February 28th, 2025

Tonka Fusion Elite (TFE) is excited to announce the club’s boys programming will join MLS Next’s new competition tier beginning in the 2025-2026 club season.  MLS Next’s new competition tier will feature more than 1,200 teams from more than 220 clubs across regional divisions during the regular season. Of those clubs, more than half previously competed outside of MLS NEXT.

Kicking off in September 2025, MLS Next’s new competition tier’s regular season will include regional tournaments, coaching development and educational programs, and the chance to participate in MLS NEXT national events. The regional tournaments will act as qualifiers for a championship event at the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs in 2026. These events will provide key opportunities for college, professional, and national team scouts to identify and assess talent from across the youth soccer landscape. 

“I am thrilled that TFE is joining the MLS brand and the new MLS Next competition tier. This opportunity allows us to work with MNUFC and North Division clubs to significantly impact the development of an expanded player pathway to the MLS. Sinisa Angelovski (TFE's Director of Player Development) has been instrumental in making this happen, and we are excited for TFE teams to begin play next fall wearing an MLS Next badge on their jerseys. With our boys competing in the MLS Next new competition tier and our girls in the GA, TFE's future is incredibly bright—especially with the recent strategic alliance announced between these two prestigious leagues.”

        Stephanie Foster, Executive Director

FAQ’s

What age groups will be offered?

TFE’s u13, u14, u15, u16, u17, and u19 boys teams will compete in the new MLS Next tier. 

Will players be able to play High School soccer in the fall?

Yes, players competing in the new tier will also be eligible to play high school soccer.

When will tryouts be held?

Summer tryout dates for the 2025-2026 season will be announced in late Spring 2025.

What will TFE’s competition look like?

TFE will participate in the North Division of MLS Next’s new competition tier, which includes 4 other leading clubs in MN and 5 leading clubs in Wisconsin. 

When will TFE’s membership learn more about 2025-2026 season plans and how the league shift impacts our players & families?

Info sessions will be held in late Spring 2025!

About MLS Next

About MLS NEXT Launched in 2020, MLS NEXT is the most elite platform for youth player development in North America. With a commitment to innovation and providing access and representation, MLS NEXT players receive the best training and coaching as they prepare for their futures, both in soccer and in life. Throughout a season, MLS NEXT hosts four marquee events across the country, including the Generation adidas Cup, which features MLS academies playing against the top international clubs. Membership for the 2024-25 season included 29 MLS academies, 122 Elite Academies (151 total clubs), 753 teams and over 16,000 players across the U.S. and Canada. Official partners of MLS NEXT include adidas and Allstate. For more information about MLS NEXT, visit www.mlssoccer.com/mlsnext.

About Tonka Fusion Elite

Tonka Fusion Elite (TFE) was established in 2017 by Fusion Soccer Club and Tonka United Soccer Association to offer an enhanced youth soccer experience for players in the west metro. Initially, TFE started with only two age groups, but it has since expanded to seven age groups and has become a prominent force in Minnesota Youth Soccer. In 2022, TFE's girls program joined the Girls Academy League, a strategic partner of MLS Next. The boys program followed suit in 2023, entering the Elite Academy League.