LAFC2 and MLS NEXT Pro today announced the Club’s 28-game schedule for the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro regular season. LAFC2 hosts North Texas in the Club’s inaugural match on Sunday, Mar. 26 at 5:00 p.m. PT at Cal State Fullerton and will be available on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV App. The League’s second season will feature 27 clubs, including LAFC2.
Led by head coach Enrique Duran, the Black & Gold will compete in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Pacific Division clubs also include LA Galaxy II, Timbers II, Real Monarchs, Earthquakes II, Tacoma Defiance, and Whitecaps FC 2.
LAFC2 makes its first road trip of the season April 9 to take on Frontier Division opponent Sporting Kansas City II at 3:00 p.m. PT. The schedule also features two notable match-ups against Austin FC II at home on Aug. 6 and away on Sept. 1.
Notable matchups against Pacific Division opponents include the MLS NEXT Pro version of the rivalry with the Galaxy II on June 15 and Sept. 9 at Dignity Health Sports Park and Aug. 12 at Cal State Fullerton. LAFC faces off against San Jose II at home on Apr. 30 and July 9, and away on Sep. 24.
The complete MLS NEXT Pro 2023 schedule is available on **mlsnextpro.com** and consists of 378 regular season matches. Each club will play 28 matches over 27 weeks – an increase from 24 matches per club in 2022 - including 14 matches at home and 14 on the road.
The majority of regular season matches, plus all Decision Day matches, playoff matches and MLS NEXT Pro Cup, will be available to watch live and on-demand on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app. The remainder of regular season matches will stream live on mlsnextpro.com. MLS Season Pass is the subscription service from Apple and Major League Soccer that is home to all MLS and Leagues Cup matches and hundreds of MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT matches.
For the complete LAFC competition and broadcast schedule as well as the latest news and results visit: LAFC.com/LAFC2.
NEW PLAYOFF FORMAT
The 2023 season will feature an expanded playoffs format that includes a pick-your-opponent element in the first two rounds.
Within each conference, the two division champions and the five clubs with the next highest points (seven clubs total) will advance to the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs. The Playoffs will consist of three rounds followed by MLS NEXT Pro Cup, taking place over four consecutive weeks beginning the weekend of September 29.
The club with the most regular season points in each conference (#1 seed) will earn a first round bye, automatically advancing to the Conference Semifinals.
Conference Quarterfinals:
- The next two teams with the most points in each conference (#2 and #3 seeds) will choose their opponent and host their match (one of two teams must be the other division champion)
- The two remaining teams that are not selected will play each other, with the higher seeded team hosting
Conference Semifinals:
- The team with the most overall points in the conference (#1 seed) will choose its opponent from the remaining two lowest seeded teams and host the match
- The second highest seed will host the remaining team
Conference Finals:
- The team with the most regular season points (higher seed) will host the team with the lowest points (lower seed)
MLS NEXT Pro Cup:
- The team with the most regular season points (higher seed) will host MLS NEXT Pro Cup
RETURNING RULES
There will be no ties in MLS NEXT Pro once again in 2023. Shootouts using kicks from the penalty mark will return this season to decide a match that is tied after regulation. Both teams will receive one point each for the tie, with the winner of the shootout receiving one additional point (two points total). In 2022, 20% of all matches resulted in a shootout.
Implemented midway through last season, both the Off-field Treatment Rule and Red Card Suspension Rule will also return in 2023.
Under the Off-field Treatment Rule: If a player is suspected to have an injury and is on the ground for longer than 15 seconds, a medical crew will come onto the field to evaluate the player and assist him off. Once the player is off the field, the player will be treated by the medical staff and will be required to remain off the field for three minutes.
Under the Red Card Suspension Rule: if a player receives a red card, he will serve the resulting one-game suspension against that same opponent.
NEW RULE
To further decrease preventable match delays and increase effective match time, this season will see the addition of a new Timed Substitution Rule, which will allow a maximum of 10 seconds for a player to leave the field when he is substituted. If the player does not leave the field of play within the 10 seconds, the replacement player will only be able to enter after a 60 second holding period, resulting in the offending team playing a man down for a minimum of one minute.
CONFERENCE ALIGNMENT
With the addition of seven new clubs this season, the Western Conference will consist of 14 clubs, while the Eastern Conference will have 13. Three of the four divisions will feature seven clubs each, while the Northeast will have six. The Eastern Conference will add Atlanta United 2 and Huntsville City FC to the Central Division and New York Red Bulls II and Crown Legacy FC to the Northeast Division. In the Western Conference, LA Galaxy II and LAFC2 will both join the Pacific Division while Austin FC II joins the Frontier Division.
DATE
OPPONENT
TIME (PST)
LOCATION
BROADCAST
Sunday, Mar 26, 2023
vs. North Texas
5 PM
CSU Fullerton
Apple
Sunday, Apr 02, 2023
vs. Vancouver
7 PM
CSU Fullerton
MLSNEXTPro.com
Sunday, Apr 09, 2023
at Kansas City
3 PM
Rock Chalk Park
Apple
Sunday, Apr 16, 2023
at Houston
4:30 PM
Aveva Stadium
Apple
Sunday, Apr 23, 2023
at Portland
5 PM
Providence Park
Apple
Sunday, Apr 30, 2023
vs. San Jose
3:30 PM
CSU Fullerton
Apple
Wednesday, May 10, 2023
vs. St. Louis
7 PM
CSU Fullerton
Apple
Sunday, May 21, 2023
at Salt Lake City
5 PM
Zions Bank Stadium
MLSNEXTPro.com
Friday, May 26, 2023
at Tacoma
7 PM
Starfire Stadium
Apple
Sunday, Jun 04, 2023
vs. Houston
4:30 PM
CSU Fullerton
MLSNEXTPro.com
Sunday, Jun 11, 2023
vs. Colorado
4:30 PM
CSU Fullerton
MLSNEXTPro.com
Thursday, Jun 15, 2023
at LA Galaxy
7 PM
DHSP Track & Field Stadium
Apple
Sunday, Jun 18, 2023
vs. Kansas City
5 PM
CSU Fullerton
MLSNEXTPro.com
Thursday, Jun 22, 2023
at Vancouver
7 PM
Swangard Stadium
Apple
Sunday, Jul 02, 2023
at North Texas
5:30 PM
Choctaw Stadium
Apple
Sunday, Jul 09, 2023
vs. San Jose
5 PM
CSU Fullerton
Apple
Sunday, Jul 16, 2023
at. Minnesota
6 PM
National Sports Center
Apple
Sunday, Jul 23, 2023
vs. Tacoma
5 PM
CSU Fullerton
Apple
Saturday, Jul 29, 2023
at St. Louis
5 PM
CITY PARK
Apple
Sunday, Aug 06, 2023
vs. Austin
5 PM
CSU Fullerton
MLSNEXTPro.com
Wednesday, Aug 09, 2023
vs. Minnesota
7 PM
CSU Fullerton
MLSNEXTPro.com
Saturday, Aug 12, 2023
vs. LA Galaxy
1PM
CSU Fullerton
Apple
Saturday, Aug 19, 2023
Colorado
6 PM
TBD
Apple
Friday, Aug 25, 2023
vs. Salt Lake City
7 PM
CSU Fullerton
Apple
Friday, Sep 01, 2023
at Austin
6 PM
Parmer Field
Apple
Saturday, Sep 09, 2023
at LA Galaxy
7:30 PM
DHSP Track & Field Stadium
Apple
Friday, Sep 15, 2023
vs. Portland
7 PM
CSU Fullerton
Apple
Sunday, Sep 24, 2023
at San Jose
2 PM
PayPal Park
Apple
