the club earn promotion to the Bundesliga and has now established himself as a starter in Germany’s top flight.
Lucas Aguirre ·
Several of the USMNT’s first-time call-ups made an immediate impact in MLS over the weekend. Julian Hall scored the Hudson River Derby winner for New York Red Bulls, Peyton Miller scored twice for New England, Frankie Westfield helped spark Philadelphia’s comeback at Sporting Kansas City, and Cavan Sullivan scored and assisted in the Union’s 4-3 victory. Sullivan reached 19 MLS goal contributions and tied Alphonso Davies’ teenage mark while setting a new single-season assist record for teenagers with 12.
Lucas Aguirre ·
The inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival has unveiled its groups, with 191 national teams divided across 32 groups for the October tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan. Argentina will face Algeria, Chinese Taipei, Malawi, Oman and Suriname, Brazil landed in Group D, Spain in Group E and Mexico in Group H. The tournament will use an innovative 8v8 format and continue into six performance tiers so every team plays throughout the event.
Lucas Aguirre ·
Román Avakian Gómez, the San Diego-born Mainz 05 defender, has received his first United States U-17 call-up. The 2010-born left-footer previously represented Armenia at U-14 and U-15 level before making his Mexico U-16 debut in 2026. With an Armenian father and Mexican mother, Avakian Gómez is eligible for all three countries and has developed in Germany with Mainz.
Lucas Aguirre ·
Dennis Nelich has signed an MLS Homegrown contract with Red Bull New York after a breakout 2026 season with Red Bulls II, completing a rapid rise from Met Oval to the first team.
Lucas Aguirre ·
Chivas academy products Santiago Sandoval and Hugo Camberos have earned their first Mexico senior-team call-ups after playing key roles in the country’s 2026 Concacaf U20 Championship triumph.
Lucas Aguirre ·
Noahkai Banks has been called up to Germany U-21 for the upcoming Euro qualifying window, with matches against Latvia, Malta and Georgia. The 19-year-old Augsburg center back was born in Hawaii to an American father and German mother and has represented the U.S. extensively at youth level, including the 2023 U-17 World Cup. Because he has not yet made a senior appearance for either nation, his international future remains open.
Lucas Aguirre ·
