The beautiful game reaches its purest form this winter during the 2022 World Cup.
It's an unprecedented event for more reasons than one. First off, it's happening in November and December, far later than it has in years past.
Secondly, all three North American sides — the United States, Canada and Mexico — are participating, something that has never happened before.
Those three sides have gone from strength to strength over the past few years, overcoming sloppy displays at the World Cup (or missing out on the tournament entirely) to put themselves in position for optimism.
And a major reason why this progression has occurred: Major League Soccer, which has burgeoned into the top league for North American players to test their luck while also welcoming talent from around the world.
MORE: World Cup squads 2022: All 32 official national team rosters for FIFA men's tournament in Qatar
With that, here are the MLS players set to compete in this year's World Cup:
MLS players at World Cup 2022
Nothing quite indicates the growing progression of the North American game more than the fact that 35 MLS players — and one MLS Next player— are slated to take part in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The majority of MLS players who will make their bows during the World Cup come from CONCACAF nations, Canada in particular. However, there are also more than a fair share of familiar names from across the European continent who have parlayed MLS success into another international call-up.
Charlotte FC World Cup players
Just one World Cup selection for Charlotte FC, the most recent addition to the league. He is, however, a big name: leading goal-scorer Karol Świderski will serve as Robert Lewandowski's understudy for Poland in this year's World Cup.
- Karol Świderski (Poland)
Chicago Fire World Cup players
Chicago Fire's diminutive talisman Xherdan Shaqiri will hope to conjure up a little magic once more on the world stage, as he is the lone representative for Ezra Hendrickson's side. Shaqiri has made a living scoring eye-popping goals in international competition. The Swiss will be hoping he can do it again.
- Xherdan Shaqiri (Switzerland)
MORE: Which league has the most players at the 2022 World Cup?
FC Cincinnati World Cup players
FC Cincinnati has just one participant in this year's World Cup in Costa Rican defender Ronald Matarrita. He's a real veteran at international level, though, having already earned 52 caps.
- Ronald Matarrita (Costa Rica)
Colorado Rapids World Cup players
The Rapids have a gem in their farm system in Costa Rican defender Daniel Chacón. And despite having yet to turn out for the Rapids' first team, the 21-year-old nabbed yet another call-up to the senior side, this time for his first major international tournament.
- Daniel Chacón (Costa Rica)
Columbus Crew World Cup players
The Crew didn't quite hit the mark in 2022, languishing to a mid-table finish. That was enough, however, for hulking defender Milos Degenek to earn a World Cup call-up with the Socceroos.
- Milos Degeneck (Australia)
FC Dallas World Cup players
Gregg Berhalter opted for the hot hand (or rather, foot), taking Jesús Ferreira on the plane over other attacking options like Ricardo Pepi or Jordan Pefok. One look at his numbers, and you can see why.
The soon-to-be 22-year-old bagged 18 goals in 29 league starts last year and looks poised for a European move sooner rather than later.
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Jesús Ferreira (USA)
Houston Dynamo World Cup players
Houston isn't exactly blessed with international quality talent — their 13th-place finish in the West proved as much last year. They are, however, blessed with an industrious midfielder in Héctor Herrera, a player who will once again take the field for El Tri in soccer's grandest competition.
- Héctor Herrera (Mexico)
LAFC World Cup players
Everything seems to be brighter in Tinseltown. That includes its soccer stars: the Black and Gold have five players set to make the trip to Qatar, spotlighted by world superstar Gareth Bale and USMNT stalwart Kellyn Acosta.
LAFC also has a trio of Ecuadorians set to offer their services in the World Cup, too.
- Kellyn Acosta (USA)
- Gareth Bale (Wales)
- José Cifuentes (Ecuador)
- Sebas Méndez (Ecuador)
- Diego Palacios (Ecuador)
MORE: Which clubs have the most players at the 2022 World Cup?
LA Galaxy World Cup players
Compared to their crosstown rivals, the Galaxy aren't exactly teeming with World Cup representation. However, they will have one player repping the badge abroad: veteran defender Martín Cáceres, who is likely suiting up for his final run with Uruguay.
- Martín Cáceres (Uruguay)
Inter Miami CF World Cup players
DeAndre Yedlin has been part of the fabric of U.S. Soccer for about as long as anyone can remember. And he'll make his second World Cup bow in Qatar, becoming the only U.S. player to feature in the 2014 and 2022 competitions.
- DeAndre Yedlin (USA)
Minnesota United FC World Cup players
United have just one player featured on a World Cup roster this go-around. He's a keeper, though (literally). Maryland alum Dayne St. Clair will man the posts for Les Rouges as they make their first World Cup appearance since 1986.
- Dayne St. Clair (Canada)
CF Montréal World Cup players
L'Impact have a host of players set to feature in soccer's favorite tournament, all of whom will sport the same candy-apple red Canadian jersey.
- Alistair Johnston (Canada)
- Ismaël Koné (Canada)
- Kamal Miller (Canada)
- James Pantemis (Canada)
- Samuel Piette (Canada)
- Joel Waterman (Canada)
MORE: Canada's World Cup roster: All 26 players on the final squad
Nashville SC World Cup players
From Music City to the world! A pair of American defenders — Shaq Moore and Walker Zimmerman — will carry the baton for the USMNT in Qatar.
- Shaq Moore (USA)
- Walker Zimmermann (USA)
NYCFC World Cup players
Sean Johnson has long been among the best goalies in MLS. Now, he'll get a chance to prove it on the biggest stage, earning a call-up for his first World Cup with the USMNT. He's slated to back up starting goalie Matt Turner, at present.
- Sean Johnson (USA)
New York Red Bulls World Cup players
Like their cross-river rivals, Red Bulls have one player on the plane to Qatar. He's also an American, although this one could see more game time: center back Aaron Long.
- Aaron Long (USA)
Orlando City SC World Cup players
Youngster Facundo Torres has lit up Exploria Stadium since making his debut for the Lions in February, bagging 13 goals in all competitions. Torres parlayed that outrageous form to a World Cup call up for Uruguay, another feather in his cap at age 22.
- Facundo Torres (Uruguay)
MORE: Can teams replace injured players on World Cup squads in Qatar?
Philadelphia Union World Cup players
Philly had a great season, just missing out on an MLS Cup title after a first-place finish in the Eastern Conference. For Cameroonian defender Olivier Mbaizo, that translated to a World Cup call-up, the second major international competition he has competed in as many years (along with the 2021 African Cup of Nations).
- Olivier Mbaizo (Cameroon)
Real Salt Lake World Cup players
Once a fixture for Premier League sides Everton and Sunderland, as well as Champions League regulars Copenhagen, Bryan Oviedo has taken his talents back to the Western Hemisphere in recent years.
His impact still looms large for both club and country, though — Oviedo is on the plane to Qatar for Costa Rica, his second straight selection to Los Ticos' World Cup side.
- Bryan Oviedo (Costa Rica)
Seattle Sounders World Cup players
Sounders fans will be spoiled for choice on who to root for in the World Cup, with a pair of USMNT players as well as Ecuadorian Xavier Arreaga and Cameroonian Nouhou Tolo making the grade for their respective countries.
- Xavier Arreaga (Ecuador)
- Jordan Morris (USA)
- Cristian Roldan (USA)
- Nouhou Tolo (Cameroon)
Toronto FC World Cup players
Views from the 6! Canada's qualification into the World Cup opened the door for a ton of MLS players to get involved in the national team setup. One of those who did just that is Jonathan Osorio, a player who has long been the flagbearer for Canadian soccer (at least before the development of guys like Tajon Buchanan, Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David).
Osorio will finally get his chance to showcase his skill on the biggest stage, wearing Canada's No. 21 jersey. He'll be joined by a pair of club teammates, as well.
- Mark-Anthony Kaye (Canada)
- Richie Laryea (Canada)
- Jonathan Osorio (Canada)
Vancouver Whitecaps World Cup players
Lastly, but certainly not least, we have the Whitecaps, who have one player headed to Qatar. He's a good one, though: Canadian forward Lucas Cavallini, who just put the finishing touches on a nine-goal, two-assist year in Hollywood North.
- Lucas Cavallini (Canada)
MLS clubs with most players at World Cup 2022
With six players slated to take part in the festivities in Qatar, CF Montréal is the MLS side with the most players at the World Cup.
Canadian sides look to be well-represented in the iconic tournament, with CF Montréal and Toronto FC each taking multiple players to Qatar, and nearly half of team Canada's 26-player World Cup roster will be composed of MLS talent.
