Colorado Rapids II

On the evening of the 2025 MLS Next Pro Cup final, Colorado Rapids II went down 3-1 to New York Red Bulls II in regulation, then lost the shoot-out 4-3. The team had arrived there by beating Minnesota United FC 2 2-1 in the Western Conference final.

The club exists because MLS built a league for it. When MLS Next Pro was announced on 21 June 2021 and started play the following year, Colorado's reserve side was among the founding entries, and 2022 stands as its first season.

Erik Bushey's 2023 side put together the best regular season any club had managed in the league to that point.

Home is Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, which holds 18,061 for football and rather more for concerts. It is the senior club's ground, which means Rapids II play in a stadium built for crowds several times the size of the ones that turn up. Some fixtures are staged at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium instead.

The point of the operation is the pipeline. Anderson Larraz came through Rapids II and signed for the first team as a Homegrown Player — the outcome the whole structure is designed to produce.

The rivalry that matters most now is with Red Bulls II, formed in one night rather than over years: New York holds the trophy, Colorado holds the penalty miss. Minnesota United FC 2 is the other name to watch, standing between Colorado and the West every time the play-offs come round.