YNT-Eligible MLS Players, 2026 In-Season Thread

That last part is nuts.

I think about half of those guys get 1,000 minutes if they are healthy. I'd say no to Verhoeven, Vazquez, Hawkins, Hall and Mehmeti comes short, but maybe I am underselling that Bradley coached RB2 last year. Probably.

But there will also be some out of nowhere guys, so maybe we will make it. It's a far cry from less than ten years ago.

I'd like LAFC to sell Terry if they are not going to play him. I more get reticence with a 17 year old CB and a teenage 10 -- even bad teams generally don't play youth at those positions. But LAFC should either find time for Terry or get some value for him.

 

Cooper Sanchez ('08) STARTS for a revamped Atlanta. One of their DPs isn't starting so I'm not sure if this is a permanent or just fitness thing.

 

Sullivan on the bench

 

Hall, Mehmeti, and Dos Santos all start RBNY.

Moisa starts for RSL.

 

Two 17 year olds and a 16 y/o with a 17 y/o on the bench too. Let's go Michael Bradley!

 

Hall goal

 

RBNY are going to be great to watch this year. They’re playing awesome with a bunch youngsters.

 

The super high line and going aggressive while playing a bunch of inexperienced guys is such a risky endeavor lol. Props to Bradley for having the balls to give it a go

 

3 thread-eligible starters for RSL (Gozo and Hezarkhani 07s, and Moisa 08). All 3 acquitting themselves well, with Moisa in particular standing out.

It's a threadbare lineup for RSL given multiple injuries and projected starters not having visas yet, so this probably won't continue all year. But longtime starter Pablo Ruiz is available and on the bench, indicating Moisa may just be outright preferred.

 

Moisa and Hezarkhani subbed off in the 72'. Moisa was arguably RSL's man of the match - had a gorgeous ball lead to a goal that was called off for offside (by about an inch). A bit more forgettable from Hezarkhani.

Several RSL international signings will be competing for minutes in central midfield so minutes won't be easy to come by for Moisa this year, but he may already have passed Ruiz in the pecking order.

 

Moderators, can we sticky this In-season thread???

Lots of young players getting minutes on opening day. @gogorath posted this list in the US Men Thread. Anything stand out to folks that watched the games? A lot of kids not on the list, so its going to grow and grow!!! [For instance, Peyton Miller wasn't in the gameday squad for the Revoultion.]

Miguel Perez, 20
Cooper Sanchez, 17
Gerardo Valenzuela, 21
Luke Brennan, 20
Jackson Hopkins, 21
Cavan Sullivan, 16
Julian Hall, 17
Adri Mehmeti, 16
Matthew Dos Santos, 17
Colin Guske, 19
Nolan Miller, 21
Zakariah Taifi, 20
Tanner Rosborough, 17
Tate Johnson, 20
Aiden Hezarkhani, 18
Zavier Gozo, 18
Luca Moiso, 17
Chris Brady, 21
Christopher Cupps, 17
Sergio Oregel, 20
Brooklyn Raines, 20
Ethan Kohler, 20
Matthew Corcoran, 20
Malcolm Fry, 20
Taha Habroune, 20
Duran Ferree, 19
Luca Bombino, 19
David Vazquez, 20
Pedro Soma, 19
Oscar Verhoeven, 19
Brandan Craig, 21
Niko Tsakiris, 20
Jacob Bartlett, 20
Ian James, 17
Justin Reynolds, 21

 

Of real note was RBNY starting three teenagers AND WINNING! Cooper Sanchez starting in Atlanta was also a nice surprise.

 

Duran Ferree starting in San Diego was also exciting!

 

I noted that the list above doesn't include Finn Sundstrom. The 19-year-old STARTED last night after Frankie Westfield was unable to play.

 

Luca Moisa also started last night.

I really liked how Bradley had the guys playing last night, in the first 45 minutes I saw a really big future for the guy. The way he had Cowell and Ruvalcaba playing was astounding, then also Che and Nealis dominated physically.

None of the young guys did anything bad, Hall could have legitimately had 2 more goals, but you can’t complain about him having two goals. Mehmeti played well, but I just kept thinking about how it seemed like he had all of the tools at such a young age. Dos Santos kept Griffin Dorsey quiet, and he’s not Messi but he is a veteran of the league.

 

Add to the list with Sunday's games:

Drew Baiera, 18
Jonathon Shore, 18
Darren Yapi, 21
Noah Cobb, 20
Snyder Brunell, 18

There's only one more U21 on the bench -- Alex Harris, 21 -- for Colorado. He may get in the game as well. Colorado also started 3 22 year old Americans today for honorable mention -- Paxten Aaronson, Dante Sealy and LB Jackson Travis.

 

Alex Harris made it on and he's looked pretty good.

 

For the love of God, how did I manage to screw up the date in the title thread.
Ya'll are too kind for not pointing out my senior moment.

We need a moderator to sticky the thread and to change the title.

Or else we can just talk about Jonathan Bornstein if ya'll want.

 

We got two threads anyway. Might as well merge 'em and just keep the headline that makes sense.

https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/ynt-eligible-mls-players-2026-in-season-thread.2137954/

 

NYRB might be my favorite team to watch this year, purely from a US youth perspective.

 

Not getting why Cavan Sullivan doesn't get a start. He is a 2009 but he was the strongest and quickest in the U17 WC among all these 2008s.

 

It seems I'm always that guy, but thread title says 2006 instead of 2026. @TheFalseNine can you correct it?

 

you forgot Marvelle Wynne and Sacha Kljestan