North Texas SC faces San Jose Earthquakes II today, May 23, 2026, in an MLS NEXT Pro regular-season match [5].
This fixture is a key component of the league's 2026 growth strategy, which emphasizes a larger footprint and a more rigorous schedule for developmental players. By increasing the volume of competitive matches, the league aims to accelerate the transition of young talent into top-tier professional soccer.
The current season represents a significant scale-up for the competition. The 2026 campaign expanded to include 30 clubs [2], a move designed to broaden the reach of the professional developmental pipeline across the U.S.
To accommodate this growth, the league implemented a dense schedule that runs over 30 weeks. The season began on Feb. 27, 2026 [1]. Each club is scheduled to play 28 games [4], contributing to a total of 420 matches across the entire league for the year [3].
These structural changes allow teams like North Texas SC and San Jose Earthquakes II to maintain a consistent level of high-intensity competition. The expanded format ensures that players receive more minutes on the pitch, which is critical for technical development, and tactical maturity before they move up to the primary MLS rosters.
The match today serves as a mid-season test for both squads as they navigate the demanding 28-game slate [4]. With the league operating at a larger scale than in previous years, every regular-season point carries weight in the race for playoff positioning within the expanded 30-club ecosystem [2].
“The 2026 campaign expanded to include 30 clubs”
The expansion to 30 clubs and the implementation of a 420-match season signal MLS NEXT Pro's transition from a small-scale developmental project to a robust professional league. By increasing the game count to 28 per club, the league is mirroring the workload of senior professional divisions, which better prepares young athletes for the physical and mental demands of top-flight soccer.
