Record 44 MLS Players Set to Compete in 2026 World Cup

Major League Soccer is set to make its mark at the 2026 World Cup, with a record-breaking 44 players representing the league as Canada, Mexico, and the United States host the event. FIFA has unveiled the complete 26-man rosters for each of the 48 participating teams, showcasing an increase from the 36 MLS players who participated in the previous World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

This impressive roster includes athletes from 17 different nations, with the spotlight on Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, an eight-time Ballon d'Or recipient, who played a pivotal role in Argentina's 2022 World Cup victory. Messi will be joined by his Inter Miami teammate, Rodrigo De Paul, as they aim for further success on the global stage.

Los Angeles FC leads the pack with four players, while eight other MLS clubs feature three representatives each. According to league officials, MLS boasts the highest number of players from any league in the Western Hemisphere and is second only to the traditional powerhouses in Europe, including the English Premier League and Spain's La Liga.

The tournament is scheduled to kick off on June 11 and will conclude with the final match on July 19. As anticipation builds, fans can look forward to seeing a diverse array of talent on the world stage, further solidifying the league's growing influence in international football.

Here’s a detailed list of MLS players participating in the 2026 World Cup, categorized by their respective nations:

Argentina
Rodrigo De Paul, midfielder (Inter Miami CF)
Lionel Messi, forward (Inter Miami CF)

Australia
Lucas Herrington, defender (Colorado Rapids)
Aiden O'Neill, midfielder (New York City FC)
Kai Trewin, midfielder (New York City FC)

Canada
Mathieu Choinière, midfielder (Los Angeles FC)
Maxime Crépeau, goalkeeper (Orlando City SC)
Stephen Eustáquio, midfielder (Los Angeles FC)
Richie Laryea, defender (Toronto FC)
Jonathan Osorio, midfielder (Toronto FC)
Jacob Shaffelburg, midfielder (Los Angeles FC)
Dayne St. Clair, goalkeeper (Inter Miami CF)
Joel Waterman, defender (Chicago Fire FC)

Cape Verde
CJ dos Santos, goalkeeper (San Diego FC)
Steven Moreira, defender (Columbus Crew)

Colombia
James Rodríguez, midfielder (Minnesota United FC)

Croatia
Petar Musa, forward (FC Dallas)
Marco Pašalić, forward (Orlando City SC)

Haiti
Louicius Deedson, forward (FC Dallas)
Derrick Etienne Jr., forward (Toronto FC)
Danley Jean Jacques, midfielder (Philadelphia Union)

Iraq
Ahmed Qasem, forward (Nashville SC)

New Zealand
Michael Boxall, defender (Minnesota United FC)
Finn Surman, defender (Portland Timbers)

Panama
Aníbal Godoy, midfielder (San Diego FC)
Carlos Harvey, midfielder (Minnesota United FC)

Paraguay
Miguel Almirón, midfielder (Atlanta United)
Andrés Cubas, midfielder (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
Matías Galarza, midfielder (Atlanta United)
Braian Ojeda, midfielder (Orlando City SC)

South Africa
Olwethu Makhanya, defender (Philadelphia Union)
Mbekezeli Mbokazi, defender (Chicago Fire FC)

South Korea
Son Heung-Min, forward (Los Angeles FC)

Sweden
Herman Johansson, defender (FC Dallas)

Tunisia
Rayan Elloumi, forward (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)

United States
Max Arfsten, defender (Columbus Crew)
Sebastian Berhalter, midfielder (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
Chris Brady, goalkeeper (Chicago Fire FC)
Matt Freese, goalkeeper (New York City FC)
Tim Ream, defender (Charlotte FC)
Miles Robinson, defender (FC Cincinnati)
Cristian Roldan, midfielder (Seattle Sounders FC)
Matt Turner, goalkeeper (New England Revolution)

Uruguay
Juan Manuel Sanabria, defender (Real Salt Lake)