The first day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup revealed a fact that did not go unnoticed by fans in the United States, Mexico, and the entire Hispanic community: players from Major League Soccer (MLS) had a larger presence and a more visible impact than those from Liga MX.
The most notable case was that of Lionel Messi. The captain of Argentina and star player for Inter Miami delivered one of the most impressive performances of the tournament’s opening round by scoring three goals in the Albiceleste’s victory over Algeria, cementing his status as one of the main attractions of the World Cup being held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
MLS is sending more players to the World Cup
The difference between the two leagues began with the announcement of the national team rosters.
According to the data provided, the MLS has 45 players participating in the 2026 World Cup, while Liga MX has 26 players.
This numerical advantage reflects the international growth the U.S. league has experienced in recent years.
Driven by the arrival of international figures and the development of local talent.
In addition to Messi, another MLS player who stood out on opening day was Petar Musa, a forward for FC Dallas.
The Croatian forward scored during Croatia’s 4-2 loss to England.
Becoming yet another player from the U.S. league to get on the scoreboard (Filed under: MLS dominates Liga MX in the World Cup).
More playing time and a more prominent role
MLS players logged 1,821 minutes of playing time during the first day of the World Cup.
Canada was the team that contributed the most players from the North American league, with five players in action.
The United States also had a significant number of players who are currently playing in the MLS.
Of the 45 players who play for clubs in the U.S. league, 26 took the field in the tournament’s opening matches.
Of those, 14 played the full 90 minutes.
One of the standout players was Rodrigo De Paul, who played the entire match for his national team (Filed under: MLS dominates Liga MX at the World Cup).
The most prominent case was that of Lionel Messi
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Here’s how the Liga MX fared
For its part, Liga MX had 19 players who saw action during the first matchday.
The breakdown of those players was as follows:
Nine against Mexico.
Three against Ecuador.
Three against Uruguay.
Three against Panama.
One with Colombia.
However, none of them managed to score a goal during the first few games of the tournament.
Among the players from Mexican clubs who did not see any playing time are:
Carlos Acevedo, Luis Romo, Guillermo Martínez, Alejandro Zendejas, Santiago Mele, Adalberto Carrasquilla, and Willer Ditta (Filed under: MLS Dominates Liga MX in the World Cup).
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