Sozo FC Joins MLS NEXT: Elevating Youth Soccer to New Heights
February 28, 2025
We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone in the journey of Sozo FC — our official membership in the newly introduced competition tier of MLS NEXT. This partnership marks a groundbreaking step for our club and opens up extraordinary opportunities, initially for our Boys Gold team and eventually for all our players at Sozo FC.
Sozo FC and MLS NEXT: A New Era Begins
MLS NEXT, as detailed on their platform MLS Soccer, represents the future of soccer in North America, focusing on elevating the game through increased competition, training, and development standards. MLS NEXT aims to transform youth soccer with a holistic approach, nurturing talent with high-performance standards and opportunities for growth at all levels.
As the newest member of this elite network, Sozo FC is positioned to offer our athletes a pathway to professional soccer careers and college scholarships, enhancing our commitment to developing top-tier talent right here in Yakima.
Opportunities for Our Boys Gold Team
Currently, MLS NEXT provides options specifically for our Boys Gold team, offering them a platform to compete against some of the best young talent in the nation. This inclusion is a testament to the skill level and potential within our team, recognized by one of the most prestigious youth soccer organizations in the United States.
Our Boys Gold team will benefit from:
- Advanced Competition: Participating in matches that challenge and push our players to their limits.
- Professional Exposure: Opportunities to be seen and scouted by college and professional teams.
- Elite Coaching and Training: Access to resources and guidance from top-tier coaches involved with MLS NEXT.
Future Plans for Inclusion and Expansion
While our Boys Gold team is the first to participate, plans are underway to include our Boys Royal and Girls teams in MLS NEXT. The expansion of this program to include more of our teams underscores our vision to provide equal and substantial opportunities for all our players, regardless of gender.
We are actively working with MLS NEXT to explore all possible avenues for inclusion so that every talented player in our club has the opportunity to benefit from this high-level competition and exposure.
The Sozo FC Promise: Growing Together
This affiliation with MLS NEXT is not just about competitive soccer; it’s about community, growth, and raising the bar for soccer in Yakima and beyond. We are excited about the opportunities this will bring to our players and how it will inspire all our teams to strive for excellence.
For our community, this means even more thrilling matches to attend, local talent making national waves, and the chance to rally behind our players as they represent Sozo FC on larger stages.
Join Us on This Exciting Journey
We invite our Sozo FC family and the broader community to support our Boys Gold team as they step into this new challenge. Keep an eye on our schedule for upcoming matches under the MLS NEXT banner, and come out to cheer for our players. Your support makes a tremendous difference.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to navigate this exciting chapter. Thank you to everyone who has supported Sozo FC thus far. Together, we are making history and proving that great things happen when talent, opportunity, and community come together.
With our inclusion in MLS NEXT, Sozo FC is set to soar to new heights. This is just the beginning, and we look forward to what the future holds with anticipation and pride. Let’s go, Sozo!
While our Boys Gold team is the first to participate, plans are underway to include our Boys Royal and Girls teams in MLS NEXT. The expansion of this program to include more of our teams underscores our vision to provide equal and substantial opportunities for all our players, regardless of gender.
We are actively working with MLS NEXT to explore all possible avenues for inclusion so that every talented player in our club has the opportunity to benefit from this high-level competition and exposure.
The Sozo FC Promise: Growing Together
This affiliation with MLS NEXT is not just about competitive soccer; it’s about community, growth, and raising the bar for soccer in Yakima and beyond. We are excited about the opportunities this will bring to our players and how it will inspire all our teams to strive for excellence.
For our community, this means even more thrilling matches to attend, local talent making national waves, and the chance to rally behind our players as they represent Sozo FC on larger stages.
Join Us on This Exciting Journey
We invite our Sozo FC family and the broader community to support our Boys Gold team as they step into this new challenge. Keep an eye on our schedule for upcoming matches under the MLS NEXT banner, and come out to cheer for our players. Your support makes a tremendous difference.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to navigate this exciting chapter. Thank you to everyone who has supported Sozo FC thus far. Together, we are making history and proving that great things happen when talent, opportunity, and community come together.
With our inclusion in MLS NEXT, Sozo FC is set to soar to new heights. This is just the beginning, and we look forward to what the future holds with anticipation and pride. Let’s go, Sozo!
Another year of Yak Attack is officially in the books, and what a weekend it was. Teams from across the Pacific Northwest came to Sozo Sports Complex on May 16–17 for one of the region’s most anticipated soccer tournaments — and the energy all weekend long was incredible.
Another exciting season is officially underway at Sozo FC . Tryouts for the 2026 season have wrapped up, and we want to thank every player and family who came out and competed over the past few weeks.
This past weekend at Sozo Sports Complex , our Sozo Academy players took the field for an exciting Academy Double Header Weekend , and it was a great reminder of just how bright the futures of these young athletes really are.
We are incredibly thankful for everyone who came together to make the 2026 Sozo FC Crab Feed Fundraiser such a memorable and successful night.
Join us for Sozo's Annual Crab Feed on February 21, 2025! Support youth sports through our Adopt-an-Athlete program. Reserve your table now!
Thank you for making the Sozo FC Holiday Festival unforgettable! Celebrate our community spirit & achievements as we look forward to 2026.
Sozo FC players excelled at the MLS NEXT ID Camp in Seattle. Celebrate their achievements in youth soccer development!
Join Sozo Sports Complex for elite soccer training programs that prepare Yakima athletes for premier-level competition. Sign up for camps today!
Support the local Hop Country Music Festival on Sept 12-13, 2025. Buy tickets & help fund youth sports opportunities!
Grace Boswell & Esteban Hernandez of Sozo FC trained in Spain, showcasing Yakima's talent. Support youth athletes at our non-profit complex!
