Jakarta Aktual – 17 June 2026 | The 2026 FIFA World Cup has kicked off, and MLS players are making their mark on the tournament. As the competition heats up, fans are eager to see how their favorite teams and players will perform. With the US Men’s National Team competing, all eyes are on the MLS stars who will be representing their country on the world stage. Bradley Wright-Phillips, a former MLS Golden Boot winner, has been sharing his insights on the tournament, including his thoughts on the atmosphere in the US and the prospects of the USMNT.
Wright-Phillips, who has lived in New Jersey for 13 years, has noticed a difference in the pre-tournament buzz compared to his native England. However, he believes that once the games begin, the excitement will build, and the party will start. He has also seen an influx of England fans in the city, and while there may be concerns about crowd trouble, he thinks the US is well-equipped to handle large events.
Meanwhile, Mark Franek, a former lawyer, has been teaching the history of US soccer to the future of US soccer. He left his law career to return to the classroom and is now teaching at YSC, a high school for elite boys’ soccer players. Franek’s students include Cavan Sullivan, a 16-year-old who already plays for the Union and has a deal to play for Manchester City in the English Premier League when he turns 18. Sullivan may be the future of American soccer, and Franek is determined to inspire him and his fellow students to learn about the history of the sport.
Kansas City is also making a name for itself as a soccer hub, with the city hosting several World Cup teams, including Argentina, England, and the Netherlands. The metro area has the most base camps for any single location in the tournament, and MLS clubs in the area have a strong hold on the sport. Ecuador’s base camp is set in Ohio, while Nashville is hosting Japan, demonstrating the growth of soccer in the middle part of the country.
In a historic moment for MLS, Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul made history together in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria. The two Inter Miami players combined for a goal, marking the first time outside of the US national team that two MLS players have scored together in World Cup history. Messi’s hat-trick helped him tie the all-time goal-scoring record in World Cup history, and De Paul’s assist was his fifth in seven games for both club and country since November 2025.
As the tournament continues, all eyes will be on the MLS stars who are representing their countries. With the USMNT competing, fans will be eager to see how they perform, and the success of MLS players like Messi and De Paul will only add to the excitement. The 2026 World Cup is shaping up to be an unforgettable tournament, and MLS is at the forefront of the action.
