Brazil’s MLS Footprint Is Growing — and the 40 Players Show How the League Is Changing | OneFootball

Brazil has always supplied talent to Major League Soccer. What has changed in 2026 is the range of players MLS clubs are recruiting.

At one end are established names such as Inter Miami midfielder Casemiro and FC Cincinnati star Evander. At the other are players like FC Dallas midfielder Kaick, Orlando City’s Tiago and Inter Miami winger Riquelme Fillipi—young Brazilians arriving before their careers are fully defined in Europe or Brazil’s top flight.

The result is a broader Brazilian presence than MLS has typically seen: veterans brought in to lead, prime-age contributors expected to produce immediately, and younger players signed as development and resale bets. FC Dallas and Houston Dynamo FC have been especially active, but every type of MLS club is now participating in the market.

Here is the club-by-club list.

Atlanta United

Sergio Santos — ForwardA veteran MLS forward, Santos previously played for Philadelphia Union, FC Cincinnati, and Houston Dynamo FC. He brings experience, depth, and a proven understanding of the league.

Austin FC

Guilherme Biro — DefenderBiro has become a reliable option across Austin’s back line, capable of playing both left back and center back.

FC Cincinnati

Evander — Attacking midfielderOne of MLS’s elite creators, Evander joined Cincinnati after a successful spell with the Portland Timbers. He remains the benchmark for Brazilian influence in the league.

FC Dallas

Álvaro Augusto — MidfielderAugusto joined Dallas in 2025 and has split time between the first team and North Texas SC.

Daniel — GoalkeeperAfter more than 80 appearances with the San Jose Earthquakes, Daniel moved to Dallas in 2026.

Geovane Jesus — DefenderGeovane remains on Dallas’ roster as he works back from a long-term knee injury.

Kaick — MidfielderThe 20-year-old has developed into a regular starter and is one of Dallas’ most important young players.

Ramiro — MidfielderA veteran of Corinthians, Cruzeiro and Grêmio, Ramiro is Dallas’ captain in 2026.

Kaka Scabin — MidfielderThe Brazilian-born Homegrown player came through Inter Miami’s and FC Dallas’ academies before joining the first-team setup.

D.C. United

João Peglow — ForwardPeglow arrived after spells in Brazil, Portugal, Ukraine and Poland, adding another technical attacking option for D.C. United.

Houston Dynamo FC

Antônio Carlos — Center backAfter a previous MLS spell with Orlando City, Antônio Carlos joined Houston in 2025 and adds experience to the Dynamo defense.

Lucas Halter — Center backHalter arrived from Brazil at the start of 2026 and has become a regular part of Houston’s back line.

Artur — MidfielderOne of MLS’s most experienced Brazilian midfielders, Artur is a veteran leader and one of Houston’s captains.

Guilherme — WingerGuilherme has been Houston’s standout attacking addition in 2026. He has 12 goals and five assists in 21 league appearances.

Felipe Andrade — DefenderInitially brought in through Houston Dynamo 2, Andrade earned a permanent deal and can play across the back line.

Inter Miami CF

Casemiro — Defensive midfielderThe former Real Madrid and Manchester United midfielder joined Miami in the 2026 Secondary Transfer Window, adding another high-profile Brazilian international to the league.

Micael — Center backMicael returned to MLS on loan from Palmeiras after previously developing with Houston. He has become a key defender for Miami.

Riquelme Fillipi — WingerThe 19-year-old arrived from Palmeiras in September as a U22 Initiative signing and represents Miami’s investment in younger Brazilian talent.

LA Galaxy

João Klauss — ForwardAfter helping launch St. Louis CITY, Klauss moved to the Galaxy in 2026. An injury has ended his season after a productive opening stretch.

Lucas Calegari — Right backCalegari returned to the Galaxy after previous spells in MLS, Portugal and Turkey.

LAFC

Igor Jesus — MidfielderIgor earned a starting role after joining LAFC in 2025, though an August injury has interrupted his second MLS season.

Thayllon Robert — WingerThe 20-year-old joined LAFC on loan from Avaí with an option to buy.

New York City FC

Talles Magno — ForwardAfter a loan spell with Corinthians, Talles Magno returned to NYCFC in 2026 and has alternated between starts and substitute appearances.

Thiago Martins — Center backThe NYCFC captain is one of the club’s longest-serving players and a central figure in its defense.

Raul Gustavo — Center backThe former Corinthians defender joined NYCFC in August 2025.

Luighi — ForwardLuighi arrived from Palmeiras during the 2026 summer window and has started to earn minutes, scoring twice in his first seven matches.

Orlando City

Luís Otávio — Defensive midfielderThe former Internacional midfielder has featured regularly during his first MLS season.

Tiago — MidfielderTiago has started 15 of Orlando’s first 22 league matches and is one of the club’s breakout players in 2026.

Iago — ForwardIago began the season in Orlando’s lineup before moving into a reserve role.

Vinicius Nogueira — MidfielderNogueira joined Orlando on loan during the Secondary Transfer Window with an option to buy.

Portland Timbers

Antony — WingerAntony has now made more than 100 MLS appearances for Portland and remains an established contributor on the wing.

Real Salt Lake

Rafael Cabral — GoalkeeperThe experienced goalkeeper joined Real Salt Lake in 2025 and serves as the club’s captain.

San Diego FC

Gabriel Pirani — Attacking midfielderAfter an uneven spell with D.C. United, Pirani has found a more regular role with San Diego.

San Jose Earthquakes

Vítor Costa — Left backCosta has been with San Jose since 2024 and provides attacking width on the left.

Sporting Kansas City

Diego Borges — Center backBorges joined Sporting Kansas City in 2026 after a brief spell in Hungary.

André Luiz — ForwardThe former Flamengo prospect arrived from Olympiacos as Sporting Kansas City’s record signing.

St. Louis CITY SC

Célio Pompeu — WingerPompeu is sidelined for the 2026 season with a serious injury.

Rafael Santos — Left backA veteran of Orlando City and Colorado Rapids, Santos joined St. Louis at the beginning of 2026.

Rafael Navarro — ForwardAfter establishing himself with the Colorado Rapids, Navarro moved to St. Louis and remains one of MLS’s most productive Brazilian forwards.

Toronto FC

Matheus Pereira — DefenderPereira joined Toronto at the beginning of 2026 following spells with Cruzeiro, Guarani and Santa Clara.

Brazil’s presence in MLS is no longer defined by a single type of signing. The league is bringing in elite veterans, experienced professionals and young players with room to grow. That mix—more than the headline number alone—is what makes the 2026 Brazilian class significant.

Sources and verification: MLS official transaction tracker; official MLS player pages; official club roster pages and transaction announcements. Reconfirm the roster count, player status, injuries, and statistics immediately before publication, as MLS rosters change during the transfer window.