MLS
How Artificial Intelligence could become the future of MLS scouting and recruitment
Players from all around the world could catch the eye of the MLS’ leading lights from their own back yard.
Major League Soccer has gone into partnership with aiScout, an Artificial Intelligence-based talent analysis and development platform run by ai.io, which will enable players to be scouted by clubs in the United States no matter where they are in the world. The agreement is part of the MLS’ Emerging Ventures program, which continues the league’s investment into MLS Next, which is aimed at players at under-19 level and younger.
How does aiScout work?
Any player can sign up to the use the digital scouting product and effectively take part in a virtual trial, which any partner club, which now includes all 29 in MLS, will have access to. The aiScout app is free to download and players can run through a series of training drills and assessments whenever they so wish, as long as they have some open space and their mobile phone handy so they can film themselves.
After players have completed the assessments and uploaded their clips, the app evaluates their performances and gives them a score, which partner clubs can track and review for themselves. The most-highly-rated players will then have the chance to train with MLS clubs at different events across the US and Canada, according to MLS’ official announcement of the agreement.
“A solution for important issues” in North American soccer
“At MLS, we believe this partnership is going to be a real solution for some of the most important issues faced in soccer across North America namely, cost, geography, and accessibility”, said Fred Lipka, Technical Director of MLS NEXT.
“It is critical that we provide all players with an opportunity to access MLS NEXT and MLS NEXT Pro programming, and ai.io has built a fantastic technology platform that enables us to eliminate these traditional barriers and increase opportunities for players at no cost to the player.”
Premier League club Chelsea another of aiScout’s partners
As well as all 29 MLS clubs, Premier League giants Chelsea also have an agreement with aiScout, who are their academy research partner. Fellow English club Burnley, who have just won promotion back to the top flight, are also part of ai.io’s club network.
“An opportunity to seen, evaluated and developed by MLS clubs”
“By encouraging aspirational players and fans to download our aiScout app and film themselves replicating club standard drills on their mobile devices, players have had success, and in some cases are now playing for clubs in the English Premier League,” added Darren Peries, CEO of ai.io.
“We are thrilled about this partnership with Major League Soccer, and greatly look forward to soon providing players around the world with an opportunity to be seen, analysed, evaluated and developed by MLS clubs.”
MLS clubs will be able to use aiScout in full from December 2023 onwards.