MLS: a truly international league

It is always said that soccer is the most international of sports and it is true. We only have to look at the statistics of Major League Soccer to be convinced. The 700 or so players come from 70 nations.

Indeed, all continents are represented within the 26 teams of the Garber circuit.

Unsurprisingly, the United States dominate with 329 players, but it’s still less than half of the squad, which is saying a lot in a league that has a limit of international players.

However, it must be said that many international players are not counted as such since they have obtained the famous green card, the American work permit which ensures that a player no longer occupies an international place despite his origins.

Latin America

After the United States, Canada is the second largest supplier of MLS with 47 representatives.

No one is going to fall out of their chair when they hear that Latin America is supplying a lot of players to the North American Premier Tour.

Argentina are still a leader with 36 players. The country of « Nacho » Piatti is followed by Brazil (19), Colombia (15), Venezuela (12), Uruguay (11) and Mexico (11).

It is therefore a trend that continues. Latin American players enjoy playing in MLS for several reasons, including the peace they find there and the favorable financial conditions.

Resurgence

However, we have been witnessing a European resurgence in recent years.

This is how France ranks fourth among the most represented countries with 21 citizens scattered across the MLS. The Impact is the team with the most with five.

England (16), Germany (12), the Netherlands (12), Sweden (8) and Spain (7) are also fairly well represented.

The countries of the African continent are also prominent. Ghana comes first with 11 players.

In all, there are 33 players of African origin in the MLS.

International team

We tend to think that Los Angeles FC is more focused on the Spanish-speaking clientele of the greater LA area, yet they are the most multicultural team in the league with 16 countries represented.

Strangely, the other side of the Californian metropolis, the Galaxy, are on the other end of the spectrum with just seven flags among their players.

As for players of Canadian origin, they are mainly present in Canadian teams.

The Vancouver Whitecaps lead the parade with 12 Canadians against 10 for the Impact and Toronto FC.

Eight of the 10 Canadians wearing the blue-white-black jersey are from Quebec.

Only one other Quebecer is on the circuit, it is goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau, of the Whitecaps.

Where the players come from

• United States: 329
• Canada: 47
• Argentina: 36
• France: 21
• Brazil: 19
• England: 16
• Colombia: 15
• Germany: 12
• Costa Rica: 12
• Netherlands: 12
• Venezuela: 12
• Ghana: 11
• Mexico: 11
• Uruguay: 11
• Sweden: 8
• Spain: 7
• Honduras: 7
• Peru: 7
• Chile: 6
• Scotland: 6
• New Zealand: 6
• Croatia: 5
• Ecuador: 5
• Finland: 4
• Jamaica: 4
• Nigeria: 4
• Paraguay: 4
• Poland: 4
• Portugal: 4
• Slovenia: 4
• Switzerland: 4
• Cameroon: 3
• Cuba: 3
• Denmark: 3
• Ireland: 3
• Norway: 3
• Serbia: 3
• Slovakia: 3
• Trinidad and Tobago: 3
• Belgium: 2
• Salvador: 2
• Guinea-Bissau: 2
• Haiti: 2
• Hungary: 2
• Japan: 2
• Panama: 2
• Angola: 1
• Austria: 1
• Belize: 1
• Bolivia: 1
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: 1
• South Korea: 1
• Egypt: 1
• Estonia: 1
• Gambia: 1
• Iraq: 1
• Iceland: 1
• Israel: 1
• Kenya: 1
• Liberia: 1
• Libya: 1
• Martinique: 1
• Uganda: 1
• Rep. Democratic Republic of the Congo: 1
• Czech Republic: 1
• Romania: 1
• Rwanda: 1
• Senegal: 1
• Sierra Leone: 1
• Tunisia: 1