TThe 2026 World Cup groups were determined by a lottery held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. So the United States and Mexico are preparing to face a team whose players are perfectly adapted to U.S. soccer thanks to their time in MLS.
Mexico will be in Group A along with South Africa, South Korea and the winner of the European Playoff D, with the possibility of Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic or Ireland. Meanwhile, the United States is in Group D along with the winner of the playoff between Paraguay, Australia, Turkey, Romania, Slovakia and Kosovo.
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MLS players who could play against the United States in the 2026 World Cup
Paraguay will go into the World Cup with players who know the pace of MLS well, including Newcastle United’s Miguel Almiron, one of La Albirroja’s most important players, for his debut match against the USMNT. Andres Cubas of the Vancouver Whitecaps and Brian Ojeda of Real Salt Lake are also regulars on coach Gustavo Alfaro’s team.
Australia also has two players who are regulars on their national team and could feature against the USMNT in DC United’s Kai Rowles and New York City FC’s Aiden O’Neill, who are familiar with the environment, host country and opponent’s style of play.
Additionally, some of the teams aiming for the bottom of Group D have players from MLS or who have experience in the US league.
Turkey could reconsider Cengiz Dell, who resumed his career with LAFC in 2025. Romania could add LAFC’s Alexandre Bulu to their squad. Slovakia has and currently has two options in MLS: Albert Rusnak (Seattle Sounders) and Jan Gregus (formerly of Houston and Minnesota). Kosovo, which has no active players in the league, could be surprised if DC United manages to materialize their interest. Lyndon Emmerlough or Meliton Kolenica.
MLS players who could play against Mexico in the 2026 World Cup
The rival of the Mexican national team that contributes the most players to MLS is South Korea, which includes top players Son Heung-min of LAFC, Jeong Sang-bin of St. Louis City SC, Jeong Ho-young of Minnesota United, Kim Jun-hong of DC United, and Kim Ki-hee of the Seattle Sounders.
The South African side has two potential high-profile players in Mexico’s opening match, including Minnesota United’s Bongokule Hlongwane and Philadelphia Union’s Oluwetu Makhanya.
European players arriving via the playoffs also have MLS options:
One of the best players in the championship, Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC) is a real option for Denmark. In the Czech Republic, Ondrej Ring (Houston Dynamo) and Pavel Busa (FC Cincinnati) are the most likely candidates. Ireland have two recent call-ups, Andrew Moran (LAFC) and Kevin O’Toole (NYCFC), as well as three other Irish players playing in MLS.
MLS has proven once again that it has talent, and many of these players are preparing for the 2026 World Cup, where they will face hosts USA and Mexico.
