MLS returns after World Cup pause with key players in focus
The Guardian Sport • 2 min read • Latest: Jul 16, 2026, 10:00 AM
Last updated Jul 16, 2026
The 2026 MLS season resumes on July 16 following a six-week break due to the World Cup. With more than half of the regular season still to be played, fans are reminded of the league's status before the hiatus. During the World Cup, MLS players ranked sixth in total minutes among leagues outside of Europe's top five, with 22 out of 30 clubs having players participating in the tournament. The league's return is strategically timed between the World Cup semi-finals and third-place game, providing an opportunity for teams to regroup and continue the season amid congested scheduling with the upcoming Leagues Cup.
- •MLS resumes play with the season's second half starting July 16
- •Over half of the regular season remains after the World Cup break
- •MLS players logged significant minutes during World Cup, ranking sixth in total
- •22 clubs in MLS had players on World Cup rosters
- •Leagues Cup is set to further complicate the schedule ahead
- 10:00 AMThe Guardian Sport — MLS return storylines: Berhalter’s future, Son’s goal drought and what’s next for Messi?
"The league is back in play after a six-week pause for the World Cup. We spotlight seven players to watch after their stints with their national teams The 2026 MLS season resumes Thursday, cleverly holding its return on the days between the World Cup semi-finals and third-place game. Fans of any of the league’s 30 teams will be trying to recall the state of affairs after a six-week pause, with more than half of the regular season still to be played and the Leagues Cup further congesting the schedule. The league was curiously absent from the World Cup, only cited during the broadcasts viewed by millions if a commentator named an involved player’s club and whose reach largely depended on the in-market efforts of its franchises. And yet, through the quarter-finals, MLS ranked sixth in total minutes by its players, the highest of any league outside Europe’s big five. Twenty-two of MLS’s 30 clubs had at least one man make a tournament squad. Continue reading...
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