The 2026 MLS Next Cup is in the books, with Atlanta United sending four teams — U-13, U-14, U-16, and U-18 — to the tournament in Utah. After being shut out in 2025 despite the U-15s and U-16s making it to their respective finals, the U-13s made sure that didn’t happen again in 2026, beating the LA Galaxy in penalties in the final. The U-16s came close to doing the same before they lost a shootout to Orlando City Youth SC.
Atlanta United Academy U-13s, Championship Division
We have to start with the champs.
Atlanta defeated Cincinnati United 5-3 before a 2-0 win over Strikers FC out of New Jersey. In the quarterfinals, they played another Jersey club, Real Futbol Academy, to a 1-1 draw before emerging 5-4 on penalties, setting up a semifinal against Inter Miami that it won 2-1.
In Sunday’s final, Atlanta and the LA Galaxy finished tied at 2-2, sending the match into penalties. As you can see below, LA’s keeper got a hand to the deciding penalty before it trickled through, setting off a wild celebration.
(One quick caveat: this is a bit of a blind recap because there’s no record of who scored and how they scored. We’ll update this when we find out.)
Atlanta United Academy U-16: Homegrown Division
Atlanta United’s U-16s competed in the U-17 age group and made it to the final to face Orlando City Youth SC. Things got off to a rough start just 18 seconds in as Josh Brown conceded an own goal, but Noe Santillon leveled it at 1-1 in the eighth minute after lacing one home just outside the box. It stayed that way until the 20th minute, when Seyi Fakiyesi, who has seen time with ATL UTD 2 this season, converted on a brilliant free kick to put Atlanta up 2-1.
In the 74th minute, though, Orlando City equalized through Kingston Ricketts, whose shot at the top of the scoring area made it through several bodies and to the back of the net to make it 2-2. The score stayed deadlocked through regulation and two five-minute halves of extra time, eventually going to a penalty shootout that Orlando won 4-3 to claim the U-17 title.
Atlanta United Academy U-14: Championship Division
Drew Weston FC 1-1 before losing 5-4 in penalties in the Round of 32.
Atlanta United Academy U-18: Homegrown Division (U-19)
Defeated Indy Eleven 4-1 in the Round of 32 before losing to Red Bull New York 3-2 in the Round of 16.
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i missed the u13 match but caught all of the u16 match (dual screen with usmnt towards the end!). really happy for these lads. both teams showed well and it’s great to see so many of these players really pop. and can i say, that kwon kid is a badass. really tough on the ball and such an intuitive passer for that age.
thanks for the great write-up!
Of course!