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Greater Cincinnati will host the 2027 MLS NEXT Cup from June 5–13, 2027. Games will be played at TQL Stadium, Voice of America Park and Warren County Sports Park. Organizers estimate the tournament will generate about $30 million in economic impact and 50,000 hotel room nights. The event will feature top MLS NEXT teams competing across six age groups from U13 through U19.
Greater Cincinnati will host the 2027 Major League Soccer (MLS) NEXT Cup presented by Allstate, bringing elite youth soccer teams and thousands of visitors to the region next summer.
The tournament is scheduled for June 5–13, 2027, with an estimated $30 million economic impact for Greater Cincinnati.
The event is also expected to generate about 50,000 hotel room nights.
MLS NEXT Cup coming to Cincinnati
The MLS NEXT Cup will serve as the culminating event of the 2026-27 MLS NEXT season.
Games will be played at TQL Stadium, Voice of America Park and Warren County Sports Park.
The tournament will crown champions across six age groups, from under-13 through under-19. The competition will bring some of the top youth soccer clubs from across the United States and Canada to the Cincinnati region.
The official announcement from FC Cincinnati says the event will bring 350 teams to the region. Local television reports have cited a broader figure of 650 teams expected to participate, making the total event footprint a point of discrepancy in early reports.
Event expected to boost local economy
The Cincinnati Regional Sports Commission estimates the tournament will generate approximately $30 million in economic impact.
Officials expect visitors to spend money at area hotels, restaurants, shops and entertainment venues during the nine-day event.
The tournament is projected to generate roughly 50,000 hotel room nights, providing a significant boost for the region’s hospitality industry.
Ben Huffman, executive director of the Cincinnati Regional Sports Commission, said the tournament will give visitors an opportunity to experience Greater Cincinnati beyond the soccer fields.
The event is part of the region’s broader effort to attract major sporting events and strengthen Cincinnati’s position as a sports-tourism destination.
More opportunities for young players
The 2027 MLS NEXT Cup also features an expanded Allstate Homegrown Division.
The division will grow from 32 to 48 teams in each of the U15 through U19 age groups.
The expanded competition will give more young players an opportunity to compete in front of professional, national-team and college scouts.
MLS NEXT said its 2026-27 season is the largest in league history, with more than 53,000 players, 2,743 teams and 310 clubs competing across the United States and Canada.
Greater Cincinnati will get an earlier preview of MLS NEXT competition in April 2027.
The Ohio Regional MLS NEXT Cup Qualifier is scheduled for April 9–12 at the Voice of America Athletic Complex in West Chester.
The arrival of the MLS NEXT Cup gives Cincinnati another major youth sporting event while bringing families, athletes and scouts to the region for more than a week.
FAQs
Is this the first major soccer event Cincinnati has hosted?
No. Greater Cincinnati has hosted numerous youth and professional soccer events. The MLS NEXT Cup adds another major tournament to the region’s growing sports-event calendar.
Will players from outside Ohio compete in Cincinnati?
Yes. MLS NEXT includes clubs from across the United States and Canada, meaning the Cincinnati tournament will bring teams and families from outside the region.
What makes the 2027 tournament different?
The 2027 event will feature an expanded Allstate Homegrown Division for U15 through U19 players. Each of those age groups will increase from 32 to 48 teams.
