YNT-Eligible MLS Players, 2026 In-Season Thread

Yea he’s had some great moments. Reminds of Dembele on Dortmund. He did lose the ball several times but he creates so much danger in the times it works that it’s all worth it.

Peyton Miller also had a goal.

Mehmeti played quite well again. I’ve never seen a 16/17yr old have such awareness of everyone around him and also escape as often out of pressure with the ball.

 

There is definitely some very promising teenage talent showing its wares in MLS right now. Hard not to be excited by it.

 

Funny how many of the USMNT analysts are asking for Gozo to go to the WC. He certainly seems on track for a move to Europe. Would be nice if he goes somewhere where they see him as their #1 or #2 on the right.

 

Hall had a nice breakout game. Had 2 assists. His assists were more impressive than the goals that followed.

Unfortunately Peyton Miller got hurt. Hopefully not another extended one.

 

There was some noise in the MNT forum that Hall "only did tap-ins". Which anyone watching him over the last year or two would have known is not the case. Glad that he showed his speed and ball holding ability yesterday. He really is a strong, fast kid.

 

Regularly getting tap ins is a repeatable skill and probably the most valuable one in soccer anyway.

 

Are you talking about my comments?

All I said was that his goals so far to date had only been tap ins (literally true), and while that's a super valuable skill, the sample size was small enough that it really hadn't been established that he was going to help generate those faster than others yet. Which is still true.

This was all in the context of simply saying that Gozo is my pick currently for young breakout player of the year, not that Hall was not good.

I also commented separately that he used to be a winger so he has more skills than that.

 

So to recap

Standout performances from:

U-20
Hall: 2 assists
Mehmeti: goal
Terry: goal

U-23
Bombino: goal
Habroune: assist
Tsakiris: assist

 

I know NY Red Bulls only got a draw and is the talk of the league, but that performance was a statement performance for the youngsters imo. Also is Donkor a possibility for the US? It doesn't seem like he has any caps with Ghana. Dude looked incredible on the turn from that midfield role. Elite acceleration.

 

I didn't remember it was you but I did not like the comment because if there was one thing I wanted for Hall to develop was the ability to do tap-ins. No big deal though.

 

Norris (N2) had a very good game at LCB which he seems to have finally won.

 

For me, Norris seems like a pretty good player. I am not sure how high his ceiling is, but I think he has a decently high floor.

 

Huge and historic win for Nashville last night, becoming the first MLS team to ever win at Azteca - while eliminating Club America.

Two U.S. Olympic hopefuls plays for Nashville.

Reed Baker-Whiting started and played 57 minutes - early hook, but I didn't think he was bad.

Matt Corcoran came into the game in the 71st minute and did a nice job defensively to help kill the game off.

 

I guess if he does go to Bayern in June then that isn’t much of a missed opportunity, not counting the season passed so far. I do agree though that they should have integrated more youth by now. 7 years in the league is enough time to start having at least 1-2 u20 players making sub appearances.

 

What would be the reason for that exclusion? Or is it simply Charlotte doesn't want to spend development time on someone who won't be there?

It seems odd to me.

 

There’s a plausible explanation here guys.

You’ll see soon.

 

K

 

Is it classified?

 

It's not unprecedented, once it was clear Joe Scally was moving to Gladbach NYCFC just put him in bubble wrap. The only weird thing there is that Berchimas continues to play in MLSNP which is just as fraught.

 

His contract is only until 2027, maybe it’s that they’re pretty sure he’s not renewing and have sort of iced him to playing MLSNP? Maybe the soon is that he will have pre contract announced in June? Maybe Bayern is going to pay a little fee to Charlotte in June to get him out for cheap or too just be nice and at least give him MLSNP minutes for until the contract ends?

 

After last night's games, 66 US citizens born in 2005 or later have played in MLS this season. (All numbers are just for league games and don't count USOC or Concacaf stats.)

23 have played at least 200 minutes, led by Niko Tsakiris' 809. Niko's 6 assists leads all U23 players (and all US players overall, and is tied for second in MLS). Zavier Gozo is next with 4 helpers and Adri Mehmeti has 3.

Julian Hall leads the goal-scorers with 6 followed by Peyton Miller with 3 (in just 174 minutes!) and Gozo, Tsakiris and Aiden Hezarkhani with 2.

Duran Ferree is the only U23 GK to get minutes this season. He's gone the full 90 8 times, saving 70 percent of the shots he's faced and posting a 1.5 GAA.

Sadly, Cavan Sullivan is nowhere on this list. He's played in just 138 minutes for Philly with 1 assist. One the one hand, he's six-frikkin-teen. Playing any minutes in a pro first division at 16 should be lauded as a great sign. On the other hand, Sullivan is supposed to be one of the best American prospects, ever, so it's sad to see him not playing more for what is (suddenly) a bad team and while so many other YNT players are getting more minutes.

 

Some thoughts from the midweek MLS games and YNT players

The improvements Julian Hall made from last season to this season are exciting. I thought he was way over his head last year. This year, he just moves so well in the box to get in great positions. Another goal, this in a 4-4 draw with DC United. He now has 8 across all competitions.

Julian Hall moves so well in the box. he’s made huge strides this year

His 8th of the season in all competitions for #RBNY

For me, the starting striker for the U.S U-20 team, with a good chance of starting for the Olympic team soon after pic.twitter.com/nGkNJBTNUO

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) April 23, 2026

Adri Mehmeti played 64 mins, did well with the ball.

Peyton Miller scored the winning goal the Revs against Atlanta. He came into the game in the 66th minute and scored 12 minutes later.

It's P Millz time 😤#ATLvNE https://t.co/UVJSyibUWe pic.twitter.com/ab31d8FDy0

— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) April 23, 2026

Brooklyn Raines is quietly growing into a good role with New England. He's playing quite a bit better than he was at the beginning of the season. Again, he will be in the mix for the Olympic team.

I wish Luke Brennan would play more for Atlanta. They are terrible.

Taha Habroune is likely a bubble player for the Olympic team right now, but he will get invites to camps. If he played like he did last night for Columbus in a 2-1 win over LAG, he'll make the team and play. It was his best game since last summer and he was the best player on the field.

I didn't really notice Harbor Miller for the LAG in the loss. He played the final 28 mins plus stoppage time.

Frankie Westfield finally started to resemble the player he looked like he could be in 2025. He was so good last year but 2026 hasn't been nearly as kind for him. He's working through a tough period in his development, but it was encouraging last night. I still think he has a good chance to be the starting right back for the Olympic team.

Nolan Norris went 90 minutes for Dallas at left back in a 1-0 loss to Minnesota. Despite the result, Norris played well from what I saw. I said this last week, that I am unsure about his ceiling but he's good a high enough floor where he should be a good professional for a long time. His versatility should keep him in the mix to make the Olympic team. He also has good leadership qualities, from what I hear. If I was a coach, I'd like to have him on my team.

Zavier Gozo had his moments against Inter Miami. He created a very dangerous chance in the 4th minute and then missed a chance in the 54th.

Niko Tsakiris was great in the second half for San Jose, which turned a 1-0 deficit into a 5-1 win over Austin. Tsakiris is finally on path to being the player we all hoped he would. Great start to the season and he had an assist in this one on the first Quakes goal via a corner.

From the corner to the back of the net! Jack Jasinski equalizes for @SJEarthquakes 💫 pic.twitter.com/gYa2xKottU

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 23, 2026

 

Solans has been VERY good for RSL to start the season but it was criminal to miss that header... Gozo put it on a platter.

 

U.S U-20 midfielder Snyder Brunell starts tonight against FCD and hits a very nice assist to Jordan Morris

JMo makes it ✌️ pic.twitter.com/W66blNPKy4

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) April 26, 2026