2027 MLS NEXT Cup coming to Greater Cincinnati next year
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Greater Cincinnati will host one of the country's largest youth soccer tournaments next summer, bringing 350 teams to the region for the 2027 MLS NEXT Cup.
Why it matters: The weeklong event is expected to generate about $30 million in economic impact and 50,000 hotel room nights, according to the Cincinnati Regional Sports Commission.
State of play: The MLS NEXT Cup will run June 5-13 at multiple sites: Voice of America Park in West Chester, Warren County Sports Park and FC Cincinnati's TQL Stadium.
- Teams will compete across six age groups, from U13 through U19, with older players getting a chance to play in front of professional, national team and college scouts.
- MLS NEXT includes the academies of all 30 MLS clubs, including FCC.
The big picture: For Butler and Warren counties, landing an event this large is part of the payoff from years of building youth sports facilities to attract visitors — and their spending.
- Voice of America Park has 25 multipurpose fields, while Warren County Sports Park's west wing alone has 12.
- Warren County says its park was built as an economic development tool, using Convention & Visitors Bureau revenue rather than county general fund money.
What they're saying: Warren County Commissioner Dave Young said in a statement the park was "designed and built for (major) events like the MLS NEXT Cup."
- "We … can't wait to show these outstanding young athletes and their families everything 'Ohio's Largest Playground' (Warren County) has to offer both on and off the playing field."
Zoom out: The regional approach could help Greater Cincinnati compete for more large sporting events — and the tourism dollars that come with them.
- Butler County Commissioner T.C. Rogers similarly calls the cup "a great opportunity to showcase Butler County," while Sports Commission executive director Ben Huffman championed the "true regional effort" necessary to land such an event.
What's next: Greater Cincinnati gets an early look April 9-12, when an Ohio regional MLS NEXT Cup qualifier comes to the Voice of America MetroPark Athletic Complex.