World Cup
MLS' 2026 World Cup squad shows the league's growth and global presence
June 18, 2026 · TaegeukGoal
MLS is showing off the league's growth and global presence by sending 44 players to the 2026 World Cup. This is the largest in league history, and it is achieving results despite many challenges.
Major League Soccer (MLS) will be well-represented at the tournament on home soil in what will be the mecca of soccer in North America ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Although nowhere near the Premier League, La Liga or Bundesliga, player representation in MLS at the World Cup has reached an all-time high. MLS clubs are sending 44 players to this tournament, the seventh most in the world. This number is an increase from 32 in 2022 and 19 in 2018. This squad is led by Lionel Messi, one of the best players of all time. As Argentina begin their title defense, Inter Miami's Messi will still play a central role in the national team, alongside club teammate Rodrigo De Paul. In addition to the 38-year-old Messi, seasoned MLS superstars such as LAFC's Son Heung-min, 33, are at the forefront of each country's World Cup hopes. Colombian legend James Rodriguez, 34, also plays for Minnesota United, but is set to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of June. The United States and Canada national teams each include eight MLS players. In addition, new players such as South African central defenders Olwetu Makanya (Philadelphia Union) and Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire) and Australian defender Lucas Hellington (Colorado Rapids) are also included, showing the change in the composition of players of various age groups.
**MLS World Cup 2026 Squad**
| country | player | FIFA Rankings |
|------|-------|-------------| | Argentina | Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami) | 3rd place |
| Australia | Lucas Hellington (Colorado Rapids); Aiden O'Neill, Kai Truin (NYCFC) | 27th place |
| Canada | Mathieu Chaunière, Stephen Eustaquio, Jacob Schappelberg (LAFC); Rich Larrea, Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC); Dane St. Clair (Inter Miami); Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire); Maximion Crepeau (Orlando City) | 30th place |
| Cape Verde | CJ Dosantos (San Diego FC); Stephen Moreira (Columbus Crew) | 68th place |
| Colombia | James Rodriguez (Minnesota United) | 13th place |
| Croatia | Petar Moussa (FC Dallas); Marco Pasalic (Orlando City) | 11th place | | Haiti | Luisius Didson (FC Dallas); Derek Etienne Jr. (Toronto FC); Simple Interest Proposal Jacques (Philadelphia Union) | 83rd |
| Iraq | Ahmed Kassem (Nashville SC) | 57th place |
| New Zealand | Michael Boxall (Minnesota United); Finn Thurman (Portland Timbers) | 85th place |
| Panama | Anibal Godoy (San Diego FC); Carlos Harvey (Minnesota United) | 33rd |
| Paraguay | Miguel Almiron, Matias Gallarza (Atlanta United); Andres Kuvas (Vancouver Whitecaps); Brian Ojeda (Orlando City) | 40th place |
| South Africa | Olwetu Makanya (Philadelphia Union); Mbekejeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire) | 60th place | | Republic of Korea | Son Heung-min (LAFC) | 25th place |
| Sweden | Hernan Johansson (FC Dallas) | 38th place |
| Tunisia | Ryan Ellumi (Vancouver Whitecaps) | 40th place |
| USA | Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew); Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps); Chris Brady (Chicago Fire); Matt Freeze (NYCFC); Tim Liam (Charlotte FC); Myles Robinson (FC Cincinnati); Christian Roldan (Seattle Sounders); Matt Turner (New England Revolution) | 16th place |
| Uruguay | Juan Manuel Sanabria (Real Salt Lake) | 17th place | 
Why MLS is growing on the World Cup stage can be explained by simple numbers. This competition is an expanded 48-team competition. This is simply because there are more players and more qualified countries. Back in 2018, both the United States and Canada were eliminated from the qualifying round. If the league had progressed at all since then, participation in the World Cup would have increased significantly thanks to a larger pool of players and the qualification of the league's two home countries. MLS is growing in the global hierarchy, but more money is being invested and quality is rising. However, it did not grow as expected. Of the 44 World Cup players, 13 come from countries ranked 40th or lower in the FIFA world rankings. Without these countries, MLS would have been able to send roughly the same number of players to this World Cup as in 2022. MLS has not relaxed its roster rules to increase financial spending and is not set up well enough to prepare for competitions in the Messi era. The league postponed a vote to adjust its schedule with major European leagues. It was expected this change would come after this summer's World Cup, but the changes will be delayed until next summer. MLS isn't the only one looking to capitalize on this summer of soccer. American soccer fans have never had the opportunity to watch any game in the world, especially the Premier League and Liga MX. The Premier League is the world's best domestic league, and the Champions League is the best club competition. In this regard, MLS still compares itself to Liga MX, and often lags behind. In the past 20 years, an MLS club has won the Concacaf Champions Cup only once. The Liga MX club has won 20 of the last 21 Concacaf competitions. The only exception is the Seattle Sounders winning the title in 2022. This competition is a much better measuring stick than the recently created League Cup. The League Cup has so far been held only on American soil. For the three years since the expansion of the competition, the final has been between two MLS clubs. This year's CCC final was a battle between two Liga MX teams. In the previous two finals, Liga MX teams beat MLS teams by a combined score of 8-0. Liga MX remains the most-watched soccer league in the United States, with teams of higher quality than the league's top teams. Despite this, MLS will send more players to the World Cup than Liga MX. Additionally, more famous individual players, including Messi and Son Heung-min, as well as more young players are being sent from overseas. The league had been hoping to take the next step this summer, but Messi, De Paul and Son will all play central roles for their respective countries, and while Petar Musa could play a key role for Croatia, Marko Pasalic is unlikely to do so. At the moment, we are not at a stage where key players are coming to the league from the world's best countries such as Spain, England, Germany, France, Argentina and Brazil. However, it is realistic to hope that some key starters will come from South American countries such as Ecuador, Uruguay and Colombia. Furthermore, the same applies to Japan, Switzerland, and countries at similar levels. Nonetheless, this summer is a big opportunity for MLS to bring soccer fans closer to the league. This season's matches will be available to watch without an additional Apple TV paid subscription, and the league will resume play between the World Cup semi-finals and finals. The two games will be broadcast on Fox, and they are hoping to enjoy the effects of the World Cup. Messi, De Paul and Son Heung-min will be a great foundation for further growth. The supporting players behind them will help the league grow and serve as a stepping stone for the 2030 World Cup.
Why MLS is growing on the World Cup stage can be explained by simple numbers. This competition is an expanded 48-team competition. This is simply because there are more players and more qualified countries. Back in 2018, both the United States and Canada were eliminated from the qualifying round. If the league had progressed at all since then, participation in the World Cup would have increased significantly thanks to a larger pool of players and the qualification of the league's two home countries. MLS is growing in the global hierarchy, but more money is being invested and quality is rising. However, it did not grow as expected. Of the 44 World Cup players, 13 come from countries ranked 40th or lower in the FIFA world rankings. Without these countries, MLS would have been able to send roughly the same number of players to this World Cup as in 2022. MLS has not relaxed its roster rules to increase financial spending and is not set up well enough to prepare for competitions in the Messi era. The league postponed a vote to adjust its schedule with major European leagues. It was expected this change would come after this summer's World Cup, but the changes will be delayed until next summer. MLS isn't the only one looking to capitalize on this summer of soccer. American soccer fans have never had the opportunity to watch any game in the world, especially the Premier League and Liga MX. The Premier League is the world's best domestic league, and the Champions League is the best club competition. In this regard, MLS still compares itself to Liga MX, and often lags behind. In the past 20 years, an MLS club has won the Concacaf Champions Cup only once. The Liga MX club has won 20 of the last 21 Concacaf competitions. The only exception is the Seattle Sounders winning the title in 2022. This competition is a much better measuring stick than the recently created League Cup. The League Cup has so far been held only on American soil. For the three years since the expansion of the competition, the final has been between two MLS clubs. This year's CCC final was a battle between two Liga MX teams. In the previous two finals, Liga MX teams beat MLS teams by a combined score of 8-0. Liga MX remains the most-watched soccer league in the United States, with teams of higher quality than the league's top teams. Despite this, MLS will send more players to the World Cup than Liga MX. Additionally, more famous individual players, including Messi and Son Heung-min, as well as more young players are being sent from overseas. The league had been hoping to take the next step this summer, but Messi, De Paul and Son will all play central roles for their respective countries, and while Petar Musa could play a key role for Croatia, Marko Pasalic is unlikely to do so. At the moment, we are not at a stage where key players are coming to the league from the world's best countries such as Spain, England, Germany, France, Argentina and Brazil. However, it is realistic to hope that some key starters will come from South American countries such as Ecuador, Uruguay and Colombia. Furthermore, the same applies to Japan, Switzerland, and countries at similar levels. Nonetheless, this summer is a big opportunity for MLS to bring soccer fans closer to the league. This season's matches will be available to watch without an additional Apple TV paid subscription, and the league will resume play between the World Cup semi-finals and finals. The two games will be broadcast on Fox, and they are hoping to enjoy the effects of the World Cup. Messi, De Paul and Son Heung-min will be a great foundation for further growth. The supporting players behind them will help the league grow and serve as a stepping stone for the 2030 World Cup.
