The 2026 FIFA World Cup is a landmark moment for Major League Soccer. For the first time in history, the world’s biggest tournament is being hosted in MLS markets — across 11 American cities plus Vancouver and Guadalajara — and the league’s players are ready to take center stage. From Lionel Messi defending his title with Argentina to eight United States players flying the flag for their domestic league, MLS has never had greater representation at a World Cup.
All three USMNT goalkeepers feature in MLS, with Matt Freese (NYCFC) and Matt Turner (New England) likely vying for the starting role, while Chris Brady (Chicago) rounds out the trio. That’s just the start of MLS’s footprint across the tournament’s 48 competing Teams.
Across the confirmed 26 players’ Squad, at least 21 current MLS players are representing their nations at the 2026 World Cup — spread across four different national teams and spanning every position. This comprehensive guide covers every confirmed MLS player, their role, national team history, and what to expect from them this summer.
Why This World Cup Is Historic for MLS players
The 2026 World Cup is a watershed moment for the league. The squad features nine MLS homegrown products currently playing abroad, plus another four who developed in MLS academies before heading to Europe. Brenden Aaronson, Mark McKenzie and Auston Trusty are former Philadelphia Union homegrown stars.
The league’s global profile has never been higher. Messi’s arrival in 2023 transformed MLS into a worldwide conversation, and the 2026 World Cup — played in MLS stadiums — cements the league’s place in the global football ecosystem.
Argentina 🇦🇷 — 2 MLS Players
Group J | Defending Champions | Coach: Lionel Scaloni
Argentina’s two Inter Miami players are arguably the most famous MLS representatives at any World Cup in history.
1. Lionel Messi — Inter Miami CF
Position: Forward / Attacking Midfielder
Age: 38
Caps: 191 | Goals: 112
MLS Club: Inter Miami CF (since July 2023)
MLS Stats: 90 goals and 51 assists in 104 matches for Inter Miami, most recently capturing MLS Cup 2025 presented by Audi.
The Story: Since Qatar 2022, Messi has moved to the United States to make Inter Miami the dominant force in MLS, winning the MLS Cup last year. He previously played at Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, where he made his name as a club legend and helped the Catalan side win four Champions League titles.
Injury Concern: Messi has given Argentina a scare just two weeks ahead of the World Cup. The 38-year-old was substituted in an Inter Miami game on Sunday and diagnosed with “an overload associated with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring.”
World Cup Role: Captain Lionel Messi, primary playmaker, Argentina’s spiritual leader. Lionel Messi led Argentina to a third World Cup title at the last tournament in Qatar four years ago. This is his sixth and almost certainly final World Cup.
MLS Legacy: The back-to-back Landon Donovan MLS MVP has won a world-record 47 titles for club and country.
2. Rodrigo De Paul — Inter Miami CF (on loan from Atlético Madrid)
Position: Central Midfielder
Age: 31
Caps: 80+ | Goals: 2
MLS Club: Inter Miami CF (on loan since July 2025)
The Story: De Paul was emphatic at the 2022 World Cup, starting all seven matches for Argentina en route to their tournament victory. He played 102 minutes in the final vs. France, which La Albiceleste won 7-5 on penalty kicks after an epic 3-3 draw.
De Paul has remained a key figure under manager Lionel Scaloni, helping Argentina win the 2024 Copa América and top CONMEBOL qualifiers during the 2026 cycle. At club level, “El Motorcito” joined forces with Messi and Inter Miami in July 2025 on loan from LaLiga’s Atlético Madrid.
World Cup Role: Midfield engine, workhorse, World Cup winner. Starts alongside Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister in Argentina’s proven midfield trio.
Nickname: “El Motorcito” (The Little Motorbike) — for his relentless energy and pressing.
Canada 🇨🇦 — 8 MLS Players
Group B | Host Nation | Coach: Jesse Marsch
Canada’s final roster features the most MLS players of any nation at the tournament — a testament to the deep Canadian talent pool in the league and the cross-border relationship between MLS and the Canadian national team.
3. Dayne St. Clair — Inter Miami CF
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 27
Caps: 30+
MLS Club: Inter Miami CF
The Story: Canada’s first-choice goalkeeper and a steady presence between the sticks. His move to Inter Miami — Messi’s club — raised his profile significantly heading into the tournament.
World Cup Role: Starting goalkeeper, Canada’s last line of defense in Group B.
4. Maxime Crépeau — Orlando City SC
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 31
Caps: 25+
MLS Club: Orlando City SC
The Story: Experienced MLS goalkeeper who returned to the league after a spell in Europe. Provides experienced backup to St. Clair.
World Cup Role: Backup goalkeeper, mentorship role for squad.
5. Joel Waterman — Chicago Fire FC
Position: Center-Back
Age: 28
Caps: 20+
MLS Club: Chicago Fire FC
The Story: Solid Canadian center-back who has established himself as a dependable option for both club and country. His consistent performances for Chicago Fire earned him a place in Canada’s World Cup squad.
World Cup Role: Defensive depth, backup center-back option.
6. Richie Laryea — Toronto FC
Position: Right Back / Wing Back
Age: 29
Caps: 40+
MLS Club: Toronto FC (returned after spell in Europe)
The Story: Dynamic full-back whose pace and attacking instincts make him dangerous from right-back. Spent time at Nottingham Forest and Rangers before returning to his hometown club in Toronto.
World Cup Role: Right-back or wing-back option, Canada’s attacking outlet down the right flank.
7. Jonathan Osorio — Toronto FC
Position: Central Midfielder
Age: 32
Caps: 50+
MLS Club: Toronto FC
The Story: Toronto FC legend and one of Canada’s most experienced international players. Has been a mainstay of the Canadian midfield throughout the World Cup qualifying cycle and brings veteran leadership to the squad.
World Cup Role: Experienced midfield option, leadership and tactical discipline.
MLS Legacy: One of Toronto FC’s all-time greats, over 250 MLS appearances for the club.
8. Jacob Shaffelburg — Toronto FC
Position: Winger / Forward
Age: 24
Caps: 20+
MLS Club: Toronto FC
The Story: Pacy left winger who provides Canada with direct attacking options. His development through MLS into a full Canadian international is a positive story for the league’s developmental pipeline.
World Cup Role: Wide attacking option, squad depth across the forward line.
9. Mathieu Choinière — Los Angeles FC (LAFC)
Position: Winger / Midfielder
Age: 24
Caps: 15+
MLS Club: Los Angeles FC (transferred from CF Montréal)
The Story: Exciting young Canadian winger who transferred to LAFC after establishing himself at CF Montréal. His move to one of MLS’s biggest clubs elevated his profile heading into the World Cup cycle.
World Cup Role: Wide attacking option, energy off the bench.
10. Stephen Eustáquio — Los Angeles FC (LAFC)
Position: Central Midfielder
Age: 27
Caps: 45+
MLS Club: Los Angeles FC (transferred from FC Porto)
The Story: Portugal-born Canadian international who became one of the most coveted midfielders in CONCACAF. After years at Porto in Portugal, Eustáquio made a high-profile transfer back to MLS with LAFC — a significant statement signing for the league.
World Cup Role: Canada’s midfield playmaker and engine, one of their most important players.
Context: His return to MLS from Porto highlights the league’s growing ability to attract established European players.
United States 🇺🇸 — 8 MLS Players
Group D | Host Nation | Coach: Mauricio Pochettino
The USA roster features eight MLS players called up, with all three goalkeepers featuring in MLS. Max Arfsten (Columbus) adds pace and creativity out wide, while center backs Tim Ream (Charlotte) and Miles Robinson (Cincinnati) have combined to play nearly 120 times for the USMNT.
Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver) and Cristian Roldan (Seattle), both of whom made the 2025 MLS Best XI, bring experience to the midfield.
11. Matt Freese — New York City FC
Position: Goalkeeper (Starting #1)
Age: 25 | Caps: 14
MLS Club: New York City FC
The Story: Vying for the USMNT’s starting role at the World Cup, Freese enjoyed a breakout 2025 for club and country. He started 13 international matches, including every game at the Concacaf Gold Cup, and was a finalist for 2025 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year with New York City FC. Before this emergence, Freese began his professional career as a homegrown player with the Philadelphia Union.
Nickname: “Matty Ice” — for Freese on penalties, he’s been quite deserving of that, including in open play, where he has a strong hold on his box.
World Cup Role: Expected starting goalkeeper for all three USMNT group matches. Pochettino hasn’t outright awarded the New York City FC man the starting job, but unless there’s an injury or a major dip in performance, keeper is one of the few set positions for the USMNT as the World Cup approaches.
12. Matt Turner — New England Revolution
Position: Goalkeeper (Backup)
Age: 31 | Caps: 53
MLS Club: New England Revolution (returned after spells at Arsenal, Nottingham Forest)
The Story: Matt Turner returns to the World Cup, this time as Freese’s understudy after serving as the starter in 2022. His origin story is unusual – he did not get serious about soccer until his late teens, when his peers were already on professional pathways, and went unselected in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.
World Cup Role: Experienced backup goalkeeper, 53 caps of leadership and mentorship for younger players.
MLS Return: After stints at Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, Turner returned to MLS with New England, becoming one of the league’s most accomplished players with European experience.
13. Chris Brady — Chicago Fire FC
Position: Goalkeeper (Third Choice)
Age: 22 | Caps: 0
MLS Club: Chicago Fire FC
Hometown: Naperville, Illinois
The Story: Brady is off to a strong start in 2026, keeping six clean sheets with Chicago in 14 league matches. He’s still seeking his first USMNT cap.
Historic Note: Brady is the only player on the USMNT’s World Cup roster yet to earn a senior cap — an extraordinary achievement making his first cap potentially at a World Cup on home soil.
World Cup Role: Third-choice goalkeeper, development opportunity, emergency option.
14. Max Arfsten — Columbus Crew
Position: Defender / Wing-Back
Age: 22 | Caps: 18
MLS Club: Columbus Crew
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
The Story: Young and versatile defender who emerged through the Columbus Crew academy system. His pace and attacking ability make him a dynamic option as a wing-back.
World Cup Role: Defensive depth, wing-back option in Pochettino’s flexible system.
15. Tim Ream — Charlotte FC
Position: Center-Back
Age: 38 | Caps: 80
MLS Club: Charlotte FC
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
The Story: Ream boasts the second-most caps of any active USMNT player, behind only AC Milan forward Christian Pulisic. The Charlotte FC center back made his international debut in 2010 and played every minute of the USMNT’s four games at the 2022 World Cup. After a prosperous career with Fulham and Bolton Wanderers in the English Premier League and EFL Championship, Ream joined Charlotte in 2024.
World Cup Role: Starting center-back, defensive leader, tournament-proven performer.
Significance: Oldest MLS player at the 2026 World Cup (38 years old). His 80 caps represent the most experienced defensive presence on the USMNT.
16. Miles Robinson — FC Cincinnati
Position: Center-Back
Age: 28 | Caps: 38
MLS Club: FC Cincinnati
The Story: Commanding center-back who has been a mainstay of USMNT defensive units. His combination of physicality and recovery pace makes him one of Pochettino’s trusted defensive options.
World Cup Role: Backup center-back, game management specialist. Known as someone “among the first names that Pochettino looks to close out matches.”
17. Sebastian Berhalter — Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Position: Central Midfielder
Age: 25 | Caps: 11
MLS Club: Vancouver Whitecaps FC
The Story: The son of previous USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter, who now coaches the Chicago Fire. Sebastian has carved his own path, earning selection based on merit after impressive performances in the 2026 World Cup cycle.
Qualifying Highlight: Scored a goal and registered an assist in the USMNT’s dominant November 2025 friendly victory over Uruguay.
World Cup Role: Midfield depth, set-piece specialist, tactically disciplined option.
18. Cristian Roldan — Seattle Sounders FC
Position: Central Midfielder
Age: 30 | Caps: 45
MLS Club: Seattle Sounders FC
The Story: Surprise standouts have had their moments on the USMNT’s road to the World Cup, Cristian Roldan amongst the most notable. The 30-year-old was part of the U.S. team in Qatar but had fallen off the radar almost completely – until a last-minute call-up in September. The spotlight finally landed on him when he notched two assists in the USMNT’s 2-1 win over Australia in October, after which Pochettino said Roldan possessed the attributes of a “perfect player” if you were to build one from scratch.
Roldan’s Own Words: “I never really got the chance to play against the very best in the world. I didn’t play in the World Cup in ’22. I didn’t play in some of the bigger games with the national team.”
MLS Legacy: Has spent his entire professional career in MLS with Seattle Sounders — one of the most accomplished MLS-only careers of his generation.
World Cup Role: Midfield spark, transition play, defensive-to-attack connections. Made the 2025 MLS Best XI.
Australia 🇦🇺 — 3 MLS Players
Group D | Socceroos | Coach: Tony Popovic
Australia’s MLS contingent represents an exciting development — three Socceroos plying their trade in North American soccer have made it to the World Cup.
19. Corey Herrington — Colorado Rapids
Position: Defender
Age: 25
MLS Club: Colorado Rapids
The Story: Australian defender who has established himself in MLS with the Colorado Rapids. His selection for the Socceroos’ World Cup squad highlights the growing pathway from MLS to international football for Australian players.
World Cup Role: Defensive depth, squad cover for Australia’s backline.
Match Against USA: Herrington could face his MLS colleagues when Australia meets the USMNT on June 19 at Lumen Field, Seattle — a unique MLS family reunion moment.
20. Nicholas Trewin — New York City FC
Position: Defender
Age: 23
MLS Club: New York City FC
The Story: Young Australian defender who chose the MLS pathway to develop his career. His selection alongside NYCFC teammate Brandon O’Neill gives New York City FC a remarkable double representation in Australia’s World Cup squad.
World Cup Role: Defensive squad option, young talent gaining major tournament experience.
NYCFC Double: Trewin and O’Neill become the first pair of NYCFC teammates to represent the same non-American national team at a World Cup.
21. Brandon O’Neill — New York City FC
Position: Midfielder
Age: 31
MLS Club: New York City FC
The Story: Experienced Australian midfielder who has built a successful MLS career with New York City FC. His work rate and positional intelligence have made him a valued squad member for the Socceroos under Tony Popovic.
World Cup Role: Midfield depth, experienced squad player.
Complete MLS Player
| # | Player | MLS Club | Nation | Position | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Inter Miami CF | 🇦🇷 Argentina | Forward | 191 |
| 2 | Rodrigo De Paul | Inter Miami CF | 🇦🇷 Argentina | Midfielder | 80+ |
| 3 | Dayne St. Clair | Inter Miami CF | 🇨🇦 Canada | Goalkeeper | 30+ |
| 4 | Maxime Crépeau | Orlando City SC | 🇨🇦 Canada | Goalkeeper | 25+ |
| 5 | Joel Waterman | Chicago Fire FC | 🇨🇦 Canada | Defender | 20+ |
| 6 | Richie Laryea | Toronto FC | 🇨🇦 Canada | Defender | 40+ |
| 7 | Jonathan Osorio | Toronto FC | 🇨🇦 Canada | Midfielder | 50+ |
| 8 | Jacob Shaffelburg | Toronto FC | 🇨🇦 Canada | Winger | 20+ |
| 9 | Mathieu Choinière | LAFC | 🇨🇦 Canada | Winger | 15+ |
| 10 | Stephen Eustáquio | LAFC | 🇨🇦 Canada | Midfielder | 45+ |
| 11 | Matt Freese | New York City FC | 🇺🇸 USA | Goalkeeper | 14 |
| 12 | Matt Turner | New England Revolution | 🇺🇸 USA | Goalkeeper | 53 |
| 13 | Chris Brady | Chicago Fire FC | 🇺🇸 USA | Goalkeeper | 0 |
| 14 | Max Arfsten | Columbus Crew | 🇺🇸 USA | Defender | 18 |
| 15 | Tim Ream | Charlotte FC | 🇺🇸 USA | Defender | 80 |
| 16 | Miles Robinson | FC Cincinnati | 🇺🇸 USA | Defender | 38 |
| 17 | Sebastian Berhalter | Vancouver Whitecaps | 🇺🇸 USA | Midfielder | 11 |
| 18 | Cristian Roldan | Seattle Sounders | 🇺🇸 USA | Midfielder | 45 |
| 19 | Corey Herrington | Colorado Rapids | 🇦🇺 Australia | Defender | – |
| 20 | Nicholas Trewin | New York City FC | 🇦🇺 Australia | Defender | – |
| 21 | Brandon O’Neill | New York City FC | 🇦🇺 Australia | Midfielder | – |
Total: 21 confirmed MLS players across 4 nations
MLS Clubs Represented
By Club
Inter Miami CF — 3 players (Most of any club)
- Lionel Messi (Argentina)
- Rodrigo De Paul (Argentina)
- Dayne St. Clair (Canada)
New York City FC — 4 players (Technically most if counting all nations)
- Matt Freese (USA)
- Nicholas Trewin (Australia)
- Brandon O’Neill (Australia)
- (Chris Brady from Chicago also NYC area)
Toronto FC — 3 players
- Richie Laryea (Canada)
- Jonathan Osorio (Canada)
- Jacob Shaffelburg (Canada)
Los Angeles FC (LAFC) — 2 players
- Mathieu Choinière (Canada)
- Stephen Eustáquio (Canada)
Chicago Fire FC — 2 players
- Joel Waterman (Canada)
- Chris Brady (USA)
Columbus Crew — 1 player
- Max Arfsten (USA)
Charlotte FC — 1 player
- Tim Ream (USA)
FC Cincinnati — 1 player
- Miles Robinson (USA)
New England Revolution — 1 player
- Matt Turner (USA)
Seattle Sounders FC — 1 player
- Cristian Roldan (USA)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC — 1 player
- Sebastian Berhalter (USA)
Orlando City SC — 1 player
- Maxime Crépeau (Canada)
Colorado Rapids — 1 player
- Corey Herrington (Australia)
Notable Storylines
In 2026, an MLS-record 44 players will be on 2026 World Cup rosters.
1. Messi: The Greatest MLS Player in World Cup History
Lionel Messi’s participation makes the 2026 World Cup uniquely special for MLS. The GOAT, currently contracted to Inter Miami, will defend his World Cup title on the very pitches where he has played his recent domestic football. SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles — where Messi will open Argentina’s campaign — hosted LA Galaxy and LAFC MLS matches that he’s seen from the visiting dugout. Now he walks out under the same spotlights to defend football’s greatest prize.
2. Inter Miami’s Three World Cup Players
Inter Miami is the only MLS club to contribute players from three different international rosters:
- Messi → Argentina
- De Paul → Argentina
- St. Clair → Canada
Two Argentine teammates defending the World Cup title, plus their Canadian teammate keeping goal at the opposite end. MLS’s most famous club has never had greater World Cup representation.
3. USA’s All-MLS Goalkeeper Trio
The most remarkable stat of the tournament: all three USMNT goalkeepers are MLS-based players. Matt Freese (NYCFC), Matt Turner (New England Revolution), and Chris Brady (Chicago Fire) represent a full position group drawn entirely from domestic football — a statement of confidence in MLS’s goalkeeper development pipeline.
4. Cristian Roldan: MLS’s Loyalty Story
Roldan has spent his whole career in MLS while many of his U.S. teammates had cut their teeth in Europe. His path to the World Cup — via Seattle Sounders, without a European stint — is the most compelling MLS loyalty story of the tournament. If he plays key minutes for the USMNT, it validates a different pathway to the highest level.
5. Canada’s MLS-Heavy Roster
Canada’s eight MLS players represent more than any other nation at the tournament. The Canadian national team’s deep roots in MLS — through clubs like Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps, CF Montréal, and LAFC — creates a unique domestic-international pipeline that manager Jesse Marsch has embraced fully.
6. NYCFC’s World Cup Family
New York City FC sends three players to the World Cup across two nations: Matt Freese (USA), Nicholas Trewin (Australia), and Brandon O’Neill (Australia). When USA faces Australia on June 19 in Seattle, NYCFC teammates will line up on opposing sides — a genuinely unique moment in club football history.
7. The MLS Homegrown Pipeline
The squad features nine MLS homegrown products currently playing abroad. Players like Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), and Auston Trusty (Celtic) developed through MLS academies before moving to Europe — proving that MLS youth development produces World Cup-level talent even when those players ultimately ply their trade abroad.
8. De Paul’s Loan Move to Miami
Rodrigo De Paul’s decision to join Inter Miami on loan in July 2025 — joining his Argentina captain Messi — was one of the offseason’s most surprising moves. His participation as an MLS player at the World Cup he won in 2022 (from Atlético Madrid) adds a unique chapter to his career story.
MLS vs The World: Statistical Comparison
Total MLS Players at 2026 World Cup: 21
Nations Represented: 4 (Argentina, Canada, USA, Australia)
MLS Clubs Represented: 13
Most Players from One Club: Inter Miami CF / NYCFC (3 each)
Oldest MLS Player: Tim Ream (38, Charlotte FC)
Youngest MLS Player: Chris Brady (22, Chicago Fire)
Most Capped MLS Player: Tim Ream (80 caps)
Least Capped MLS Player: Chris Brady (0 caps)
Unique Position: USA is the only nation with all three goalkeepers from MLS clubs
MLS Players NOT at the World Cup
Notable Absences
Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake): Luna had been viewed as a favorite of Pochettino’s since breaking into the side 16 months ago, including some impressive performances at the 2025 Gold Cup. But Luna’s spot was always in doubt, given the form and health of other players.
Pochettino ultimately decided to bring in the likes of Leeds United’s Brenden Aaronson, Gladbach’s Gio Reyna, Club América attacker Alejandro Zendejas.
Notable MLS Stars Missing the Tournament:
- Federico Bernardeschi (Toronto FC) — Italy didn’t qualify
- Lorenzo Insigne (Toronto FC) — Italy didn’t qualify
- Xherdan Shaqiri (Chicago Fire) — Switzerland did qualify but Shaqiri not selected at 34
- Cucho Hernández (Columbus Crew) — Colombia qualified, but Cucho not selected for squad
- Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy) — Spain’s squad depth didn’t include him
Key Matches Featuring MLS Players
USA vs Paraguay — June 12, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
MLS Players on USA Side: Matt Freese (GK), Tim Ream (CB), Miles Robinson (CB), Sebastian Berhalter (MID), Cristian Roldan (MID), Chris Brady (bench), Matt Turner (bench), Max Arfsten (bench)
Can Freese save the day? All eyes on the NYCFC goalkeeper making his World Cup debut in front of 70,000 fans.
USA vs. Australia — June 19, Lumen Field, Seattle
MLS Players on USA Side: Full USA MLS contingent MLS Players on Australia Side: Nicholas Trewin (NYCFC), Brandon O’Neill (NYCFC), Corey Herrington (Colorado Rapids)
The MLS Derby: The only World Cup match featuring MLS players from both sides. NYCFC’s Trewin and O’Neill face their USA counterparts including NYCFC’s own Matt Freese — the most extraordinary MLS club vs. club subplot of the tournament.
Argentina vs. Algeria — June 16, Kansas City
MLS Players on Argentina Side: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami)
Messi Watch: Will Inter Miami’s captain deliver one of his trademark moments on the grandest stage?
How does this World Cup showcase the presence of MLS players?
The presence of 21 current MLS players at the 2026 World Cup — including the world’s greatest player — is the strongest statement yet about the league’s growth. The combination of hosting rights, expanding MLS academies, international player recruitment, and the Messi effect has transformed the league’s global standing.
For a competition once dismissed as a retirement league, MLS now develops goalkeepers who start for the USMNT, midfielders who win Copa Américas, and attracts active World Cup winners like De Paul and (briefly) Messi himself. The 2026 World Cup, played in MLS stadiums with MLS players on the pitch, is the league’s coming-of-age moment.
How many MLS players are at the 2026 World Cup?
At least 21 confirmed MLS players are representing their nations at the 2026 World Cup, spread across Argentina (2), Canada (8), USA (8), and Australia (3).
Which MLS club has the most players at the World Cup?
Inter Miami CF contributes the most headline players with Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul (Argentina), plus Dayne St. Clair (Canada) — three players across two nations. New York City FC also contributes three players: Matt Freese (USA), Nicholas Trewin (Australia), and Brandon O’Neill (Australia).
Is Lionel Messi still considered an MLS player at the World Cup?
Yes. Inter Miami CF teammates Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul have made Argentina’s final 26-player roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Messi is contracted to Inter Miami and is an active MLS player.
Which USMNT players are currently in MLS?
The USA’s eight MLS players are: Matt Freese (NYCFC), Matt Turner (New England Revolution), Chris Brady (Chicago Fire) — goalkeepers; Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati) — defenders; Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders) — midfielders.
Did Diego Luna make the USMNT World Cup roster?
No. Real Salt Lake attacker Diego Luna was a notable omission. Luna had been viewed as a favorite of Pochettino’s since breaking into the side 16 months ago, including some impressive performances at the 2025 Gold Cup. But Pochettino ultimately decided to bring in the likes of Leeds United’s Brenden Aaronson, Gladbach’s Gio Reyna, Club América attacker Alejandro Zendejas.
Who is the oldest MLS player at the 2026 World Cup?
Tim Ream of Charlotte FC at 38 years old, with 80 international caps for the USMNT.
Who is the youngest MLS player at the 2026 World Cup?
Chris Brady of Chicago Fire FC at 22 years old — with zero senior international caps heading into the tournament.
Which World Cup match features the most MLS players?
USA vs. Australia on June 19 in Seattle features MLS players on both sides: eight USA players from MLS clubs, plus Trewin, O’Neill (both NYCFC), and Herrington (Colorado Rapids) from Australia. That’s 11 MLS players in the same match.
MLS Player Statistics at the World Cup
Total MLS Players: 21
Nations: 4
Clubs: 13
Positions: GK (4), DEF (7), MID (8), FWD (2)
Combined Caps: 1,000+ (led by Messi’s 191)
Combined Goals: 150+ (Messi’s 112 dominate)
World Cup Experience: 8 players appearing at second+ World Cup
World Cup Debutants: 13 players (first World Cup)
World Cup Winners: 2 players (Messi, De Paul — Argentina 2022)
