Eight former NCAA soccer stars are on the United States men's national soccer team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — the first World Cup played in America since 1994.
Here is a look at the former college players representing the United States and abroad this summer.
G Matt Freese (Harvard, 2017-18)
Matt Freese played two seasons at Harvard, earning Second Team All-Ivy honors as a sophomore before signing a contract with the Philadelphia Union. Now with New York City FC, he has become a regular option for the national team. Freese has 14 caps, including three clean sheets and eight wins.
G Matt Turner (Fairfield, 2012-15)
WORLD CUP BOUND 🇺🇸 has named alum Matt Turner to its squad for Qatar 2022! x
— MAACSports (@MAACSports)
Matt Turner enters the World Cup as the most experienced U.S. goalkeeper, with 54 international appearances. At Fairfield, he started his final two seasons, recording 151 saves and allowing just 29 goals across 37 matches. After a stint in Europe, Turner returned to MLS and is now in his second spell with the New England Revolution.
Max Arfsten (UC Davis, 2019-21)
Max Arfsten played two seasons at UC Davis, starting 34 of 39 matches and recording nine goals and eight assists. After signing with San Jose Earthquakes II in 2022, he was selected 14th overall by the Columbus Crew in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft. Arfsten has 19 caps, with one goal and five assists for the United States.
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Mark McKenzie (Wake Forest, 2017)
Mark McKenzie spent one season at Wake Forest in 2017, appearing in 16 matches before signing a homegrown contract with the Philadelphia Union. After three MLS seasons, he moved to Europe, joining Genk in 2021 and later Toulouse. McKenzie has 28 senior caps.
Tim Ream (Saint Louis, 2006-09)
Tim Ream played four seasons at Saint Louis from 2006 to 2009, starting 68 matches before being drafted by the New York Red Bulls in 2010. After more than a decade in Europe, he returned to MLS with Charlotte FC in 2024. Ream has 81 caps, along with one goal and four assists.
Miles Robinson (Syracuse, 2015-16)
Miles Robinson starred at Syracuse, starting all 42 matches he played and contributing eight goals and one assist from center back. Drafted No. 2 overall by Atlanta United in 2017, he later joined FC Cincinnati in 2024. Robinson has 39 caps and three goals for the national team.
Sebastian Berhalter (North Carolina, 2019)
Sebastian Berhalter played one season at UNC, starting nine of 17 matches before signing with the Columbus Crew. After stops in Austin and Vancouver, he broke out in 2025 with four goals and 12 assists in MLS play, earning his first U.S. call-up. He now has 12 caps, with one goal and three assists.
Cristian Roldan (Washington, 2013-14)
Cristian Roldan played two seasons at Washington, scoring 10 goals and earning All-Pac-12 First Team honors twice. A longtime leader for the Seattle Sounders, he has made 319 club appearances and earned 46 U.S. caps, recording five assists.
Notable international players:
| Player | Country | NCAA School(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Dayne St. Clair | Canada | Maryland |
| Moise Bombito | Canada | New Hampshire |
| Alistair Johnston | Canada | St. John’s / Wake Forest |
| Richie Laryea | Canada | Akron |
| Tajon Buchanan | Canada | Syracuse |
| Cyle Larin | Canada | UConn |
| Tani Oluwaseyi | Canada | St. John’s |
| Michael Boxall | New Zealand | UC Santa Barbara |
| Joe Bell | New Zealand | Virginia |
| Francis de Vries | New Zealand | Saint Francis |
| Jesse Randall | New Zealand | Northern Kentucky |
| Derrick Etienne | Haiti | Virginia |
| Duke Lacroix | Haiti | Penn |
