The MLS Next season came to an end last weekend as the best teams in the country faced off for their chance at history. Here are recaps from the U15, U16, U17, and U19 finals.

U15 Champions: Philadelphia Union

The Philadelphia Union proved to be too much for Atlanta United in a battle of two deserving finalists. A brace from USYNT striker Timoni Gbalajobi made the difference in the 3-0 victory.

As with most finals, the U15 championship started in a cagey manner, with very few opportunities through the first 20 minutes of the match. But as the first half unraveled, one theme emerged in the Atlanta United backline struggling to contain the dynamic Philadelphia Union attack led by Gbalajobi, Abdoul Diop, Liam Holtzman, and Samuel Gallego.

Still, Atlanta held firm with David Ilevbare, as he did all tournament, performing admirably in a holding midfield role with one crucial intervention after another. And when the Union did break into the backline, the center-back duo of Dalani Rennie and Sirahj Singh, along with goalkeeper Joscarlyn Gonzalez, was there to block any attempts.

That frantic defensive posture can only last so long, and Philadelphia would earn a well-deserved breakthrough in the 34th minute courtesy of a saved Gallego shot that was eventually rebounded for a goal by Ghalajobi.

That strike stood as the only goal in a half where the Union held a 12-2 shooting advantage.

The second half was not much different, with Philadelphia adding a much-deserved second goal in the 57th minute. After forcing a turnover, Gallego delivered a moment of individual brilliance with a cut past the defender before executing a gorgeous curling right-footed shot into the bottom corner.

Sam cooked here 😮‍💨

An absolute banger to double our lead in the @MLSNEXT Cup Final! pic.twitter.com/xpPyYuDahW

— Philadelphia Union Academy (@phlunionacademy) June 21, 2025

With Atlanta still chasing the match late into stoppage time, Gbalajobi executed a world-class one-man counterattack where he powered past two defenders before finishing for a 3-0 lead. 

FINAL MOTM: Timoni Gbalajobi, Philadelphia Union

MLS NEXT Cup MVP: Samuel Gallego, Philadelphia Union

MLS NEXT Cup Best Goalkeeper: Kenan Livadic, Philadelphia Union

MLS NEXT Cup Top Scorer: Liam Chinchilla Oporto, Sacramento Republic

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U16 Champions: Real Salt Lake

The Real Salt Lake U16 squad made history as the first team to ever win the Generation Adidas and MLS Cup in the same season. A late Royce Mihov header sealed a dramatic 2-1 victory over a valiant Atlanta United side.

As it has all season, led by Van Parker and Rylan Hashimoto, the explosive Real Salt Lake put the opposition under immediate pressure. That came to a head in the 17th minute when Parker broke through on goal from a brilliant Hunter Peralta pass, only to be dragged down by the last defender. Surprisingly, the referee ruled there was no foul on the play, allowing Atlanta to breathe a massive sigh of relief at not going down to 10 men early into the final.

That lucky break did not last long, as just 15 minutes later, RSL took a much-deserved lead. Hashimoto showcased his excellent footwork to attract and dribble past two defenders before his deflected pass to the back post was finished by a well-struck first-time effort from Peralta. 

The 1-0 scoreline held until the 67th minute when Christian Williams was at the right place at the right time to capitalize on a defensive mistake from the Salt Lake backline. Atlanta had created several half-chances up until that point, so a 1-1 scoreline did not feel entirely unfair despite the fortuitous nature of the equalizer.

From that point forward, the final devolved into a stretched affair of tired legs where both teams struggled to muster the energy needed in the blistering Tennessee heat. Well, except for one player. Parker, renowned for his explosive athleticism and relentless work rate, continuously showcased both traits despite the exhaustion of everyone else on the pitch. 

His solo run and strike in the 88th minute forced the corner kick that set up the winner as an inswinging delivery from Hashimoto found center-back Mihov at the back post. It was a heartwarming moment of redemption for Mihov, whose heavy touch led to the Atlanta United equalizer 20 minutes earlier. 

With the victory, this Real Salt Lake U16 team cements its legacy as one of the best academy sides in MLS history.

Real Salt Lake leaving with that carry-on that makes the medal detector go off 🏅 #MLSNEXTCup pic.twitter.com/JTpiYD1iWL

— MLS NEXT (@MLSNEXT) June 21, 2025

FINAL MOTM: Van Parker, Real Salt Lake

MLS NEXT Cup MVP: Van Parker, Real Salt Lake

MLS NEXT Cup Best Goalkeeper: James Donaldson, Atlanta United

MLS NEXT Cup Top Scorer: Van Parker, Real Salt Lake

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U17 Champions: Inter Miami

An all-Miami U17 final was always going to be a closely fought affair, and that proved true with Inter Miami defeating Weston on penalty kicks to lift the trophy.

A stop-start final saw the match moved indoors due to weather delays, as neither team was able to find a breakthrough in regulation time. That led to a penalty shootout, just like the semi-final, where Inter Miami prevailed.

INTER MIAMI U17s ARE MLS NEXT CUP NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!! 🏆💫‼️

VAMOOOS MIAMIIII 💗🖤 pic.twitter.com/nvNka8EEWS

— Inter Miami CF Academy (@InterMiamiAcad) June 22, 2025

FINAL MOTM: Marco Simion, Inter Miami

MLS NEXT Cup MVP: Lukas Robbins, Inter Miami CF

MLS NEXT Cup Best Goalkeeper: Marco Simion, Inter Miami CF

MLS NEXT Cup Top Scorer: Ethan Orchard, Real Colorado

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U19 Champions: LA Galaxy

With a 3-1 defeat of Cedar Stars Academy Bergen, the LA Galaxy became the first academy to win an MLS Next Cup in three consecutive years. Even more impressive is that the core of the team that won last season’s U17 trophy returned to win this U19 championship.

The match was essentially over as soon as it started, as the Bergen goalkeeper was sent off just 20 minutes in. The shot-stopper, unfortunately, slipped while trying to deal with a routine long ball over the top, and his decision to handle the ball outside of the eighteen gave the referee no option but to send him off. From that point on, the match was all Galaxy.

The champions took the lead just before halftime as a gorgeous cross from Eric Preston was headed home from point-blank range by Christian Coreas. Then, in the 59th minute, Dylan Vanney added to the lead with a clever touch and finish set up by an excellent Ryan Hartley pass.

Hartley + Vanney = Goal #2 🫡

📺: https://t.co/bI8b685PH8 pic.twitter.com/tCh8aNybuI

— LA Galaxy Academy (@LAGalaxyAcademy) June 22, 2025

Still, Cedar Stars pushed admirably, creating a few half-chances from time to time. As with all tournaments, the midfield duo of Bacary Tadjigora and Kwaku Agyabeng had several moments of brilliance on both sides of the ball, while the highly rated 08-born attacking prospect Amadou Aly Hann proved to be a handful for the LA Galaxy backline. It was that trio that helped the team win the semi-final despite going down a goal and a man in stoppage time. 

And for a few minutes, it looked like a second improbable comeback was in order as Hann stripped a center back before finishing his 1-v-1 opportunity with five minutes remaining in regulation. That followed an equalizer in the 87th minute that was ruled out for a foul on the keeper by the CSA striker. 

The door was slammed shut in the 89th minute as a slip in the backline left Oluwakayode Aina to dribble past the keeper and pass into an empty net.

FINAL MOTM:  Dylan Vanney, LA Galaxy

MLS NEXT Cup MVP: Dylan Vanney, LA Galaxy

MLS NEXT Cup Best Goalkeeper: Owen Pratt, LA Galaxy

MLS NEXT Cup Top Scorer: Amadou Aly Hann, Cedar Stars Academy Bergen