The emergence of many standout young players highlighted an action-packed 2024 season in the Eastern Conference.
Philadelphia Union II, with a cadre of super-talented academy graduates, carried the Eastern Conference flag all the way to MLS NEXT Pro Cup.
Who steps up in 2025? With players like Cavan Sullivan, 2024 MVP David Poreba, and Stefan Chirila breaking out in the East last season, it will certainly be a tough act to follow, and we can't wait to see who is up for the task.
Here's how the Eastern Conference is shaping up as the 2025 season approaches.
Northeast Division
Head Coach: Mike Matkovich
Venue: SeatGeek Stadium
Record last year: 11-8-9; 47 points - 4th in Eastern Conference
Notable offseason news: Mike Matkovich takes Fire II helm
Chicago Fire FC II enter the 2025 season under the direction of new coach Mike Matkovich, who previously served as the club's head domestic scout. The team has a strong core of returning players, including Harold Osorio, Jason Shokalook, and Luka Prpa.
Fire II will miss the contributions of reining MVP and Golden Boot winner David Poreba this season, as he will be out long-term recovering from an ACL injury suffered in the preseason.
Head Coach: Tryone Marshall
Venue: NKU Soccer Stadium
Last year's record: 16-8-4; 53 points - 1st in Eastern Conference
Notable offseason news: Stefan Chirila, Kenji Mboma Dem earn first-team chances
FC Cincinnati 2 looks to build on a huge 2024 season in which Kenji Mboma Dem and Stefan Chirila starred. Both players could be featuring a bit less with FCC2 in 2025, with Chirila signing a first-team deal and Mboma Dem scoring in first-team preseason friendlies. FCC2 continue for next season with a strong back line led by Brian Schaefer and wingback Amir Daley.
Head Coach: Federico Higuain
Venue: Historic Crew Stadium
Last year's record: 15-9-8; 45 points - 7th in Eastern Conference
Notable offseason news: Crew legend Federico Higuain joins as Crew 2 head coach
New coach Federico Higuain brings a wealth of experience to the young Crew 2 side, and one of the most successful MLS NEXT Pro sides continues with plenty of young talent in 2025. Chase Adams, 16, showed out last season with 10 goals. Higuain depends on several other key players with lots of MLS NEXT Pro experience in Brent Adu-Gyamfi, Anthony Alaouieh, and Giorgio De Libera.
Head Coach: Richie Williams
Venue: Gillette Stadium
Last year's record: 4-18-6; 22 points - 15th in Eastern Conference
Notable offseason news: Revs II adds Jayden Da to attack
Revolution II look to turn the page from a bottom-of-the-table finish in 2024. In that effort, they've bolstered their attack with the addition of Jayden Da, who starred at Crew 2 last year at forward. The club also re-signed Marcos Dias, who led the team in production with nine goals and added five assists in 2024.
Head Coach: Ibrahim Sekagya
Venue: MSU Soccer Park
Last year's record: 10-12-6; 40 points - 11th in Eastern Conference
Notable offseason news: Red Bulls II midfielders Rafael Mosquera, Aimar Modelo join Panama senior national team camp
What seemed like a promising 2024 season turned out to be a difficult one for New York Red Bulls II. However, the club brings some continuity into the new season, with Ibrahim Kasule looking to rekindle with 2023 form. Ibrahim Sekagya's squad has an experienced core of players, including attackers Frank Ssebufu and Mohammed Sofo.
Head Coach: Matt Pilkington
Venue: Belson Stadium
Last year's record: 11-8-9; 45 points - 6th in Eastern Conference
Notable offseason news: NYCFC return experienced core
NYCFC II's magical U.S. Open Cup run in 2024 made for a memorable season, but Matt Pilkington's team will enter 2025 looking to bounce back from an early playoff exit. The loss of Taylor Calheira will be felt in the attacking third, but the squad has proven leaders Ronald Arevalo, Jonathan Jimenez, and Piero Elias to lean on in 2025.
Head Coach: Ryan Richter
Venue: Subaru Park
Last year's record: 15-9-4; 52 points - 2nd in Eastern Conference
Notable offseason news: Ryan Richter takes over as Union II head coach
Several talented young players carried Philadelphia Union II to MLS NEXT Pro Cup 2024, and the heartbreaking loss to North Texas SC will motivate them this season. How many of the same academy standouts will feature for Union II again?
Key players Eddy Davis, Frankie Westfield, CJ Olney, and others have signed first-team deals and could be splitting time along with 15-year-old phenom Cavan Sullivan. The onus is on new Union coach Ryan Richter and the next generation to fill big shoes.
Head Coach: Gianni Cimini
Venue: York Lions Stadium
Last year's record: 10-12-6; 37 points - 12th in Eastern Conference
Notable offseason news: Markus Cimermancic signs first-team TFC contract
TFC II missed the playoffs for the second year in a row but found a few positives out of the 2024 season. Markus Cimermancic impressed on the way to a first-team contract, Hassan Ayari had a breakout season with six goals, and Julian Altobelli had a huge season with 11 goals. Altobelli has since departed TFC II, and that should make way for Ayari and Charlie Sharp to take a step forward this season.
Southeast Division
Head Coach: Steve Cooke
Venue: Fifth Third Stadium
Last year's record: 7-14-7; 32 points - 13th in Eastern Conference
Notable offseason news: Atlanta United 2 signs Dominik Chong Qui to MLS NEXT Pro contract
Atlanta United 2 will have a refreshed lineup in 2025, having to balance out departing key players Karim Tmimi, Alan Carleton, and Noble Okello. ATL UTD 2 has been very busy taking care of that business in recent weeks, even adding two new defenders in Nyk Sessock and Ronan Wynne on Tuesday.
Fellow defender Domink Chong Qui was the team's biggest revelation of last season and signed an MLS NEXT Pro contract in December that will turn into a Homegrown status in 2026.
Head Coach: Donovan Ricketts
Venue: Truist Point
Last year's record: 12-12-4; 43 points - 10th in Eastern Conference
Notable offseason news: Donovan Ricketts takes the helm as Carolina Core FC coach
Indepedent side Carolina Core FC narrowly missed the playoffs in 2024, but their incredible resurgence toward the end of the season provides a lot of hope for the future. Facundo Canete, one of the top newcomers of last season, returns as the team's leader. In the midfield, Core added Glory Nzingo on loan from English Championship side Swansea City.
Head Coach: Chris Nugent
Venue: Finley Stadium
Last year's record: 9-9-10; 45 points - 9th in Eastern Conference
Notable offseason news: Chattanooga FC goes undefeated in preseason matches
Chattanooga's inaugural MLS NEXT Pro season brought some ups and downs, ending with CFC narrowly missing the playoffs. The club approaches 2025 for new coach Chris Nugent's first entire season. CFC, the other independent MLS NEXT Pro team, finished the preseason undefeated, with Tate Robertson and Keegan Ancelin scoring goals. The departure of forward Mehdi Ouamri will leave plenty of opportunity for rising attacking talent.
Head Coach: Gary Dicker
Venue: Mecklenburg County Sportsplex
Last year's record: 11-10-7; 45 points - 8th in Eastern Conference
Notable offseason news: Gary Dicker named Crown Legacy FC head coach
Aron John emerged as one of the top players in MLS NEXT Pro in 2024 and is one to watch for CLFC as he works his way toward first-team opportunities. Among other key returning players are forward Dylan Sing, Assane Ouedrago, and Willian Sangoquiza.
They'll also be under new leadership with new head coach Gary Dicker joining from the English Premier League's Brighton & Hove Albion's U-21 squad.
Head Coach: Chris O'Neal
Venue: Joe Davis Stadium
Last year's record: 8-15-5; 29 points - 14th in Eastern Conference
Notable offseason news: Huntsville City FC add MLS NEXT Pro experience with Gio Miglietti, Malik Henry-Scott
Huntsville City FC endured a difficult 2024 season, finishing second from last in the conference.
Head coach Chris O'Neal started in August and oversaw a late-season resurgence that HCFC looks to bring in to the new season. A few of the squad's young talents - most notably, Matchweek 24 Rising Star Tristan Tropeano - emerged during the winning run. Those positives bring Huntsville City FC hope as the club turns the page.
Huntsville City FC also brought in established MLS NEXT Pro goal threats in Gio Miglietti and Malik Henry-Scott to bolster their budding attacking corps.
Head Coach: TBA
Venue: Chase Stadium
Last year's record: 14-8-6; 48 points - 3rd in Eastern Conference
Notable offseason news: Academy star Victor Fung set to play a role at Inter Miami II in 2025
The departure of Federico Higuain to Columbus Crew 2 has left Inter Miami II without a head coach. One we are expecting the team to fill soon. Their academy made significant strides last season, with Yuval Cohen and Alejandro Flores de la Paz impressing. That helped the club mark the best finish in its MLS NEXT Pro tenure. Victor Fung, who earned a call-up from the Venezuela U-20 team over the offseason, could be the next academy talent to mark a breakout season.
Head Coach: Manuel Goldberg
Venue: Osceola County Stadium
Last year's record: 11-8-9; 46 points - 5th in Eastern Conference
Notable offseason news: OCB signs Justin Ellis to MLS NEXT Pro contract
Enormous contributions from Alexander Freeman and Justin Ellis made for a strong showing in 2024 from Orlando City B. In 2025, the club will include academy standout Gustavo Caraballo in their plans. Caraballo even earned first-team preseason minutes. Unfortunately, OCB will miss 2024 Best XI Honorable Mention forward Yutaro Tsukada, who suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason.
