Darlington School Soccer Academy will travel to Arizona in December to compete at MLS NEXT Fest, one of the premier youth soccer showcase events in North America.

MLS NEXT Fest brings together more than 1,600 teams from over 300 clubs across the U13–U19 age groups. More than 32,000 players are expected to compete in approximately 2,400 matches during the event.

Beyond the competition, MLS NEXT Fest is one of the country's most significant scouting and talent-identification events. Hundreds of college, professional and national-team scouts attend the event to evaluate players from across North America.

The 2026 event will also introduce a new MLS NEXT Academy Division play-in competition, providing participating teams with an additional pathway toward qualification for the 2027 MLS NEXT Cup presented by Allstate.

Darlington team schedules, match times and additional travel information will be shared as they become available.