Soccer <\/p>\n
Nearly 50 players from across MLS could participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n So, after each matchday, we thought it\u2019d be best to look at which of those guys are playing their best ball as we head toward this summer\u2019s big tournament.\u00a0<\/p>\n Here\u2019s who stood out during Matchday 6.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Diego Luna<\/strong><\/p>\n It took four minutes for\u00a0Luna<\/a> to reintroduce himself.<\/p>\n In his first start of the year following a knee injury, Luna immediately put Real Salt Lake<\/a> up 1-0 on Sporting Kansas City<\/a>. He has 1g\/1a in his first 148 minutes this year, and still has time to push for a spot on the USMNT<\/a>\u2019s final roster.<\/p>\n Luna made 17 appearances for the US last year. The next few weeks are mostly about proving he\u2019s healthy.<\/p>\n So far, so good.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Sebastian Berhalter<\/strong><\/p>\n Berhalter<\/a> had a mixed bag during the USMNT\u2019s March camp, but he always seems to bounce back. It didn\u2019t surprise anyone when he did this:<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 5, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n He\u2019s up to 3g\/4a in six matches for Vancouver<\/a> this year. Those goal contributions are a bonus to all the other positive things he does on the pitch. He\u2019s a complete midfielder and a likely inclusion this summer.<\/p>\n Matt Turner<\/strong><\/p>\n Last month, Turner<\/a> was in goal for the USMNT’s 5-2 defeat<\/a> against Belgium. Despite that lopsided score, he\u2019s still a near-lock for the USMNT this summer. And he keeps performing well for New England<\/a>. Last weekend, he made five saves and kept a clean sheet as the Revs took down\u00a0CF Montr\u00e9al<\/a>.<\/p>\n Max Arfsten<\/strong><\/p>\n With the Crew<\/a>,\u00a0Arfsten<\/a> hasn\u2019t really been in the wingback position we became accustomed to seeing him in under Wilfried Nancy. He\u2019s been in a slightly more advanced position under new\u00a0head coach Henrik Rydstr\u00f6m.<\/p>\n The change hasn\u2019t stopped him from producing. He scored his first goal of the year last weekend and delivered an assist to make it three goal contributions in six starts.<\/p>\n Arfsten has been a regular with the USMNT over the past year and a half, and there\u2019s no reason to think that will change this summer.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Arf arf \ud83d\udc36 Arfsten’s got that dog in him \ud83d\ude24 pic.twitter.com\/FeseJJZ325<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) April 5, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Jacob Shaffelburg<\/strong><\/p>\n We hadn\u2019t seen Shaffelburg<\/a> since he had surgery this offseason, but in his first appearance with LAFC<\/a>, he made an immediate impact.<\/p>\n He picked up an assist in 32 minutes of work as LAFC rolled past Orlando City<\/a>, 6-0<\/a>. The speedy winger made 11 appearances for Canada<\/a> last year.<\/p>\n Now, it\u2019s just a race against time to prove he\u2019s healthy and ready to compete with them this summer.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Tyler Boyd with his first goal in Black & Gold \ud83d\udc4a https:\/\/t.co\/tprHu28NHE<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/78hefVwW7k<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 LAFC (@LAFC) April 5, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Jayden Nelson<\/strong><\/p>\n Nelson<\/a> didn\u2019t make the latest edition of Canada\u2019s roster, but that doesn\u2019t mean the window is closed.<\/p>\n He made seven appearances for Canada in 2025 and scored for Austin FC<\/a> in a 2-2 draw<\/a> at Inter Miami<\/a> last weekend. A few more moments like that will at least give him a chance.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n JAYDEN. NELSON.@AustinFC<\/a> strike on the break to take the lead! \u26a1\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/yI2BUlXt9T<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 5, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Richie Laryea<\/strong><\/p>\n Laryea<\/a> found the back of the net in\u00a0Toronto FC<\/a>‘s bizarre 3-2 win<\/a> over the\u00a0Colorado Rapids<\/a>. It\u2019s typical stuff from Laryea. He\u2019s a lock for Canada\u2019s roster.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Perfect placement from Richie Laryea to bring @TorontoFC<\/a> within one! pic.twitter.com\/NBCtN3WYnU<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Messi<\/a> scored in Inter Miami\u2019s first-ever game at Nu Stadium. Make it five goals in five games this year for the Argentine legend and defending World Cup champion.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 5, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n It took about 40 minutes for Son<\/a> to bag four assists in LAFC\u2019s 6-0 beatdown of Orlando.<\/p>\n He’s been dominant to start the season, and while he still hasn\u2019t scored yet in MLS play, he\u2019s up to a league-best seven assists.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 5, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n It\u2019s basically every week now.<\/p>\n Musa<\/a> is back in this thing again after tallying for the third straight match. He\u2019s up to seven goals for FC Dallas<\/a> this season. That ties him for the league lead with Nashville<\/a>\u2019s Sam Surridge<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Croatia have taken notice of his form. Musa made substitute appearances in their matches with Colombia and Brazil over the March international break. After playing in Croatia\u2019s final two World Cup qualifiers, he\u2019s on track to secure a roster spot.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Najbolji napada\u010d u MLS-u \ud83c\udded\ud83c\uddf7 pic.twitter.com\/TRRHVUNBgQ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FC Dallas (@FCDallas) April 5, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Zaha<\/a> has scored in back-to-back MLS games. He found the winner for\u00a0Charlotte FC<\/a> in last weekend\u2019s 2-1 win<\/a> over the\u00a0Philadelphia Union<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n He hasn\u2019t appeared for Ivory Coast since the Africa Cup of Nations in December, but there\u2019s still a chance he could work his way onto the final roster.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 5, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Zavier Gozo (M) | Real Salt Lake & USA<\/strong><\/p>\n Look\u2026 it\u2019s a long shot. But I don\u2019t know, man. Just do it?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n our jaws are still on the floor \ud83e\udd2f pic.twitter.com\/kMaoFZ4XPO<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n If Gozo<\/a>‘s not involved with this World Cup, it feels like he\u2019s trending toward being involved with at least a couple more after this. The hype is growing with rapid speed. That doesn\u2019t always work out, but he sure is fun to watch right now. Enjoy him in MLS while you can.<\/p>\n Mbekezeli Mbokazi (D) | Chicago Fire FC & South Africa<\/strong><\/p>\n Mbokazi<\/a> helped contribute to a clean sheet win for Chicago<\/a> against a vaunted Nashville attack.\u00a0<\/p>\n He went 90 for South Africa in a loss to Panama over the international break and scored an absolute banger<\/a>. There\u2019s no reason to expect him to miss out on the World Cup.\u00a0<\/p>\n Facundo Torres<\/strong>\u00a0(F) | Austin FC & Uruguay<\/strong><\/p>\n Torres<\/a> didn\u2019t get any minutes for Uruguay over the break, but he did make the squad. He returned to MLS to pick up an assist against Inter Miami. He\u2019ll need a few more moments like that to absolutely make sure he makes the final roster.<\/p>\n Danley Jean Jacques (M)<\/strong> | Philadelphia Union & Haiti<\/strong><\/p>\n Things haven\u2019t been going well this year for Philly. It\u2019s hard to put much of that on Jean Jacques<\/a>, though. He scored last weekend against Charlotte after getting red-carded during the international break with Haiti. He should be a part of one of the competition’s great underdog stories this summer.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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