MLS, MLS Next Pro And MLS Next Expand Collaboration With Kitman Labs To Unify And Optimize Player Pathway Data
Kitman Labs announced today it will use MLS Assist to centralize Major League Soccer (MLS), MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT as part of an expansion of league wide collected data providing a complete management of each athletes pathway currently available across the three organizations. Look for more uniform and consistent operations and performance data pushed into a singular integrated platform. The goal of the sports technology project is connectivity between all competitions, teams and players. MLS Assist will act as the single hub assisting to define and solidify player pathways from the academy level all the way up to MLS first teams. The Sports Techie community blog believes this sports tech and science-centric partnership between Kitman Labs and the MLS properties will help the league, now celebrating its 30th season in 2025, solidify its standing as a top ten professional men’s football league worldwide. Their 30 clubs are located throughout the United States and Canada.
“The focus of MLS Assist is to streamline the technology behind our competitions by consolidating solutions, modernizing sports management processes, and standardizing the reporting and distribution of our sports data,” said John Sullivan, MLS Chief Information Officer. “A key goal is digitizing the player pathway—using integrated technologies and data-driven systems to modernize scouting, optimize player development, and build a smarter, more connected talent pipeline. By aligning efforts across MLS, MLS NEXT Pro, and MLS NEXT, the Sporting Technology department and Kitman Labs are building an innovative and scalable foundation for how the game is managed.”
MLS Assist
The initiative’s aim led by MLS Assist is to completely unify all MLS, MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT operations and player performance data into one advanced operating system. Developed to help advance the technological infrastructure of MLS, MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT, MLS Assist will aid in elevating the level of play and competition through smart innovation.
The new League Operations Solution and MLS Intelligence Platform has launched this season and will consolidate and streamline program-wide operations and build a unified data set for players, staff, coaches and games played at every level across MLS, MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT. The ability to now collect this data across the pathway represents a critical and foundational step in understanding, defining and optimizing the player pathway.
“Through our work with MLS, MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT, we are building a strong foundation—one that not only identifies and develops talent but also fosters a competitive, sustainable ecosystem. Too often, organizations are held back by disconnected systems that create inefficiencies and obscure the full picture of player development and league operations,” said Stephen Smith, Founder & CEO, Kitman Labs. “With the launch of the League Operations Solution in iP: Intelligence Platform*, we’re working to empower MLS, MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT by unifying their data, streamlining operations, and ultimately unlocking transformative growth—ensuring they continue to be a destination for top talent while delivering an exceptional experience for players, practitioners, partners, and fans alike.”
MLS, MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT are the first soccer leagues to launch the League Operations Solution from Kitman Labs and will include:
- Player and Staff Registration: Simplifying the registration process with a streamlined, scalable approach that reduces administrative burdens while enhancing data quality.
- Fixture Management: Provides a centralized view of all fixtures and automated tools for rescheduling, ensuring more streamlined processes and better communication across all stakeholders.
- Discipline and Eligibility: Centralizes the tracking of disciplinary actions, ensuring consistency and compliance.
- Match Reporting: Provides a centralized platform for match reports, making critical data accessible and actionable.
- Digital Match Rosters: Automates roster management, ensuring eligibility and providing critical match information to stakeholders.
- Scheduling: Simplifies scheduling logistics with automation and real-time updates.
“The commitment of MLS, MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT to provide best-in-class management of their respective competitions and the player pathway has been supported by the recent expansion of our work with Kitman Labs,” said Paul Grafer, MLS Senior Technical Director, Competition. “Collaboratively, we have developed customized software that serves as the administrative backbone for MLS, MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT. We are excited by the opportunity these tools present to improve the management of each MLS, MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT competition while enhancing various aspects of the player development pathway.”
Kitman Labs
Kitman Labs has an established track record of working with top governing bodies, leagues, teams and athletes across a variety of sports, including soccer/global football, basketball, rugby, and American football. The company’s technology has been used by leagues and teams in some of the world’s most elite sports organizations and universities including the NFL, NBA, NWSL, Premier League and NCAA.
For the latest information on Kitman Labs, visit www.kitmanlabs.com.
*iP: Intelligence Platform represents the industry’s largest dataset of talent, performance, and medical data for all stages of the athlete lifecycle.
MLS Digital Viewing
All MLS, Leagues Cup, and select MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT matches can be watched through MLS Season Pass, available on the Apple TV app on Apple devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, set-top boxes, and game consoles, and the web at tv.apple.com. MLS Season Pass features the most expansive and accessible lineup of programming ever for MLS fans. For more information about MLS, visit mlssoccer.com.
For more information about Apple TV app and streaming, see apple.com/apple-tv-app.
About MLS NEXT Pro
Launched in 2022 by Major League Soccer, MLS NEXT Pro is a professional men’s soccer league in the United States and Canada that completes the pro player pathway from MLS NEXT to MLS first teams. To date, 165 players have signed MLS first team contracts after competing in MLS NEXT Pro. MLS NEXT Pro continues to grow the game through innovation and inclusion, bringing professional soccer to new communities and creating opportunities both on and off the field. MLS NEXT Pro enters its fourth season in 2025 with 29 teams, 27 MLS-affiliated and two independent, Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga FC. Additional MLS-affiliated and independent clubs will join in the years ahead, including Cleveland, Jacksonville Armada FC, Connecticut United FC and West Michigan Soccer. MLS NEXT Pro matches are broadcast on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV as part of the groundbreaking partnership between Apple and MLS.
Look for information about MLS NEXT Pro, at mlsnextpro.com.
About MLS NEXT
Launched in 2020, MLS NEXT is the most elite platform for youth player development in North America. With a commitment to innovation and providing access and representation, MLS NEXT players receive the best training and coaching as they prepare for their futures, both in soccer and in life. Throughout a season, MLS NEXT hosts four marquee events across the country, including the Generation adidas Cup, which features MLS academies playing against the top international clubs. Membership for the 2024-25 season included 29 MLS academies, 122 Elite Academies (151 total clubs), 753 teams and over 16,000 players across the U.S. and Canada. Official partners of MLS NEXT include adidas and Allstate.
For additional information about MLS NEXT, go to www.mlssoccer.com/mlsnext.
Sports Techie, League Operations Solution is certainly a robust Kitman Labs asset designed for progressive leagues, teams and organizations such as the MLS.
Think of this as a DOGE type move by MLS in that, the US Government is so large, full of redundancies and has obvious lack of cohesions across multiple federal agencies and its respective technologies. The MLS had three properties not optimized to communicate with each other until MLS Assist provided a singular platform to streamline operations. Of course, Kitman Labs rolled this new initiative out together with MLS using a thoughtful and methodical approach, which is not the same way DOGE, Elon Musk, and his inexperienced and unvetted staff are using a chainsaw attack mode to rapidly downsize and even eliminate federal agencies and jobs completely without the same kind of forethought, discipline and intelligence as the roll out of MLS Assist.
You should be happy to know Kitman Labs is delivering a clear and advanced vison for MLS, MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT through MLS Assist and innovation, as they do for all Premier League Academies via their Football Intelligence Platform.
Read our exclusive interview with Kitman Labs Founder and CEO, Stephen Smith.
I have watched several MLS matches over Season Pass this season on Apple TV during their free streams, including Atlanta United, the Seattle Sounders and the MLS Cup. The broadcasts are super high quality with plenty of sport tech bells and whistles to complement the matches while enhancing the fan experience.
I wonder how many MLS, MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT identified players will play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by the U.S. Canada and Mexico.
My over/under is 30.
See you later sportstechie in Seattle, Atlanta and around the world!
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