FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (September 4, 2025) – The New England Revolution Academy will kick off the 2026-27 MLS NEXT season on Saturday, September 5. This year’s roster features 113 athletes total, including 80 returning players and 33 newcomers, representing five New England states and beyond. To access the complete Revolution Academy roster for the 2026-27 season, CLICK HERE.
The Revolution will field five teams this season across the Under-18, Under-16, Under-15, Under-14, and Under-13 age groups. To continue accelerating player development, the U-18s, U-16s, and U-15s will once again compete in older age groups, in the U-19, U-17, and U-16 divisions, respectively. On Saturday, all the Academy teams will open the new campaign by facing off against Intercontinental Football Academy of New England at the Revolution Training Center.
The New England Revolution Academy is the region’s only completely free-to-play, elite youth development program with a direct pathway to the professional ranks. Competing in MLS NEXT, the nation’s premier youth soccer platform, the Revolution Academy accepts qualified and talented players into the program regardless of their financial situation. All players’ needs and expenses related to soccer activities – training, facilities, equipment, uniforms, travel associated with competitions – are provided by the Revolution at no cost to the players or their families.
Now in its eighth year, the Revolution Academy’s Residency Program continues to grow its capacity, housing players from across the country in its three residencies, each staffed by full-time guardians and located within walking distance of the Revolution Training Center. The fully funded Residency Program supports elite player development and established academic requirements for athletes from New England and beyond. In April 2024, the Revolution expanded their training facility with a brand-new, full-sized artificial field dedicated for academy use, located at the Revolution Training Center in Foxborough.
The Revolution Academy, winners of back-to-back MLS NEXT Cup titles in 2022 and 2023 at the U-19 level, continues to produce exceptional talent through its Pro Player Pathway. Last season, the Academy’s U-15 and U-19 teams competed in the Championship Bracket of the 2026 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs, while U-16's midfielder Logan Azar earned a spot on the 2026 MLS NEXT All-Star team, earning an assist in the East’s victory over the West.
Revolution II has become a vital bridge in the Academy’s player development pathway, connecting New England’s top youth talent with the professional ranks. Since the second team’s launch in 2020, 57 current or former Revolution Academy players have made their professional debuts with the club’s MLS NEXT Pro side, Revolution II. In the last year alone, three Academy products have signed professional contracts. Midfielder Javaun Mussenden and forward/winger Makai Wells each signed MLS NEXT Pro contracts, while midfielder Judah Siqueira signed a Revolution II professional contract before later inking a Homegrown contract with the first team in August.
For the fourth year in a row, the Revolution Academy has placed every eligible graduating player at elite universities on a scholarship, including these nine athletes who will continue their development at NCAA Division I collegiate soccer programs: Cristiano Carlos (2008 - Chicopee, Mass.) at Fairfield University, Grant Emerhi (2008 - Mansfield, Mass.) at the University of Connecticut, Edwin Flores (2007 – Wimington, Del.) at the University of Delaware, Bryan Norena (2008 – Revere, Mass.) at the University of Massachusetts, Sheridan McNish (2008 – Boston, Mass.) at Pennsylvania State, Josh Poulson (2007 – Boston, Mass.) at Duke University, Eli Ackerman (2008 – Framingham, Mass.) at Notre Dame, Julian Chapman (2008 – Maplewood, N.J.) at Rutgers University, and Robert Nichols III (2007 – East Milton, Mass.) at University of California San Diego.
Under the leadership of Senior Vice President of Soccer Operations Curt Onalfo and Director of Methodology and Youth Development Rob Becerra, also Head Coach of the U-16s, the Revolution Academy boasts a seasoned technical staff of returning head coaches including Abel Wasswa, Liam Connors, Lucas Dantas, and Noah Bushey. The Academy also returns longtime Academy goalkeeping coach Jasir Charris.
For the second consecutive year, the Revolution Academy will compete in the top tier of MLS NEXT, the MLS NEXT Homegrown Division, with the league's remaining clubs competing in the MLS NEXT Academy Division. Through the Academy Division, the program strengthens its position as the most elite platform for youth soccer in North America. The 2026-27 season will be the largest in MLS NEXT history, with more than 53,000 players, 2,743 teams, and 310 clubs, including all 30 MLS academies, competing in more than 27,000 matches across the U.S. and Canada.
The MLS NEXT Homegrown Division builds on the MLS NEXT’s track record of producing players who are making an impact in MLS, MLS NEXT Pro, and NCAA programs, as well as with professional clubs and national teams around the world. At the collegiate level, 1,661 players will take the field this season after competing in MLS NEXT during the 2025-26 campaign, while at the professional level, 162 MLS NEXT alumni are on MLS rosters this season, with 30 Homegrown Players already making their MLS debuts.
The MLS NEXT Homegrown Division name reflects its direct connection to the MLS Player Pathway, serving as the top level of competition in the program. Every MLS academy will compete in the Homegrown Division alongside 123 MLS NEXT Elite Academies (non-MLS academies), creating a platform for the most talented young players in North America to test themselves and prepare for the next level in their careers, with many each year going on to sign their first professional contracts as MLS Homegrown players.
For more information about the New England Revolution’s youth teams and Revolution Academy programming, visit revolutionsoccer.net/academy.
