As expected, Red Bulls II will play in MLS NEXT Pro in 2023, the team announced on Thursday.

The team has been competing in the USL Championship, the second tier of professional soccer in the United States. MLS NEXT Pro is the third level of the pros.

MLS NEXT Pro will field 28 clubs in 2023 with the addition of seven MLS-affiliated clubs in its second season.

Besides Red Bulls II, the following MLS clubs will launch MLS NEXT Pro teams next year: Atlanta United, Austin FC, Charlotte FC, LA Galaxy, Los Angeles Football Club and Nashville Soccer Club.

Complete details, including team names, logos and venues, will be announced in the coming months.

The new teams will join the 20 MLS-affiliated clubs and one independent club, Rochester New York FC, competing in MLS NEXT Pro. With 21 clubs, the league currently consists of two conferences with two divisions each. Teams play 24 matches (12 home/12 away) across 26 weeks, with eight teams qualifying for the playoffs.

With the addition of seven clubs next season, adjustments to the competition and scheduling formats for 2023 will be announced at a later date.

 

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.