MLS Stars Shine on World Cup Matchday 6

USMNT and Canada national team players lead the way with standout performances.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 7:25pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the chaotic action of a soccer match, with players and the ball broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette.Geometric abstraction captures the dynamic energy of World Cup qualifiers as MLS stars vie for national team spots.Columbus Today

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, nearly 50 players from across MLS are vying for spots on their respective national team rosters. After each World Cup matchday, we take a look at which of those MLS stars are making the strongest cases for inclusion, with standout performances from players like Real Salt Lake's Javier Luna, Vancouver's Ryan Berhalter, New England's Matt Turner, and Columbus Crew's Max Arfsten.

Why it matters

The 2026 World Cup will be a landmark event, with the tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. MLS players will play a crucial role in determining the success of the USMNT, Canada, and other national teams competing. Strong showings from these players during World Cup tune-up matches can solidify their spots on the final rosters.

The details

Javier Luna of Real Salt Lake made an immediate impact in his first start of the season after recovering from a knee injury, scoring a goal and adding an assist in a 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City. Vancouver's Ryan Berhalter continued his strong start to the year, contributing 3 goals and 4 assists in 6 matches. New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner made 5 saves and kept a clean sheet in a win over CF Montréal, further cementing his status as the USMNT's likely starting keeper. Columbus Crew's Max Arfsten scored a goal and provided an assist, showcasing his versatility in a slightly more advanced role under the team's new head coach.

  • On April 1, Javier Luna scored a goal and added an assist in Real Salt Lake's 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City.
  • Ryan Berhalter has 3 goals and 4 assists in 6 matches for Vancouver so far this season.

The players

Javier Luna

A midfielder for Real Salt Lake who has 17 appearances for the U.S. national team in 2022. He is looking to prove his health and push for a spot on the USMNT's final World Cup roster.

Ryan Berhalter

A midfielder for the Vancouver Whitecaps who is a likely inclusion on Canada's World Cup squad this summer. He is a complete player who contributes both goals and assists.

Matt Turner

The starting goalkeeper for the New England Revolution who has 53 caps and 27 clean sheets for the USMNT. He is a near-lock for the U.S. World Cup roster despite a recent 5-2 loss to Belgium.

Max Arfsten

A midfielder for the Columbus Crew who has 18 caps and 1 goal for the USMNT. He has 3 goal contributions in 6 starts so far this season.

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What they’re saying

“The next few weeks are mostly about proving he's healthy.”

— J. Sam Jones, Author

“He's a complete midfielder, and he's a likely inclusion this summer.”

— J. Sam Jones, Author

What’s next

The players will continue to compete in World Cup tune-up matches over the next few months, with the final rosters for the 2026 FIFA World Cup expected to be announced in early June.

The takeaway

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, MLS is proving to be a crucial pipeline for national team talent, with nearly 50 players from the league vying for spots on their respective rosters. The strong performances of these standout players during World Cup tune-up matches will be crucial in determining the success of the USMNT, Canada, and other national teams this summer.