IFA Teams Poised for MLS Next Fest

Intercontinental Football Academy of New England (IFA) will send six teams westward this week to MLS Next Fest, one of the largest and most prestigious soccer events in boys soccer in the USA. 

Held from December 4-15 at the Arizona Athletic Grounds and Reach 11 Sports Complex in Mesa, Arizona, the showcase event will be unlike any other in North American youth soccer, featuring more than 1,400 teams from at least 200 clubs in all six MLS NEXT age groups (U13 to U19).

Traveling to the event will be the U15, U16, U17 and U19 MLS Next Homegrown (HG) teams who have finished the fall section of the MLS Next season. They will be joined by the U17 and U19 Academy Division (AD) teams who have concluded their high school seasons. Considered the largest youth soccer scouting and talent identification event in the United States, the event will present unrivaled exposure with over 500 professional, national team, and college coaches in attendance. 

As previously announced the U15s and U16s earned berths in the Generation adidas Cup and will begin their campaigns next week. 

Kicking off the action will be the U19s on December 4th. Scott Black’s U19 HG will face Lou Fusz Athletic of St. Louis before two matches against Californian opposition in Total Futbol Academy and Modesto Ajax United. Coach Haris Miftari and the U19 AD Boys are matched up against Mid-West opponents in Chicago United, Michigan Jaguars and Vardar Soccer Club.

Miftari’s AD 17s play their first match on Saturday against St. Louis Development Academy before fixtures against Elmbrook Unted (WI) and St. Louis Scott Gallagher Illinois. Ben Murphy and the U17 HG boys finished the fall league season with a 3-2-3 record. They will kick-off against Los Angeles Surf, also on Saturday before matches against Strikers FC (CA) and St. Louis Scott Gallagher (MO).

IFA New England provides extensive support for our college-bound student-athletes. Starting before they begin high school, our players have access to detailed yearly college placement seminars and individualized support, Q&A sessions with college coaches nationwide, and a wide array of guidance to help prepare them for the college recruitment process

To learn more about the IFA College  program, please click here.