NEW YORK — MLS NEXT and Taka today announced a three-year renewal of their partnership, extending Taka’s role as a key technology and performance analysis platform for MLS NEXT.
Through the partnership, every MLS NEXT player and coach across the Homegrown and Academy Divisions will receive premium Taka access for the next three seasons, supporting player development, coaching education, talent identification, and performance analysis across the MLS NEXT ecosystem.
“The renewal of our partnership with Taka means that every single player and coach in MLS NEXT will have unfettered access to best-in-class tools that support development on and off the field. This reflects Major League Soccer's commitment to developing the next generation of talent,” said Luis Robles, General Manager of Sporting Operations for MLS NEXT. “Taka’s technology gives players meaningful performance insights while equipping coaches with tools to guide and elevate their growth. We've seen its impact on the player pathway and we're excited to continue building on that success.”
The renewal builds on MLS NEXT’s ongoing investment in player development. Taka previously supported the launch of MLS NEXT’s Quality of Play rankings for the U13 and U14 age groups, a pilot program that evaluates teams and players beyond traditional win-loss-draw standings. Using Taka's analytical model, the rankings assess the quality of offensive and defensive actions during matches, emphasizing positive in-game moments and long-term development.
“We are delighted to extend our partnership with MLS NEXT to ensure that all NEXT players, coaches and staff have full access to Taka,” said Mark Shields, CEO of Taka. “Through this we will offer MLS NEXT players and coaches a rich data and video content experience for development, exposure and recruitment.”
Since 2024, Taka has analyzed 36,000 MLS NEXT matches, generating more than 13 million highlights. During that time, more than 35,000 players and 3,600 coaches created Taka accounts, demonstrating broad adoption across the league.
Fueling Development Through Insight
Players across MLS NEXT's six age groups will now receive individual highlights from every match, along with personalized performance insights through Taka’s Individual Development Plans. These IDPs are designed to help players better understand their performance, identify growth areas, and track their development throughout the season.
MLS NEXT coaches will receive full access to match highlights, key moments, and new advanced stats from every MLS NEXT match, with all stats and data points linked directly to video. Coaches will also have access to the individual highlights and IDPs of all rostered players, creating a streamlined platform for player evaluation, feedback, and development planning.
Elevating Player Visibility at Scale
Taka has expanded visibility for MLS NEXT players across the collegiate and professional game. In 2026, 1,661 players entered the collegiate game after competing in MLS NEXT the previous season, underscoring the platform’s growing influence across college soccer. At the first team level, 162 MLS NEXT alumni are on MLS rosters, while 30 Homegrown Players made their MLS debut this season.
Building on that success, players in the U14-U19 age groups will now benefit from expanded exposure to college scouts, with their profiles and positive highlights available to more than 2,300 college coaches and scouts who use Taka to identify talent.
The renewed partnership provides free, 24/7 video access to coaches, underscoring MLS NEXT’s continued investment to delivering a world-class player development environment by providing clubs, coaches, and players with innovative tools that enhance performance and improve visibility across the player pathway.
About MLS NEXT
Launched in 2020, MLS NEXT is the most elite platform for youth player development in North America. With a commitment to innovation and providing access and representation, MLS NEXT players receive the best training and coaching as they prepare for their futures, both in soccer and in life. For more information about MLS NEXT, visit www.mlssoccer.com/mlsnext.
