Top Things to Watch in MLS This Week
MLS Players Approach Final Phase of World Cup Qualifying
With 237 days remaining until FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, players with MLS connections are leading the quest for their home countries to reach the most prestigious and sought-after international stage.
Logging 3,808 minutes, 44 starts, four goals and one assist during this FIFA window (as of Monday night), the dynamic crop of MLS contributors has national teams in all six confederations either on the cusp of qualification or already locked into a World Cup berth. A listing of all players receiving call-ups during the March window is available on MLSscoccer.com.
Below is breakdown of the MLS players who have qualified and which players are still in the hunt.
MLS Representation on Qualified Teams
Canada’s World Cup Dream Arrives as Concacaf’s Leader: The Canadian National Team – with 10 current MLS players, including six MLS club academy products – became the first team in the Concacaf region to punch its ticket to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Marking the country’s triumphant World Cup return for the first time since 1986, the top-ranked Canadian side was powered by goals from two former first round picks in the MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas. Cyle Larin, who went No. 1 overall to Orlando City SC in 2015, and Tajon Buchanan, selected No. 9 overall by the New England Revolution in 2019, each notched a goal in Sunday’s 4-0 win over Jamaica to seal Canada’s destiny on the strength of an 8-4-1 overall record in qualifying matches.
Chicago’s Shaqiri Has Set Switzerland’s Stage: The most expensive signing in Chicago Fire FC history helped the Switzerland National Team earn its automatic qualification. In November 2021, front man Xherdan Shaqiri provided the assist on the first goal against Bulgaria in a 4-0 routing that lifted the Swiss to the top of UEFA Group C and into the World Cup.
Ecuador’s Entrada with Help from Estrada: Featuring six MLS players from five different clubs, the Ecuador National Team has finished third place among the 4.5 teams that automatically qualify from CONMEBOL, and D.C. United’s Michael Estrada provided a goal in their February qualifier against Peru.
Counting by Confederation: How MLS Players Could Win and Be In
North, Central America & Caribbean (Concacaf): After Canada clinched first place, the remaining two automatic qualifiers will be decided among three countries that each called up at least one MLS player. The U.S. Men’s National Team, with its 10 MLS players and 13 academy products, sits in second place after a commanding 5-1 victory over Panama that saw starts and consecutive goals by FC Dallas teammates Jesús Ferreira and Paul Arriola . A win over No. 4-ranked Costa Rica with Francisco Calvo (San Jose Earthquakes), who earned two starts this window, could give the U.S. its long-awaited World Cup return. However, a hosting Costa Rica is playing for its chance to catch No. 3 Mexico and Julián Araujo (LA Galaxy). The fourth placed team in Concacaf will face an Oceania (OFC) opponent in an intercontinental playoff.
South America (CONMEBOL): Peru’s four MLS players, including Edison Flores (D.C. United), Alexander Callens (NYCFC), Pedro Gallese (Orlando City SC), and Marcos López (San Jose Earthquakes) are one win away from finishing in fifth place with a chance to face Asia’s fifth place team in an intercontinental playoff. A victory over Paraguay today guarantees that scenario.
Africa (CAF): Cameroon – featuring Seattle Sounders FC defender Nouhou as a starter with Philadelphia Union’s Olivier Mbaizo on the roster – is among the final 10 group winners competing in a two-match series. The winner of each series advances to the World Cup, and Cameroon looks to rebound after falling to Algeria, 1-0, in first of the two matches on Friday, with Nouhou starting and putting in the full 90 minutes. The second and final leg takes place today.
Europe (UEFA): The New England Revolution’s Adam Buksa and Poland finished runners-up of Group I and will now compete in the Path B playoff final against Sweden today, with the winner directly earning a spot in the World Cup.
Asia (AFC): Columbus Crew SC’s Milos Degenek played full 90 minutes for Australia against Japan last week, as the Socceroos look ahead to a single match playoff on June 7 against either the United Araba Emirates, Iraq or Lebanon. With a victory, Australia advances to an intercontinental playoff against a South American opponent for a spot in the World Cup.
Oceania (OFC): New Zealand, with Seattle Sounders FC’s Bill Tuiloma on the roster, won its confederation semifinal and has advanced to face Solomon Islands in the final. With only one-half place to qualify in OFC, the winner will face Concacaf’s fourth place team in an intercontinental playoff.
Highlights of the Week 5 Slate
Chicago’s Dominant Defense Meets Dallas’ Dynamic Scoring Duo
A clash of styles takes center stage at Soldier Field, as Chicago’s dominant defense, led by 17-year-old goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina, faces off against Jesús Ferreira, Paul Arriola and FC Dallas (3:30 p.m. ET, Univision, TUDN, Twitter – English audio). Chicago has allowed a lone goal through the season’s first month – the lowest mark in MLS – and will be challenged by the dynamic duo of Ferreira and Arriola, who both scored for the United States Men’s National Team in the squad’s 5-1 win over Panama on Sunday. After earning MLS Player of the Week honors in Week 4, Ferreira will look to follow up his first-career hat trick with another strong performance.
Rivalry Renewed in the Rocky Mountain Cup
The first leg of the Rocky Mountain Cup closes Saturday’s slate of action as the Colorado Rapids take on Real Salt Lake at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (9 p.m. ET, MLS Live on ESPN+). RSL has taken three of the past four meetings in Colorado and hold a 25-15-11 lead in the all-time regular-season series. Last week, Rapids head coach Robin Fraser signed a four-year contract extension, keeping him with the club through the 2025 season. Fraser’s counterpart at Real Salt Lake, Pablo Mastroeni, will face his former club for just the second time and his first as the permanent head coach in Salt Lake.
West Coast Battle as the Timbers Welcome the Galaxy to Providence Park
In Sunday’s lone matchup, Yimmi Chara and the Portland Timbers welcome Javier “Chicharito” Hernández and the LA Galaxy to Providence Park in a marquee matinee (4:30 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX Deportes). Both clubs will be looking to right the ship after winless stretches and will look to their leading scorers in Chara (two goals) and Chicharito (two goals) to help get their respective clubs back on track. Portland has won three of the past four against the Galaxy at Providence Park and will look to remain unbeaten at home in 2022.
MLS Player Spotlight: Charlotte FC Midfielder Ben BenderÂ
The first overall pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas, Charlotte FC’s Ben Bender has made a quick and meaningful impact in the Queen City. The University of Maryland product has quickly become a primary creator for Charlotte FC, providing the assist on two of fellow teammate Karol Swiderski’s four goals this season while also directly feeding the first goal in franchise history, scored by Adam Armour against Atlanta United FC in Week 3.
At just 21 years old, Bender is the first No. 1 overall pick in the SuperDraft to have recorded three assists through his first five career games and is one of only two top picks to have multiple assists and a goal through his first five games, joining Jack Harrison.
While Bender is quickly becoming a favorite of his teammates on the pitch, he’s also winning over Charlotte’s supporters with young fans quickly finding a new player to emulate with his inclusive style of play and his high-flying karate kick celebration.
Twenty-One PRO Officials Earn Concacaf Assignments for Qualifiers
With heightened visibility this international window, 21 match officials from the Professional Referee Organization (PRO) have proven their chops and earned assignments for this month’s FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in the Concacaf region.Â
Leading from the middle, three PRO officials will serve as Referees, while eight will run the sidelines as Assistant Referees (ARs). Three will serve as Fourth Officials, one as an Assistant Video Assistant Referee (AVAR), and four take on the role of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in an area where MLS and PRO continue to lead the global standard.Â
For the second time in a Concacaf qualifying match, AR Katy Nesbitt and Fourth Official Tori Penso will appear on the same officiating crew for Panama vs. Canada on March 30 after the two made history on Feb. 2, when they both took the pitch for Jamaica vs. Costa Rica. The nearly all-PRO officiating team for the match will feature PRO officials in five of six roles, including all five on-field and one as VAR. Joining Nesbitt and Penso for the match will be Jair Marrufo presiding as Referee, with AR Frank Anderson and VAR Tim Ford.
Sixteen PRO officials represent the U.S. Soccer Federation, while five others represent Canada Soccer. PRO’s four Canadian officials assigned to Costa Rica vs. USA on March 30 will feature Drew Fischer taking the helm as referee with ARs Michael Barwegen and Chris Wattam, and Fourth Official Pierre-Luc Lauziere. PRO’s very own Carol Anne Chenard will serve as VAR for Mexico vs. USA on March 24. Â
Below is a breakdown of assignments featuring Professional Referee Organization officials.Â
Mexico vs. USA (March 24)
VAR – Carol Anne Chenard
Panama vs. Honduras
Referee: Ismail Elfath
AR1: Corey Parker    Â
AR2: Kyle Atkins        Â
Fourth Official: Nima SaghafiÂ
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic Â
Honduras vs. Mexico (March 27)
Referee: Armando Villareal
AR1: Ian Anderson
AR2: Logan Brown
VAR: Alan ChapmanÂ
Costa Rica vs. USA (March 30)
Referee: Drew Fischer
AR: Micheal Barwegen
AR: Chris Wattam
Fourth Official: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
Mexico vs. El Salvador (March 30)
VAR: Chris Penso
AVAR: Rubiel Vazquez
Panama vs. Canada (March 30)
Referee: Jair Marrufo
AR1: Frank Aderson  Â
AR2: Katy Nesbitt      Â
Fourth Official: Tori Penso     Â
VAR: Tim Ford
Sellout Crowd and Two Shootouts Highlight Inaugural Weekend of MLS NEXT ProÂ
MLS NEXT Pro played its inaugural match in front of a sold-out crowd Friday night in St. Louis, as the home club really gave its fans something to cheer about: a 2-0 St Louis CITY2 win over visiting Rochester New York FC. The first goal in MLS NEXT Pro history was scored by homegrown talent Wan Kuzain of CITY2. WATCH HERE | PHOTOS
One of the unique elements of MLS NEXT Pro’s inaugural season is the use of shootouts: regular season matches that end in a draw will be decided by a shootout using kicks from the penalty mark. The first weekend of the season saw not one , but two shootouts.Â
New England Revolution II secured the first shootout win in MLS NEXT Pro history on Sunday, besting NYCFC II 4-3 to claim the extra point after a 2-2 draw. Colorado Rapids 2 picked up an extra point over Sporting KC II later that day, winning the shootout, 4-2 , after a 1-1 match draw.Â
Other winners during opening weekend included Orlando City B, Inter Miami II, Houston Dynamo 2, North Texas SC, Philadelphia Union II and Tacoma Defiance.
The action continues this week with one match on Wednesday, two on Saturday and eight on Sunday. MNUFC2 will host Sporting KC II in this week’s Game of the Week enhanced broadcast on mlsnextpro.com (2 p.m. ET).
