MLS announces class of 2026 for the Elite Formation Coaching License – pathway Greg Vanney and Wilfried Nancy used to emerge onto league's biggest stage
The influential coaching program will run a total of seven weeks over an 18-month period from February 2025 to August 2026
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MLS announced EFCL Class for 2026Coaching program is partnership with French Football Federation (FFF)Avoid repetition of the same words & topicsGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowWHAT HAPPENED?
MLS announced the incoming 2026 class for the Elite Formation Coaching License (EFCL) Friday morning. The program, which saw the likes of MLS Cup-winning managers Greg Vanney and Wilfried Nancy used to develop, is one of the world's most elite coaching pathways.
THE EFCL program runs seven weeks over an 18-month period from February 2025 to August 2026, and includes all of course work, on-pitch projects, film room studies, immersion, classes, and more.
The program will see the classes begin at the famed INF Clairefontaine outside of Paris, with first sessions beginning on Feb. 4. The EFCL program, which is in partnership with the French Football Federation (FFF), has directly impacted the MLS Player Pathway through the development leagues coaches and players since 2013.
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The class of 2026, for the first time, will feature five different MLS NEXT Elite Academy coaches, alongside 19 MLS representatives.
San Jose Earthquakes U16 head coach Erin Ridley became the first woman from MLS to complete the program in August, 2024, and this year, three more women look to follow her lead as part of the program. Cassidy Chriest (Houston Dynamo), Megan McCormick (St. Louis CITY SC), and Tiffany Roberts (Royals Arizona) will all join the program.
The first week will see coaches observe and learn from some of Europe's top clubs, Arsenal (England), FC Barcelona (Spain), Deportivo Alavés (Spain), Le Havre AC (France), CA Osasuna (Spain), Paris FC (France), Paris Saint-Germain (France), Toulouse FC (France), and Villarreal CF (Spain).
The entire list of candidates is listed below
2025-26 Elite Formation Coaching License Candidates
Club
Name
Role
Cedar Stars Academy – Bergen (MLS NEXT)
James Barnes
Technical Director/U19 MLS NEXT Head Coach
Houston Dynamo FC
Cassidy Chriest
U14 Head Coach
New England Revolution
Lucas Dantas
U15 Assistant Coach/Preformation
New York City FC
Yannick Diese
U16 Head coach
Seattle Sounders FC
Matt Dorman
U16 Head Coach
Bethesda Soccer Club (MLS NEXT)
Pierre Dyer
U15 Head Coach
Columbus Crew
Shahad Farahani
U16 Head Coach
Albion SC San Diego (MLS NEXT)
Jorge Garcia
Academy Director
FC Dallas
Phil Gomez
North Texas SC Assistant Coach/U13 Head Coach
CF Montréal
Sylvain Hascoet
U15 Head Coach
Columbus Crew
Eddie Hertsenberg
U15 Head Coach
Orlando City SC
Bitielo Jean Jacques
Formation Assistant Coach
Colorado Rapids
Keyon Khalilian
U15 Head Coach
St. Louis CITY SC
Megan McCormick
U16 Head Coach and Pathway Program Head Coach
Nashville SC
Rumbani Munthali
Head of Methodology
Inter Miami CF
Christopher Nurse
U17 Head Coach
Sporting Kansas City
Angel Rivillo
U16 Head Coach
Royals Arizona (ECNL Girls)
Tiffany Roberts
Royals Arizona Academy Director/Girls ECNL Director
FC Cincinnati
Andy Seidel
U14 Head Coach
Miami Futbol Academy Rush (MLS NEXT)
Renatto Soriano
Academy Director/U14 Head Coach
Major League Soccer League Office
Paul Templeton
Manager, Coaching Education & Player Development
Chicago Fire FC
William Thornton
U18 Assistant Coach
New England Revolution
Abel Wasswa
U14 Head Coach
Orlando City SC
Edward Wilding
Formation Phase Lead/U16 Head Coach
DID YOU KNOW?
Austin FC manager Nico Estevez is also a graduate from the program, as well as San Diego FC assistant coach Kelvin Jones.
WHAT NEXT FOR MLS?
The 2025 regular season kicks off on Feb. 22 when Inter Miami clash with New York City FC in a battle of two Eastern Conference heavyweights. Until then, teams will continue their preseason training in preparation for the campaign.