More than 40 current MLS players were named to 2026 FIFA World Cup rosters, according to ESPN. Since the league’s 30-year inaugural season, MLS has regularly supplied players to World Cup squads; in 1998, 16 of the U.S. national team’s 22 players were MLS-based. For 2026, eight of the 26 U.S. selections play in MLS, a number that has dwindled amid the league’s commitment to investing in youth talent.
Atlanta United: Miguel Almirón (Paraguay), Matías Galarza (Paraguay). Charlotte FC: Tim Ream (USA). Chicago Fire FC: Chris Brady (USA), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (South Africa), Joel Waterman (Canada). FC Cincinnati: Miles Robinson (USA). Colorado Rapids: Lucas Herrington (Australia). Columbus Crew: Max Arfsten (USA), Steven Moreira (Cape Verde).
FC Dallas: Louicius Don Deedson (Haiti), Herman Johansson (Sweden), Petar Musa (Croatia). LAFC: Mathieu Choinière (Canada), Stephen Eustáquio (Canada), Son Heung-Min (South Korea), Jacob Shaffelburg (Canada). Inter Miami CF: Rodrigo De Paul (Argentina), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Dayne St. Clair (Canada). Minnesota United FC: Michael Boxall (New Zealand), Carlos Harvey (Panama), James Rodríguez (Colombia).
Nashville SC: Ahmed Qasem (Iraq). New England Revolution: Matt Turner (USA). NYCFC: Matt Freese (USA), Aiden O’Neill (Australia), Kai Trewin (Australia). Orlando City: Maxime Crépeau (Canada), Braian Ojeda (Paraguay), Marco Pašalić (Croatia). Philadelphia Union: Danley Jean Jacques (Haiti), Olwethu Makhanya (South Africa).
Portland Timbers: Finn Surman (New Zealand). Real Salt Lake: Juan Manuel Sanabria (Uruguay). San Diego FC: CJ Dos Santos (Cape Verde), Aníbal Godoy (Panama). Seattle Sounders FC: Cristian Roldan (USA). Toronto FC: Derrick Etienne Jr. (Haiti), Richie Laryea (Canada), Jonathan Osorio (Canada). Vancouver Whitecaps: Sebastian Berhalter (USA), Andrés Cubas (Paraguay), Rayan Elloumi (Tunisia). ESPN’s FIFA World Cup hub has further coverage, scores, stats and schedules.
