World Cup Watch: Miguel Almirón, Petar Musa star in Matchday 4 | OneFootball

By J. Sam Jones

More than 50 players from across MLS are set to take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

So, after each matchday, we thought it’d be best to take a look at which of those guys are playing their best ball as we head toward this summer’s big tournament. 

Here’s who stood out in Matchday 4.

WATCH: Every goal from Matchday 4!

Matt Turner

Goalkeeper · New England Revolution

Goalkeeping may not have been the primary focus in New England’s 6-1 romp over FC Cincinnati, but Turner still put in a shift. The possible U.S. No. 1 made seven saves in the win. To get a bit more in-depth… Per FotMob, the shots on target he faced would normally result in two goals on average. Turner allowed just one. And, per American Soccer Analysis, he’s been the second-best shotstopper in the league.

He’s trending up at the right time.

Miguel Almiron

Midfielder · Atlanta United

Almirón had shown flashes in the first three games of the (second) Tata Martino era. But it didn’t all click into place until this weekend. Almirón assisted on all three of Atlanta United’s goals as the Five Stripes rolled over the Union in a 3-1 win.

In general, if you’ve been paying close attention to the work he’s put in, you’ve seen that he’s been excellent this season. It may not be 2018, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a highly effective player. 

It’s a small sample size, and it’s just one data point… HOWEVER… through four matchdays, the top three in American Soccer Analysis’s all-encompassing “Goals Added” metric:

Petar Musa

Forward · FC Dallas

Few No. 9s in MLS are more consistent and more productive than Musa. He scored the first, second and third goals for FC Dallas this weekend in a wild 3-3 draw with San Diego FC. He’s already got five goals in four games and is on pace to better the 16 goals he scored in 2024 and the 18 goals he scored in 2025. He doesn’t stop scoring. 

Time will tell whether his performance in MLS is enough to earn him a spot on Croatia's final squad. He appeared in their final two World Cup qualifiers last year – both wins – and scored against the Faroe Islands.

Player of the Matchday 4: Petar Musa

Sebastian Berhalter

Midfielder · Vancouver Whitecaps FC

He’s just going to keep showing up on these lists. Berhalter is here again after a 1g/2a performance that powered Vancouver to a 6-0 demolition of Minnesota United. There’s almost certainly a spot on the USMNT roster waiting for him.

Mathieu Choiniere

Midfielder · Los Angeles Football Club

Not one goal from distance…

But two.

The Canadian midfielder put on a show in LAFC’s 2-0 win over St. Louis. And, like Berhalter, Choinière is likely a lock for this summer.

Honorable mentions

Mateusz Bogusz (F) | Houston Dynamo FC & Poland

Bogusz had an assist and a very, very, very late winner for the Dynamo. It took him 105 minutes to get on the board, but his goal came just in time for Houston. Poland still have some work to do to make the World Cup, and Bogusz has some work to do to make the final roster. But he’s producing so far in Texas.

Lasse Berg Johnsen (M) | Sporting Kansas City & Norway

In his first MLS appearance, Johnsen picked up a goal and an assist in Sporting KC’s 2-1 win over LA. He’s on the fringes of the Norwegian roster and made a couple of appearances in qualifiers in 2025. 

Brian White (F) | Vancouver Whitecaps FC & USA

White is projected to be just on the edge of the final USMNT roster right now. But he’s not going to miss out without a fight. After a brace against Minnesota, he’s up to five goals through four games. 

Matías Galarza (M) | Atlanta United & Paraguay

In his first start, Galarza made a major difference in midfield for Atlanta. The Five Stripes needed some athleticism and dynamism and got that and more from Galarza. He even picked up a secondary assist in their win over Philly. You’ll very likely see him with Paraguay this summer.