U.S. and Canada goalkeepers, a breakout South African star, and two teenagers highlight MLS’ influence on the opening weekend of FIFA World Cup 2026.
MLS Goalkeepers Set to Make History for United States
Since the 1998 FIFA World Cup, only four goalkeepers have started a World Cup match for the United States: Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel, Tim Howard, and Matt Turner.
When the U.S. takes on Paraguay on Friday night, it will mark the first time that the U.S. Men’s National Team starts an active MLS player in goal at a World Cup, as either Turner (New England Revolution), Matt Freese (New York City FC), or Chris Brady (Chicago Fire FC) will get the nod. Freese and Turner appear to be the most likely candidates to start. Turner earned the role at the 2022 FIFA World Cup while with Arsenal FC (England), whereas Freese has starred over the past 12 months for the U.S. and New York City FC.
Freese’s rise from an MLS academy to playing collegiately, then in MLS NEXT Pro, and eventually to the first team has been remarkable. Four years ago, as Turner was preparing for the World Cup in Qatar, Freese was helping Philadelphia Union II compete in the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs while serving as a backup for the Union's run to MLS Cup 2022.
Whether it's Freese, Turner, or Brady between the posts, Friday's match in Los Angeles will represent a landmark moment for both MLS and the U.S. Men's National Team, highlighting the next wave of elite American goalkeeping talent.
Maxime Crépeau’s Four-Year Journey from Hospital Bed to World Cup Starter
Heartbreak, victory, and a long road to recovery. Just 15 days before the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Canada Men’s National Team goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau had to accept that his World Cup dream was on pause while celebrating an MLS Cup championship from a hospital bed. Four years later, Crépeau has been named Canada’s No.1 ‘keeper and finally gets to live that dream.
In the 110th minute of MLS Cup 2022 on November 5, Crépeau – then LAFC’s starting goalkeeper – rushed out of the 18-yard box to heroically stop a one-on-one opportunity, suffering a fractured leg in the process. Leaving the stadium in an ambulance, Crépeau’s opportunity to represent Canada at the World Cup in Qatar was over. Approximately an hour later, however, he became an MLS Cup champion while awaiting surgery.
Crépeau spent almost a year recovering, but returned to a starting role in MLS and, after a successful 2026 with Orlando City SC, will finally hear “O Canada” on soccer’s biggest stage.
Chicago’s New Hero to Star in Game One of World Cup
The top fan vote-getter for the 2026 MLS All-Star Game wasn’t a global superstar – it’s 20-year-old South African defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire FC). Mbokazi has created a feverish following back home and is doing the same in the Windy City too. Nicknamed ‘TLB’ (Tractor Loader Backhoe), fans are drawn to his fearless defending, composure on the ball, and swagger beyond his years. Next up is to take the globe by storm when he joins Bafana Bafana for the opening match of the World Cup against Mexico on Thursday, June 11 at 3 p.m. ET.
Mbokazi’s journey has been meteoric, going from captain of the Orlando Pirates reserve team in South Africa in 2024 to a multi-million-dollar transfer to the Fire in the fall of 2025, to a 2026 MLS All-Star. Internationally, he got his first call-up last summer and after stacking man of the match performances, South Africa fans have been praising him as the next great national team player. Now backed by a growing fanbase in both Chicago and South Africa, Mbokazi enters the FIFA World Cup as one of the tournament’s emerging young defenders to watch.
Opening Weekend Could Feature First MLS Teenagers at a World Cup
In the previous seven World Cups since MLS was launched, the youngest active MLS player to appear in a World Cup game was former Chicago Fire star DaMarcus Beasley in 2002 at 20 years and 12 days old. Almost 25 years later, two breakout young talents – Lucas Herrington (Australia/Colorado Rapids) and Rayan Elloumi (Tunisia/Vancouver Whitecaps FC) – can become the first MLS teenagers ever to appear in a World Cup match.
Herrington, who will be 18 years and 281 days old on Sunday, could become the youngest active MLS player to appear in a World Cup match when the Socceroos kick off their campaign against Turkey at 12 a.m. ET. Later that day, Tunisia’s Rayan Elloumi (18 years and 270 days old) could break Herrington’s record by playing against Sweden (11 p.m. ET) in Group F action. Should either player see the field, it would mark another milestone in MLS' evolution as a development pathway, with teenage talent from the league earning opportunities on the sport's biggest stage.
