As the USMNT prepares for the 2026 World Cup, MLS’s role has evolved (but it still matters more than many believe).
For more than two decades, Major League Soccer was the foundation of the U.S. Men’s National Team. MLS-based players weren’t just contributors—they were the core. From Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey to Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore, domestic standouts carried the program through its most formative years. But as the United States moves closer to hosting the 2026 World Cup, that dynamic has shifted dramatically.