With a youthful crop of Designated Players and newcomers joining clubs across the U.S. and Canada, Major League Soccer enters 2018 as the youngest and most diverse league in North America.
According to MLS Communications, a total of 72 countries are represented from the current MLS player pool, more than any other soccer league on the planet.
Among the 637 players in MLS, 234 have played for their respective national teams (36.7 percent) and 40 have been included on a FIFA World Cup roster. In addition, 36 of the league’s 53 Designated Players (averaging 27.3 years in age) have earned caps at the senior international level.
As the 2018 FIFA World Cup approaches this summer, MLS is expected to break records for player participation in a World Cup. A total of 27 players from 11 World Cup-bound countries competed in World Cup Qualifying in 2017.
A high-profile offseason saw MLS clubs acquire the youngest group of newcomers in league history. The 96 fresh faces arrive at an average of 25.1 years old, with 50 percent of them boasting national team experience. The 30 South American players new to MLS average just 22 years old.
The current class of Designated Players ranks the youngest in MLS history, as the 53 DPs average 27.3 years of age.
MLS Player Maps and Lists
<strong>League (year)</strong> |
<strong>Total # of Players</strong> |
<strong>Players Born Abroad (% born outside U.S.A. & Canada)</strong> |
<strong>Countries Represented (incl. U.S.A. & Canada)</strong> |
<strong>Average Age of All Players (in years)</strong> |
MLS (2018) |
637 |
315 (49.4%) |
72 |
25.36 |
MLB (2017) |
1087 |
326 (29.9%) |
24 |
28.33 |
NHL (2017-2018) |
779 |
225 (28.8%) |
22 |
27.17 |
NBA (2017-2018) |
496 |
96 (19.4%) |
47 |
26.22 |
NFL (2017) |
2104 |
57 (2.7%) |
26 |
26.36 |
All Statistics Courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau
Leagues in season include all players on current rosters.
Leagues out of season include players on rosters when the season ended.
*Totals as of March 6, 2018
| MLS Players by Country (outside U.S.A / Canada) | |
| Country | Players |
| Argentina | 23 |
| England | 19 |
| France | 19 |
| Ghana | 18 |
| Colombia | 15 |
| MLS Players by State / Province | |
| State | Players |
| California | 61 |
| New York | 21 |
| Ontario (Canada) | 18 |
| Texas | 18 |
| New Jersey | 17 |
<strong>Average Age of MLS Newcomers at End of Regular Season</strong> |
<div>2018 – 25.05*</div> |
<div>2017 – 26.06</div> |
<div>2016 – 25.70</div> |
<div>2015 – 27.02</div> |
<div>2014 – 27.53</div> |
age of newcomers at beginning of regular season
| Average Age of Designated Players at End of Regular Season | |
| Year | Age |
| 2018 | 27.32 |
| 2017 | 28.29 |
| 2016 | 29.38 |
| 2015 | 29.21 |
| 2014 | 29.34 |
*age of Designated Players at beginning of regular season
