ST. LOUIS —

It’s known that several prominent members of the U.S. men’s national team are not getting as much playing time with their European club teams as they would prefer this season.

Consequently, some of these players are pondering how their prospects of remaining on the USMNT leading up to the co-hosted 2026 World Cup would be affected if they were to shift to MLS, which may have a lower competition level but offers a better chance for playing time as the largest sporting event approaches.

“Some players asked me about whether MLS is a good platform for them to compete,” said U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino. “I conveyed that for me, it doesn’t matter if they play in the U.K.’s Premier League, or in La Liga in Spain, or they’re playing in Argentina or Mexico.”

“Lionel Messi is the best player in the world, and he’s playing here. After getting to know the MLS, it’s not easy to play here.”

Most players on the squad preparing for the crucial rematch with the Reggae Boyz generally receive their paychecks overseas. Although 13 of the 25 players selected by Pochettino this month were developed through MLS academies, merely four are currently participating in the league.

“You can see the progress in the national team,” stated forward Tim Weah, who plays for Juventus alongside U.S. teammate Weston McKennie. “Pretty much everyone’s playing in Europe, and I think that’s essential for the sport to grow here.”

Pochettino believes competing weekly in MLS is more advantageous than being a benchwarmer in major leagues. He emphasized this point when recounting a chat about MLS with LAFC’s Hugo Lloris.

“He said it’s a very competitive league, with good discipline and strong training protocols,” Pochettino noted. “So why not? For me, they have the same opportunities [of representing the USMNT] in MLS as in the Premier League, La Liga, Belgium, or France. It’s vital for them to understand that both privately and publicly.”