WEST ROSEVILLE, Calif.—More than 100 teams and approximately 2,000 boys and young men will compete in the inaugural MLS NEXT Academy Division Regional Qualifier Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at the Placer Valley Soccer Complex, bringing an estimated 8,000 athletes, coaches, families, and fans to the region.
The three-day youth soccer event will feature players ages 13-19 competing for an opportunity to advance to the MLS NEXT Cup in the spring. Organizers expect the tournament to generate more than $1.5 million in economic impact for Placer Valley through hotel stays, restaurant visits, and other local spending.
The competition will include 10 clubs from California and six from Washington state, along with an invitation-only showcase division for select teams outside the MLS NEXT Academy Division. Sacramento-area participants include Roseville Soccer Club and Elk Grove Soccer, while teams from Fruitridge Soccer Club will compete in the showcase.
The Placer Valley Soccer Complex, located at 2600 Westbrook Blvd. in west Roseville, will host games from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with finals scheduled for Sunday morning and early afternoon. Parking will be free, and daily admission passes will be available online and at the gate.
The event is expected to draw some of the region’s top emerging talent, with players competing in a league that serves as a pathway to collegiate and professional soccer.
“The 13- to 19-year-old athletes are the ‘closest thing to the pros and national team players,’” says Marley Wilson, executive director of Cal North Soccer.
More than 150 MLS NEXT alumni are on Major League Soccer rosters this season, according to the announcement, and five played in the World Cup this summer.
“An MLS NEXT event is the goal of so many communities, giving soccer fans the chance to watch some of the most elite players and the future of the sport,” says Kim Summers, CEO of Placer Valley Tourism and @the Grounds, home of the Roebbelen Center. “They are first-rate, high-quality events that generate a lot of attention. It’s a big win for Placer Valley.”
The City of Roseville, Cal North Soccer, and Roseville Soccer are partnering with MLS NEXT to host the qualifier. The event will also provide local athletes with an opportunity to compete in front of college, professional, and national team scouts.
“We’re thrilled to host the inaugural MLS NEXT Academy Division Regional Event at Roseville’s Placer Valley Soccer Complex,” says Roseville Mayor Krista Bernasconi. “We look forward to introducing thousands of players, coaches, and families from across the West Coast to our parks, shopping, restaurants, and everything else that makes Roseville unique.”
Roseville Soccer will field six teams with more than 100 athletes participating in the tournament.
“Expect fast, technical, highly competitive youth soccer in one of the top youth leagues in the country,” says Andrew Bailey, director of soccer operations for Roseville Soccer. “The games have real stakes and many of these young athletes are future professional players.”
Bailey says the event will also create opportunities for scouts to evaluate regional talent.
“Hosting events like this, with top talent from around the region, brings opportunities for college, professional, and national team scouts to evaluate talent,” Bailey adds. “We are excited to see our athletes competing at the highest level in our backyard.”
Opened in November 2025, the Placer Valley Soccer Complex features 10 artificial-turf fields with LED lighting. The facility has hosted several tournaments during its first year, including a flag football tournament and the US Quadball Cup, the national championship for the sport formerly known as Quidditch.
“It’s an excellent opportunity for the players but also for the facility and the fans,” says Wilson, whose organization has 200 affiliated clubs and leagues in Northern California. “We’re lucky to have the facility. It’s a place that has put Roseville on the sports map.”
The soccer complex is expected to generate approximately $15 million annually for the local economy. Along with the Roebbelen Center, which can accommodate 12 full-length basketball courts, it strengthens Placer Valley’s position as a sports tourism destination.
Sports tourism accounted for 21 percent of the 255,000 people who attended events in the community in 2025. Soccer tournaments generated approximately 2,630 hotel-room nights that year, before the complex opened.
“MLS NEXT is a game changer and will bring a lot more attention to the soccer complex and Placer Valley,” Summers says. “It will have a huge economic impact and also help boost our position as a sports tourism destination.”
