MLS Next 2 and ECNL Eastern LRL are roughly equal in quality, but the better choice depends on which club offers more showcase events, guest-play opportunities, and pathways to higher levels. Pick based on what your specific club actually does, not the league name.
What is better, MLS Next 2 or ECNL RL? So there's ECNL and there's MLS Next, and arguably they're very similar in level. I mean, if you talk about the MLS Next teams that are directly affiliated with a professional team, then no, those teams are better than ECNL teams pretty much across the board. Now, it is too difficult to say right now between those levels which is better. I would probably argue level-wise they're pretty similar. What I care about is which Eastern LRL team and which MLS NEXT team is going to let you either guest play or move up to the higher level team, or which one is going to go to the MLS NEXT or Eastern LRL playoffs or showcase events. So if an Eastern LRL team is going to more events than the MLS NEXT 2 team, then I would say goodbye MLS NEXT 2 team, go to the Eastern LRL team. On the flip side, if it's the more MLS NEXT 2, and I will say this is still a brand new deal here, but they're going to be going to MLS Next Flex events, as it turns out, which are probably more popular than the ECNL events that it might make sense to move. So the short answer is I would probably say MLS Next 2 is better than ECNL, but it does depend. If you want to know every club in your state, be very mindful how I'm going to say this. Comment your state initials, NJ, one word, club. So NJ club in the comments, and I'll be sending you every club in your state. Make sure it's one word. Okay, bye.
