MLS SuperDraft 2026 is done — Here’s how it works and why the NCAA path still matters | OneFootball

The MLS SuperDraft 2026 is in the books. For readers new to the system, the draft is a long-established North American sports mechanism—best known through the NBA and NFL—and it has historically served as a talent pipeline in multiple leagues.

While more closely associated with basketball and American football, the draft has been part of soccer in the United States for years. One of the clearest examples came in 2013, when FC Dallas used the seventh overall pick on a center back from Furman University: Walker Zimmerman. Drafted behind several players who never made the same impact in MLS, Zimmerman went on to build a standout career, remaining in the U.S. and becoming one of the most respected American-born defenders of his era.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Walker Zimmerman (@thewalkerzim)

Even as MLS expands and recruits globally, the SuperDraft remains a vital entry point for athletes coming from college soccer—and 2026 reflected that scale.

This year’s draft, held on Thursday, saw 90 players selected, a sharp contrast to 2013, when only 38 were taken across two rounds.

How the MLS SuperDraft Works

The MLS SuperDraft follows a structure similar to other major North American leagues. In each round, clubs select in order, starting with the teams that performed worst the previous season and ending with the strongest.

The intention is competitive balance—giving teams that struggled a better chance to improve.

Draft order is set as follows:

Each club is typically allotted three selections, but trades are allowed. Those trades can include international roster slots (generally capped at eight per team) or allocation money, MLS mechanisms that provide roster and salary flexibility.

Who Was Eligible in the MLS SuperDraft 2026

Players eligible for selection included:

A player cannot be drafted more than once. If someone is selected in the SuperDraft and later returns to college—or has already signed a professional contract—future draft eligibility is lost.

How Many Players Each Club Selected (SuperDraft 2026)

Top 10 Picks — MLS SuperDraft 2026

The complete list of selections is available on the official MLS website.

College Players Who Went on to Define MLS Eras

Even with less prestige than drafts in other sports, the SuperDraft has remained a meaningful talent pathway. Beyond Walker Zimmerman, multiple college products have shaped MLS and U.S. Soccer:

Clint Dempsey

A Furman University product drafted in 2004, Dempsey built a major European career with Fulham and Tottenham and became a defining figure for Seattle Sounders. He earned more than 130 caps for the U.S. national team.

Oguchi Onyewu

Developed at Clemson University, Onyewu built a long European career and anchored the U.S. defense for more than a decade, appearing at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.

Jack Harrison

After playing at Wake Forest in 2015, Harrison was drafted by New York City FC in 2016. He later moved to Leeds United and established himself in Europe following two strong MLS seasons.

Max Arfsten

A UC Davis product selected by Columbus in the 2023 SuperDraft, Arfsten quickly became a key roster piece and worked into U.S. national team conversations.

Tim Ream

A Saint Louis University graduate drafted by the New York Red Bulls in 2010, Ream moved to England after two MLS seasons, playing for Bolton and Fulham and building a long U.S. national team career.