Sporting KC II and MLS NEXT Pro announce 2023 regular season schedule
MLS NEXT Pro rule changes
Also in 2023 there will be no draw in MLS NEXT Pro. This season there will be penalties again to decide a game that is a draw according to the rules. Both teams receive one point each for the tie, with the winner of the shootout receiving an additional point (two points total).
In the middle of last season, both the off-field treatment rule and the 2023 red card suspension rule were reinstated. According to the off-field treatment rule: if a player is suspected of having an injury and is on the ground for more than 15 seconds, a medical team will come onto the field to examine the player and help him get off. Once the player has left the field of play, the player will be treated by the medical staff and will not have to remain on the field of play for three minutes. As per the Red Card Suspension Rule: If a player receives a red card, they will serve the resulting one-game suspension against the same opponent. To further reduce avoidable game delays and increase effective playing time, a new Timed Substitution rule will be added this season, allowing a player to leave the field for a maximum of 10 seconds when being substituted. If the player does not leave the field of play within 10 seconds, the substitute can only enter after a hold time of 60 seconds, resulting in the offending team playing a man-down for at least one minute.
The 2023 season will feature an expanded playoff format that will include a “pick your opponent” element in the first two rounds. Within each conference, the two division champions and the five clubs with the next highest points (seven clubs total) advance to the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs. The playoffs consist of three rounds, followed by the MLS NEXT Pro Cup, held over four consecutive weeks beginning the weekend of September 29th. The club with the most regular season points in each conference (1st place) receives a bye to the first round. automatically advance to the Conference Semifinals.
During the playoffs, the teams with the most points in each conference choose their opponents and host their match. The remaining teams not selected play each other, with the higher-seeded team hosting. The Conference Finals and the MLS NEXT Pro Cup will be hosted by the team with the most regular season points.
Head Coach Benny Feilhaber and Assistant Coach Ike Opara lead SKC II into another new era of MLS NEXT Pro after leading the team in their first year as coaches at the professional level. Bridging the gap between MLS and MLS NEXT, MLS NEXT Pro will demonstrate the pro player journey as the Sporting KC II roster will include top prospects from the Sporting KC Academy as well as loan players from Sporting KC.
About MLS NEXT Pro
Launched by Major League Soccer in 2022, MLS NEXT Pro is a men’s professional soccer league in the United States and Canada that completes the path for professional players. MLS NEXT Pro continues to expand the game through innovation and diversity, bringing professional football to new communities and creating global opportunities on and off the field. MLS NEXT Pro enters its second season in 2023 with 27 teams, all belonging to MLS clubs. Seven are new to MLS NEXT Pro for 2023: Atlanta United 2, Austin FC II, Crown Legacy FC (Charlotte FC), Huntsville City FC (Nashville SC), LA Galaxy II, Los Angeles Football Club 2 and New York Red Bulls II. More MLS affiliated and independent clubs will be added in the coming years including Carolina Core FC in 2024 and Cleveland in 2025. The majority of MLS NEXT Pro games in 2023 will be broadcast live and on-demand with the MLS Season Pass on the Be available Apple TV App as part of the groundbreaking partnership between Apple and MLS. For more information on MLS NEXT Pro, visit mlsnextpro.com.