MLS NEXT Pro season 4 is officially in full swing after Matchday 1.
The 12 matches gave us plenty to talk about as we look ahead to Matchweek 2. Namely, the power rankings.
Of course, it's way too early to draw conclusions. Of course, there's a massive amount of turnover on each club in the league to account for, and of course, the MLS NEXT Pro content team still found a way to kick off the rankings anyway.
Without further ado, here is MLS NEXT Pro's Top 10 Power Rankings coming out of the opening weekend:
When you go down to Texas and beat the defending MLS NEXT Pro Cup champions 3-0 on the road in Matchweek 1, you become the new king of the hill.
In all seriousness, St Louis CITY2 exacted some revenge against their biggest rival from last year and made a statement on the road. Will they be the ones running the able in the West this year? It's theirs to maintain from here on out.
Last match: 3-0 win at North Texas SC
Next match: at Sporting KC II on Friday, March 14
Oof, that’ll sting. Talking about Chicago Fire FC II, of course.
Former Fire II winger and now Huntsville City FC's Christian Koffi burned them for two goals in a 4-1 win at his old home stomping grounds.
Aside from his heroics, it was a quality team win over one of the Eastern Conference’s elite from a year ago.
With an overhauled roster’s big opening day statement, HCFC hold the power card in the East after Matchday 1.
Last match: 4-2 win vs Chicago Fire FC II
Next match: at Chattanooga FC on Saturday, March 15
Austin FC II looked untouchable for the first 70-plus minutes against Colorado Rapids 2 in the MLS NEXT Pro 2025 season opener.
Winger Jimmy Farkarlun earned the Player of the Matchweek 1 honor with his goal and two assists as ATXFC II marched on to a 4-2 victory.
A hot start to the season could be just what the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Cup champs need in their effort to return to the playoff picture.
Last match: 4-2 win vs. Colorado Rapids 2
Next match: vs MNUFC2 on Friday, March 14
New head coach Marcelo Santos checked off his first win in charge of Dynamo Dos.
A strong 3-1 win over Western Conference foe Sporting KC II was built on surviving pressure and coming up clutch to close out the match.
Dynamo 2 goalkeeper Pedro Cruz, who recently joined the club from Brazilian side Futebol Clube Ska, was outstanding with his six saves, many of which were under serious duress.
Last match: 3-1 win vs. Sporting KC II
Next match: vs. North Texas SC on Sunday, March 23
An opening day road win is never easy, but Chattanooga were up to the task in their Matchweek 1 road trip to South beach.
They got the best of a 2-1 tussle with Inter Miami CF II and left-back Milo Garvanian stole the show with a golazo worthy of a Goal of the Matchweek nomination.
It's a great start under new head coach Chris Nugent and gives CFC a full head of steam heading into their home opener on Saturday.
Last match: 2-1 win at Inter Miami II
Next match: vs Huntsville City FC on Saturday, March 15
A home win against the seemingly inevitable Capybaras also raised some eyebrows around the league.
Orlando City B’s 2-1 win over Columbus Crew 2 spoiled the debut of new head coach Federico Higuaín and showed OCB is primed to maintain their playoff form from a year ago.
Last match: 2-1 win vs. Columbus Crew 2
Next match: vs. Atlanta United 2 on Sunday, March 16
A road win over the Eastern Conference’s top playoff seed from last year? Every club in the league will take that.
Toronto FC II can thank Nate Edwards for the goal, and a sturdy group defensive shift was able to grind out a quality 1-0 win in the Queen City.
Last match: 1-0 win at FC Cincinnati 2
Next match: at Chicago Fire FC II on Thursday, March 13
Score a goal and don't give one up - sometimes, it's just that simple.
New York Red Bulls II opened their season on the road at Atlanta United 2 and immediately got to see what their newcomer Andy Rojas can do when he turned water into wine in the 51st-minute goal.
On the other side of the ball, goalkeeper Aidan Stokes and the NYRBII defense stood tall against ATL UTD2's 13 shots.
Last match: 1-0 win at Atlanta United 2
Next match: at Philadelphia Union II on Monday, March 17
Ventrua County FC had a sensational opening day in Thousand Oaks, California and rewarded their fans with a thrilling 3-2 result over perennial Western Conference title contender Tacoma Defiance.
17-year-old LA Galaxy Academy star Dylan Vanney led the way with two goals and earned the Matchweek 1 Rising Star honor for those contributions.
Last match: 3-2 win vs. Tacoma Defiance
Next match: at LAFC2 on Friday, March 14
Whitecaps FC 2 were down bad, to the tune of 3-0 at halftime, but managed to rally for the comeback and have a near-perfect shootout performance to get two opening week points on the road.
Last match: 3-3 tie, shootout win at LAFC2
Next match: at North Texas SC on Friday, Match 14
