MLS Next Flex U-17 preview: schedule, teams and players to watch

Beachside's U-17 team finished first in the Northeast Division during the regular season. (Beachside).

The biggest event on the MLS Next calendar has arrived.

MLS Next Flex will take place from Friday to Tuesday at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md. There are 232 teams, including 12 from New England, competing at the culminating event across the U-15 to U-19 age groups.

The stakes are high. Teams qualified based on points-per-game rankings during the regular season. Each qualified team is then placed in a four-team group, and the group winners automatically qualify for the MLS Next Cup Playoffs from June 14-22 in Nashville, Tenn.

We already previewed the U-16 and U-19 age groups. Now it's time to look at the U-17 level. This age group has four local teams, the highest of any level. Beachside of Connecticut, NEFC and FC Greater Boston Bolts finished as the top three teams in the Northeast Division, while IFA New England used a strong spring to qualify.

All four teams are capable of winning their group and advancing to the MLS Next Cup, making this a fascinating age group to follow. I am attending MLS Next Flex and will have takeaways and standouts on the website throughout the next few weeks. But in the meantime, here’s a preview of the U-17s, featuring teams, schedules and players to watch.