Team by Team Breakdown

Atlanta United

CB, Noah Cobb (2005)

Cobb won’t be a starting center-back in Ronny Deila’s four man defensive line, but he is likely the first center-back off of the bench if one of the starters is not available. He’ll likely get some minutes due to injury and card accumulations. If he takes his chance when it comes, he could earn a starting spot at some point this season. 

WING, Luke Brennan (2005)

Atlanta spent a lot of money on attackers this offseason and while Brennan is likely fourth in the winger depth chart, he should get sub and rotational minutes throughout the season. 

Austin FC

CM, Owen Wolff (2004)

Austin brought in some midfield depth, but I think Wolff is a very good fit for Nico Estevez’s 4-3-3 system and could be ready for a breakout season. I expect him to win the starting position and have the best season of his young career. 

WING, C.J. Fodrey (2004)

Fodrey won’t be a critical piece to Austin’s attack, but he will get some sub and rotational minutes as the fourth winger. 

Charlotte FC

WING, Nimfasha Berchimas (2008)

Right now, it looks like Berchimas is fourth or fifth in the winger depth chart, so it may be another season in MLS Next Pro. He turns 18 early next year, and he will then be eligible for Europe where he already has a lot of admirers. Maybe Charlotte finds a first team role for him this year to try and increase his value?

Chicago Fire

GK, Chris Brady (2004)

Brady will be the starting goal keeper for the third year in a row for Chicago Fire. After a strong rookie season, his performance took a little bit of a dip last year amongst a porous Chicago defense overall. Brady needs a bounce back year to look again  like one of the top American keeper prospects most thought he was. 

CM, Sergio Oregel (2005)

If preseason is any indication, Oregel may have a significant role in Gregg Berhalter’s 4-3-3 system this year. Oregel has yet to do much of anything on the first team, but he’s been playing very well in preseason and is competing for a starting job. 

FC Cincinnati

AM, Gerardo Valenzuela (2004)

Valenzuela became a reliable substitute attacker last season and while he isn’t expected to get a lot of minutes once Evander’s transfer is made official, he will get spot time and is only an injury away from significant minutes at the attacking midfield position. 

CF, Stefan Chirilă (2007)

I don't expect Chirilă to get a ton of minutes this year, but he might get some end of game minutes when FCC is trying to chase a goal. If he makes the most of his opportunities, his role could increase over the course of the season.

Colorado Rapids

LB, Jackson Travis (2004)

Travis will backup veteran Sam Vines and should get spot minutes throughout the year.

CF, Darren Yapi (2004)

Yapi will back up Rafael Navarro and can also eat minutes on the wing. Like any young striker, he needs to seize the minutes he gets and score goals. If he does, he could wiggle his way into a bigger role. 

Columbus Crew

CM, Taha Habroune (2006)

Habroune will need to beat out Derrick Jones to have a more consistent rotational role in Columbus’ midfield. If he doesn’t, minutes will be hard to come by. 

D.C. United

CM/RM, Jackson Hopkins (2004)

Hopkins is injured and will likely miss the first chunk of the year, but when he returns, he figures to have a moderate role as a central or wide midfielder. 

WING, Fidel Barajas (2006)

Barajas is going to D.C. United on loan from Chivas for the 2025 season. D.C. does not have a ton of attacking weapons, so Barajas should get a chance to earn a prominent role and have a big impact this season. 

WING/AM, Gavin Turner (2007)

Turner is one, if not the top talent in D.C. 's academy. D.C. United does not have a ton of talent in attack aside from Christian Benteke, so there could be space for Turner to make a pretty immediate impact if he has the trust of head coach Troy Lesesne. D.C. United had to fight off interest from English Premier League clubs to sign Turner, so they likely made a pretty compelling pitch to get him to stay. 

FC Dallas

LB/DM/CB, Nolan Norris (2005)

Norris isn’t going to start anywhere, but his versatility will likely get him on the field from time to time. He will be LB2 and also an option in Dallas’ double pivot. 

WING, Tarik Scott (2005)

Scott looks like he is going to be the fourth winger on the depth chart, but if he can capitalize on the few opportunities he does get, he could parlay that into a more consistent role. He has the talent to do it. 

Houston Dynamo

DM/CM, Brooklyn Raines (2005)

Raines should be starting in MLS somewhere, but it appears as though he will be one of the first midfielders off of the bench for Houston, similar to his role last year. He is one injury away from being a starter and perhaps he shows well enough to force his way into the starting eleven. 

Sporting Kansas City

I don’t expect any United States eligible players born 2004 or later to have a role with Sporting KC this season.

LAFC

DM/CM, Jude Terry (2008)

Terry is the most talented homegrown that LAFC has ever signed, however LAFC homegrown players have struggled to get on the field. If Terry can’t do it, it’s a serious indictment on the pathway. While Terry is probably a year away,  he might be able to carve out a midfield role in the second half of the season if he shows out in MLS Next Pro. 

LA Galaxy

AM/WING/CF, Ruben Ramos (2007)

Ramos probably isn’t quite ready to have a significant first team role, but he may need to become ready. His ability to play all attacking positions and LA Galaxy’s injury issues could force him into significant minutes early in the season. If he does well, he could solidify a long term role.

Inter Miami

LB/CB, Noah Allen (2004)

Allen has shown that he can be a useful player at both center-back and left-back, though left-back is clearly his stronger position. He will once again back up legend Jordi Alba, but those old legs will need rest and Allen will get plenty of opportunities to play. 

CM, Benjamin Cremaschi (2005)

It’s not a 100% certain that Cremaschi will be an out and out starter, but it’s looking like he will start a large volume of games and should put up decent numbers with the talent that he has around him. 

Minnesota United

Minnesota United does not have a single United States eligible U-21 player on their first team roster.

CF Montreal

I don’t expect any United States eligible players born 2004 or later to have a role with Montreal this season.

Nashville SC

DM/CM, Matthew Corcoran (2006)

I don’t believe Corcoran and his camp would have signed if they didn’t believe he would have a significant role this season. He may not start right away, but I expect him to get rotational minutes and he could earn a starting spot at some point this season. 

New England Revolution

LB/WING, Peyton Miller (2007)

Outside of Cavan Sullivan, there is not a more exciting young American player to track in MLS this season than Peyton Miller. Miller was injured during the first part of the season, but became a starter at just 16 in the latter half of the year and looked like a difference maker. Miller should be the nailed on starter for New England this year at just 17. Miller turns 18 after the 2025 MLS Season completes and if he takes another step forward, Miller will likely have some big offers from big clubs in next year’s January window. 

CM, Noel Buck (2005)

Buck looked like a star on the rise two seasons ago, but his star has dimmed a bit and it looks like he will be a rotational starter/consistent sub for New England this year. If he can get back to his 2023 form, he will be one of the top young players in MLS this year. 

New York Red Bulls

DM, Adri Mehmeti (2009)

Mehmeti is super young, but super talented. He may not be ready quite yet, but I would not be surprised if he started to get minutes in the second half of the season. 

WING/CF, Serge Ngoma (2005)

If Ngoma can stay healthy, he will have a super sub type role on this team.

WING/CF, Julian Hall (2008)

TktkHall proved that he can be impactful off of the bench last year, scoring three goals. Is he ready for a more consistent role? 

NYCFC

RB, Drew Baiera (2007)

He is likely the fourth full-back to start the season, but he is super talented and I think he is ready to take the jump from MLS Next Pro to MLS, so hopefully NYCFC find minutes for him and he can take his chance. 

CM, Jonny Shore (2007)

Shore is similar to Baiera, he doesn’t have an immediate role, but it’s going to be hard to continue to keep him in MLS Next Pro. His versatility could help him find a role on the first team at some point this year.

AM, Maximo Carrizo (2008)

Carrizo is ready to move up from MLS Next Pro, but the question is if there are minutes on the first team for him. He should get his chance at some point and it will be on him to show that he is ready for the opportunity. 

Orlando City

RB, Alex Freeman (2004)

If not now, when? Orlando moved Michael Halliday to Houston Dynamo. There are still veterans in the mix, but Freeman has dominated MLS Next Pro and is ready to be a MLS contributorIs this the year Orlando finally gives him an opportunity to start?

Philadelphia Union

CB, Neil Pierre (2007)

Top players find their way onto the field. Pierre isn’t going to be a starter right away, but he may get a spot start here and there and if he shines, he may not look back. 

CM, Quinn Sullivan (2004)

Sullivan had a breakout season last year and now looks to be one of Philly’s most important players. Another step forward could be his ticket to Europe. 

AM, C.J. Olney (2006)

It was looking like Olney would get some substitute and rotational minutes in the third line of Philly’s 4-2-2-2 behind Gazdag and Quinn Sullivan, but with Philadelphia signing Indiana Vassilev, those minutes might now be harder to come by.

AM, Cavan Sullivan (2009)

The MLS has not had a more hyped prospect in their league since Freddy Adu. All signs point to Cavan Sullivan having a role with the first team this year. The question is, how big? I expect him to be a consistent sub to start the season and if he has a big impact with the time he gets, his role will likely increase. 

Portland Timbers

I don’t expect any United States eligible players born 2004 or later to have a role with the Portland Timbers this season.

Real Salt Lake

CB, Kobi Henry (2004)

Henry was brought over on loan from French club Reims, and will likely be a backup to start the year, though he did get the start in RSL's Concacaf Champions Cup match this week. Perhaps he is being prepped for a larger role?

AM, Owen Anderson (2007)

RSL have a lot of players on their roster and it’s not super clear how the front four attackers are going to be deployed outside of Diego Luna. Anderson might have a chance to carve out a role. 

WING, Zavier Gozo (2007)

Technically, I don’t think Gozo is ready, but as I said before, RSL’s attacking group is convoluted and Gozo might find himself getting some minutes. 

San Diego FC

I don’t expect any United States eligible players born 2004 or later to have a role with San Diego FC this season.

San Jose Earthquakes

RB/LB, Oscar Verhoeven (2006)

Verhoeven earned a run of starts at the end of last season, but new manager Bruce Arena brought in some veterans at full-back and they will likely get the first crack at starting. If Verhoeven does well in training and takes advantage of the opportunities he gets, he could earn a starting spot at either full-back position at some point this year. 

CM/AM, Niko Tsakiris (2005)

Tsakiris is likely coming into the season as a starter, hopefully in a more advanced role than last year. If Arena uses him properly, he will likely be one of the more impactful young Americans in MLS this year. 

Seattle Sounders

RB/LB, Reed Baker-Whiting (2006)

Baker-Whiting will likely start out as the third full-back behind veterans Alex Roldan and Nouhou, but he’ll get spot starts and could force his way into a more consistent starting role. I thought last year was a bit of a setback for him in terms of development. He needs to take a significant step forward this year. 

St. Louis City

I don’t expect any United States eligible players born 2004 or later to have a role with St. Louis City this season.

Toronto FC

I don’t expect any United States eligible players born 2004 or later to have a role with Toronto FC this season.

Vancouver Whitecaps

I don’t expect any United States eligible players born 2004 or later to have a role with the Vancouver Whitecaps this season.