The 2026 Red Bull New York II squad doesn't need to look too far for inspiration.Â
Many returned from last year's MLS NEXT Pro Cup campaign, and most pathway players have brushed shoulders with midfielder Adri Mehmeti along the way.Â
Some even have years on the now-17-year-old midfield phenom, who has emerged as one of MLS's brightest breakout stars this year. Â
After getting named to his first-ever U.S. men's national team roster last week, Mehmeti spoke to the media on Wednesday and looked back on where he was this time last year, when he was gearing up for the MLS NEXT Pro Cup Playoffs.
Fittingly, sitting next to former RBNY pathway star Tyler Adams.Â
"Obviously, we had a great group that year," Mehmeti reflected. "Tyler's done the same thing when he was on the second team, so to have that same experience with him was really is really cool. And again, they're going to defend that title, hopefully."
Red runs deep
Last year, RBNY II entered the postseason with the top seed in the Eastern Conference. This time around, they finished eighth and will do battle with Huntsville City FC on Sunday, October 11 (5 PM ET | MLSNEXTPro.com, OneFootball) and will have to do it all on the road if they are to successfully defend their title.Â
"Hopefully they'll make it to the next round, all the best to them," said Mehmeti. "Of course, I'll be supporting and watching them."
Mehmeti, now in the Audi MLS Cup Playoff race with the RBNY first team, is an example of how quickly that rise can come about after making a name for yourself in MLS NEXT Pro.Â
"The journey from where I started there to where I am now, it's definitely been a definitely been an exciting one," he shared. "I didn't expect it to happen so fast, but you know, I'm just taking it in every single day and staying humble, of course, because that's the biggest thing as a young player."
