Major League Soccer has become one of North America’s premier development platforms for young players, and the 2026 season is offering another look at the league’s next wave. It’s no longer just teens and guys in their early 20s getting spot minutes, there are several who are becoming key contributors for their clubs.
A huge part of that has been the growth of the MLS academy system. MLS NEXT continues to send players to MLS rosters, with more than 160 throughout the league, including 30 Homegrown Players who have already made their league debuts. The league’s pathway to the top is also producing players who are attracting the attention of clubs in Europe and national sides.
Here are five MLS prospects that have given fans plenty of reasons to watch the 2026 action.
1. Cavan Sullivan
There are not many MLS youth soccer players that have generated more buzz than Cavan Sullivan. The midfielder has come through the club’s academy system and set the record for the youngest player to debut in MLS in 2024.
His 2026 season has been something else. Sullivan scored his first MLS goal in May, and has since continued to contribute goals and assists while assuming a bigger role for Philadelphia. Through Sept. 6, Sullivan had contributed to 11 MLS goals, with 4 goals and 7 assists. He has also broken the league record for goal involvements for a player aged 16 or under.
Sullivan’s technical ability, creativity and confidence make him one of the most promising future stars to come out of the American development system.
2. Julian Hall
Another big name in the discussion of America’s young soccer talent is Julian Hall. The New York Red Bulls striker has grown up in one of MLS’s best established youth pipelines and made an early impact in the 2026 season. Hall’s attacking prowess and willingness to go toe-to-toe with defenders has allowed him to shine despite his age.
The Red Bulls have a long history of giving academy players opportunities and Hall’s progression is another example of how the club’s development model can help push young talent into the first-team environment.
3. Zavier Gozo
Real Salt Lake midfielder Zavier Gozo is another young American to watch. Gozo has emerged as one of the most promising young players in MLS and has earned recognition as one of the top American talents in the league. His growth is especially intriguing because Real Salt Lake has built a reputation for giving young players chances.
For fans keeping an eye on MLS prospects, Gozo is the kind of player that could move from promising teenager to established first-team contributor in the next few seasons.
4. Aiden Hezarkhani
Another emerging talent for Real Salt Lake is Aiden Hezarkhani, who has already proven that young players can make an immediate impact in MLS. The 18-year-old midfielder scored his first MLS goal in the 2026 season, with an assist from another young player, Luca Moisa. That moment was a microcosm of a larger early-season trend of teenagers playing increasingly bigger roles around the league. With Hezarkhani’s arrival, Real Salt Lake has another young player to develop alongside its existing talent pool.
5. Luca Moisa
Another name to add to the list of rising MLS talent is Luca Moisa. The midfielder has been around Real Salt Lake’s first team environment at a young age and was directly involved in Hezarkhani’s first MLS goal in the 2026 campaign.
The fact that these young players come from the same club is a telling sign of a key characteristic of modern MLS: development is less and less about finding proven international stars and more and more about setting up a pathway from academy to professional football.
