Major League Soccer plans to expand its presence in the lower divisions of American soccer ahead of the 2026 World Cup, targeting cities and towns without professional clubs.

Currently, MLS’s reserve teams play in MLS Next Pro, which began two years ago and operates at the third tier of the game in the United States.

But MLS plans to turn some of those second teams into new-look clubs based away from their parent club’s home.

Charles Altchek, president of MLS Next Pro, told AFP in an interview that MLS wants to be in a position to fully capitalize on the impact of the World Cup being hosted in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

“Looking ahead to the World Cup in 2026 we want to be in as many markets as we can be that want professional soccer,” he said.

MLS’s Nashville SC is the first club to have made the switch, taking its reserve team launched in 2023 to Huntsville in Alabama, where it played this past season as Huntsville City.

“It’s been incredibly successful,” said Altchek. “We thought it would work, but it’s overachieved from every perspective. The team has developed a really important connection with the fans there. The local community has really come out to support the club, and it’s only going to get better and better as the years progress,” he added.

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