Greater Cincinnati today was chosen as the 2027 site of the MLS NEXT Cup presented by Allstate, with the Cincinnati Regional Sports Commission and other regional leaders highlighting an estimated $30 million in economic impact. The events will bring 350 teams to the region next summer, booking an estimated 50,000 hotel room nights.
The announcement follows MLS NEXT's release of its 2026-27 season event schedule, with Cincinnati as the site of some regional qualifiers and the culminating event of the season. MLS NEXT Cup will be held June 5–13, 2027, at Voice of America Park, Warren County Sports Park and TQL Stadium, bringing the top MLS NEXT teams to the region to compete for championships across six age groups, U13 to U19.
"An event like MLS NEXT Cup fills hotels, restaurants and local businesses for more than a week, and it puts Greater Cincinnati at the sport’s epicenter for families, players and scouts from across North America," said Ben Huffman, executive director of the Cincinnati Regional Sports Commission. "This is a true regional effort with a variety of partners, including Travel Butler County and Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau."
"Cincinnati is a sports-loving city that knows how to welcome visitors, and $30 million in economic impact means jobs, revenue and opportunity for all our neighborhoods," said Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval. "Thousands of young athletes and their families will see what makes this city special, and many will want to come back."
“We are thrilled to welcome the MLS NEXT Playoffs to Cincinnati in 2027 and showcase our city, our stadium, our soccer community, and our region on one of youth soccer’s biggest stages," said Jeff Berding, co-CEO of FC Cincinnati. “Cincinnati has become a destination for the sport at every level, and this event is another reflection of the growth and passion for soccer throughout our community. We are especially grateful to the Cincinnati Sports Commission for its partnership and leadership in helping bring this premier event to our city.”
“Hosting MLS NEXT Cup is a major win for Hamilton County, bringing talented young athletes and their families to our region and driving business to our hotels, restaurants, and local businesses", said Hamilton County Commission President Stephanie Summerow Dumas. "This is exactly the kind of opportunity our Sports Commission was created to deliver. Hamilton County is excited to collaborate on this partnership".
“The Warren County Sports Park as a concept was designed and built for highly impactful events like the MLS NEXT Cup,” said Dave Young, Warren County Commissioner. “We’re thrilled to join our neighboring communities in welcoming the Cup in 2027, and can’t wait to show these outstanding young athletes and their families everything ‘Ohio’s Largest Playground’ has to offer both on and off the playing field.”
"Due to the recent increased popularity of soccer, in general, to be chosen to be a part of a host event with a potential national significance is a great opportunity to showcase Butler County." said T.C. Rogers, Butler County Board of Commissioners Board President.
The 2027 MLS NEXT Cup will feature an expanded Allstate Homegrown Division, growing from 32 to 48 teams in each of the U15 through U19 age groups, and will include the showcase competition for rising juniors and seniors who want to compete in front of professional, national team and college scouts.
The region will get an early preview on April 9–12, 2027, when the Ohio Regional MLS NEXT Cup Qualifier is played at Voice of America Athletic Complex in West Chester.
MLS NEXT's 2026-27 season is its largest yet, with more than 53,000 players, 2,743 teams and 310 clubs, including all 30 MLS academies, competing in more than 27,000 matches across the U.S. and Canada.
