Major League Soccer has come a long way since 1996, once seen as a soccer graveyard today the league is a “league of choice” or a destination for talented players from all over the world. MLS has thrived on being open to players from all walks of life from South America to Asia, no player has the door closed in MLS.
While the biggest stars may be on European teams, MLS can proudly state they have 3 dozen players at the FIFA World Cup. The biggest name on the list is Wales international Gareth Bale of MLS Cup winners LAFC.
On the USMNT side there are 9 players that will be represented by MLS and on Canada 11. Other nations include, Argentina, México, Uruguay, Ecuador, Australia, Cameroon, Poland, among others. Here is the complete list of MLS players at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
MLS players at the FIFA World Cup
Among the USMNT and Canada players there is also one of the best incoming transfers of the 2022 season, Uruguay’s Facundo Torres who won the US Open Cup with Orlando City.
Xherdan Shaqiri of Switzerland is one of the league’s highest paid players but was largely disappointing for the Chicago Fire in 2022.
Facundo Torres #17 of Orlando City (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Argentina
Thiago Almada (M, Atlanta United)
Australia
Milos Degenek (D, Columbus Crew)
Canada
Lucas Cavallini (F, Vancouver Whitecaps FC) Alistair Johnston (D, CF Montréal)
Mark-Anthony Kaye (M, Toronto FC)
Ismaël Koné (M, CF Montréal)
Richie Laryea (D, Toronto FC)
Kamal Miller (D, CF Montréal)
Jonathan Osorio (M, Toronto FC)
James Pantemis (GK, CF Montréal)
Samuel Piette (M, CF Montréal)
Dayne St. Clair (GK, Minnesota United FC)
Joel Waterman (D, CF Montréal)
Cameroon
Olivier Mbaizo (D, Philadelphia Union)
Nouhou Tolo (D, Seattle Sounders)
Costa Rica
Daniel Chacón (D, Colorado Rapids 2)
Ronald Matarrita (D, FC Cincinnati)
Bryan Oviedo (D, Real Salt Lake)
Ecuador
Xavier Arreaga (D, Seattle Sounders FC)
José Cifuentes (M, LAFC)
Sebastian Méndez (M, LAFC)
Diego Palacios (D, LAFC)
Mexico
Héctor Herrera (M, Houston Dynamo FC)
Poland
Karol Swiderski (F, Charlotte FC)
Switzerland
Xherdan Shaqiri (M, Chicago Fire FC)
Uruguay
Martín Cáceres (D, LA Galaxy)
Facundo Torres (F, Orlando City SC)
USA
Kellyn Acosta (M, LAFC)
Jesus Ferreira (F, FC Dallas)
Sean Johnson (GK, New York City FC)
Aaron Long (D, New York Red Bulls)
Shaq Moore (D, Nashville SC)
Jordan Morris (F, Seattle Sounders FC)
Cristian Roldan (M, Seattle Sounders FC)
DeAndre Yedlin (D, Inter Miami CF)
Walker Zimmerman (D, Nashville SC)
Wales
Gareth Bale (F, LAFC)
