The grind never stops in Harrison. If you’ve been following the New York Red Bulls II for any length of time, you know that the schedule is basically a roadmap of the next generation of MLS talent. It’s gritty. It’s fast. Honestly, it’s often more entertaining than the senior team’s matches because these kids are playing like their entire careers depend on every single 50/50 ball. Because, well, they usually do.
Finding the New York Red Bulls II schedule used to be a bit of a headache back when the league was bouncing between USL Championship and the transition to MLS NEXT Pro. Now that things have settled into the NEXT Pro rhythm, the calendar is a lot more predictable, but it still requires some digging to figure out which games are happening at MSU Soccer Park and which ones are taking place behind closed doors at the training facility in Whippany.
The 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Structure
MLS NEXT Pro usually drops the full slate of games in late February or early March. For the 2026 season, the Red Bulls II—famously nicknamed "RBII" or the "Baby Bulls"—are anchored in the Eastern Conference. You're looking at a 28-game regular season. It’s a long haul.
Most of the games are stacked on Sundays. It’s a developmental league thing. They want the young guys to have a consistent training block Monday through Friday, a walkthrough on Saturday, and then full-tilt Sunday matches. However, you’ll occasionally see a Wednesday night kickoff if there’s a congested stretch or a specific rescheduled fixture.
One thing that throws people off about the New York Red Bulls II schedule is the "shootout" rule. If you're heading to a game expecting a draw to end at 90 minutes, think again. In this league, if it's tied at the whistle, they go straight to penalty kicks. The winner of the shootout gets an extra point. It’s weird. It’s stressful. But it definitely keeps the standings interesting throughout the summer months.
Home Field Advantage and Venue Shifts
This is where it gets slightly confusing for the casual fan. Red Bulls II don't have one "permanent" home in the way the senior team has Red Bull Arena.
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Historically, the bulk of the New York Red Bulls II schedule is played at Pittser Field at Montclair State University. It’s a great, intimate environment. You’re right on top of the pitch. You can hear the coaches screaming tactical adjustments and the players arguing with the fourth official. But keep a close eye on the official team Twitter (or X, whatever we're calling it this week) because some developmental matches or "B-team" friendlies get moved to the Red Bull Training Facility. Those are usually closed to the general public, which is a bummer if you drove all the way to Whippany hoping to catch a glimpse of the next Wikelman Carmona.
Breaking Down the Travel
The Eastern Conference is a beast. The schedule is heavily weighted toward regional rivals. You can bet your house that RBII will face off against:
- Philadelphia Union II: The "Baby Benelux" derby is always heated. These two academies hate each other.
- New England Revolution II: Always a tactical chess match.
- NYCFC II: The Hudson River Derby, junior edition. Usually played at Belson Stadium in Queens or at MSU. These games get chippy fast.
Expect a few long-haul flights to places like Florida or even out West for "showcase" events, but generally, the travel is kept within the Eastern time zone to manage the budget and the players' recovery times.
Why the Schedule Matters for the Senior Team
You have to look at the New York Red Bulls II schedule through the lens of the first team. If the senior Red Bulls have a massive U.S. Open Cup game on a Tuesday, the RBII game the preceding Sunday is going to look very different. The top prospects—the guys on the fringes of the 18-man roster—might be held out of the reserve match to ensure they’re fresh for the bench at Red Bull Arena.
Conversely, if a first-team player is coming back from an ACL tear or a bad hamstring pull, they’ll often be "loaned" down for a specific match on the RBII calendar. It’s basically a rehab assignment. If you see a 28-year-old MLS veteran lining up against a 17-year-old academy kid in an MLS NEXT Pro match, you know someone is testing their fitness levels.
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Keeping Track of the Dates
So, how do you actually stay updated? The official MLS NEXT Pro website is the primary source, but it’s notoriously clunky.
Honestly, the best way to track the New York Red Bulls II schedule is to sync the calendar directly to your phone via the team's official app. They update the kickoff times in real-time. If a thunderstorm rolls through North Jersey—which happens about every five minutes in July—the app is the first place that will reflect the delay.
Tickets and Streaming
Don't expect to find these games on local cable. The entire league is under the Apple TV MLS Season Pass umbrella. It’s convenient because the production value is actually pretty high for a secondary league.
For those wanting to go in person, tickets are usually dirt cheap. We’re talking $10 to $15. It’s probably the best value in professional sports in the New York metro area. You get to see players who will be playing in Europe or for the USMNT in three years for the price of a mid-tier burrito.
Scouting the Roster via the Calendar
When you look at the schedule, pay attention to the "International Windows." Unlike the senior MLS team, which sometimes pauses for FIFA dates, the NEXT Pro level often grinds right through them. However, since the Red Bulls academy is a factory for youth internationals, a June game on the New York Red Bulls II schedule might look vastly different if four of their best starters are away with the U-20 or U-17 national teams.
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This is where the depth of the Red Bulls system is truly tested. You’ll see guys from the U-18 academy team getting "amateur" appearances. It’s a revolving door, which is why following the schedule isn't just about dates—it's about tracking the progression of specific players.
Actionable Steps for Red Bulls Fans
If you're serious about following the team this year, stop just checking the scores on Google.
First, download the FotMob app and favorite New York Red Bulls II. Their push notifications for lineups and goals are faster than almost any other service.
Second, plan your MSU trips for May and September. June and July in Montclair can be brutally humid, and since Pittser Field is turf, the heat radiating off the ground is no joke. The atmosphere is way better when the weather is crisp.
Third, watch the "bench" players. In the Red Bull system, the schedule is designed to filter out who can handle the "high press" for 90 minutes. If a player is consistently starting in the March and April fixtures but disappears by July, they might have hit a wall or been sent back to the academy.
The New York Red Bulls II schedule is more than just a list of games. It’s a live look at the future of the club. Whether you're a die-hard scout or just someone who wants to see some live soccer without paying Red Bull Arena parking prices, keeping an eye on these dates is essential. Check the official site for the latest Sunday afternoon kickoffs and get out to Montclair to see the next generation before they become household names.