On a chilly winter day in Fresno, California, a group of friends gathers to play soccer at a local park. This has become an annual tradition for a team of 10 to 12 players, mostly from the United Soccer League (USL), who train together during the offseason to stay fit as they prepare for the new year. The friendly competition creates a vibrant atmosphere, providing an essential boost for those eyeing goals for 2026.
As they kick and chase the ball across the modest park, some players are vying for new contracts in lower leagues, while others simply aim to maintain their fitness levels. Among them is a notable figure:
“Everyone’s basically grinding for something,” said Max Arfsten of the U.S. men’s national team in an interview with ESPN. “For me, it’s making the World Cup.”
With just months left until this year’s significant tournament, Arfsten has kickstarted his 2026 preparations alongside friends in his hometown. The fullback for the Columbus Crew was frequently interrupted by kids asking for photos after practice. Having wrapped up his MLS season in early November, and with the next one commencing on February 21, the 24-year-old finds motivation from a classic athlete’s drive: the desire not to let his friends win.
“Every time you play against the guys from your hometown, you naturally want to prove yourself,” Arfsten explained. “You strive to be the best in the city you come from.”
This determination is vital for Arfsten as he navigates a slow period leading up to 2026. Players who didn’t qualify for last year’s playoffs will face a four-month absence from official MLS matches before preseason camps resume. Although the league is shifting to a globally aligned summer-to-spring calendar in 2027, creating a summer offseason and shortening the winter break, right now, there is a clear gap in competitive play.
While this break allows players to recover and regroup, the timing poses challenges, as just weeks after the MLS 2026 season kicks off, USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino will finalize his World Cup roster decisions during one last international window. Meanwhile, the United States’ standout stars playing in European leagues will be deeply entrenched in their campaigns, maintaining a fitness level that their domestic counterparts may struggle to match.
As the World Cup approaches, Arfsten isn’t the only one putting in extra offseason work. In St. Louis, Missouri, his Columbus teammate Patrick Schulte has also gathered a group to help sharpen his skills.
“I have a few friends from my youth and college days who all live here during the offseason, and we form a great training group,” said the goalkeeper, who, like Arfsten, thrives on friendly competition.
“I really don’t want to get scored on by my friends because I won’t hear the end of it,” Schulte joked about his lively sessions. “As a goalkeeper facing forwards during practice, I want them to know, ‘If we ever play together, you’ve got no chance.'”
Schulte and his crew regularly trained at St. Louis Scott Gallagher SC, where he honed his skills as a youth. Similar to Arfsten’s group, they often took their sessions to local parks, sometimes amassing as many as 30 players, including aspiring non-professional academy prospects seeking to challenge the 24-year-old who aims for a World Cup spot.
“We train alongside MLS players, USL guys, and players from MLS Next Pro,” Schulte noted.
In Florida, fellow national team member Alex Freeman is also hardworking during the MLS offseason, attending customized training sessions at Fort Lauderdale’s SAT Soccer, which caters to elite players. According to the program, other MLS players like Josef Martínez, Telasco Segovia, Juanjo Purata, and Tadeo Allende have also trained there ahead of 2026.
“Many offseason athletes gravitate towards that training spot,” Freeman shared with ESPN. “It’s great when other players text me about their training sessions, allowing us to regroup and focus on our skills together.”
Individual training is crucial as well. While Freeman prepares to transition from Orlando City SC to Villarreal in LaLiga this winter as reported by ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle, he emphasizes fitness routines. Arfsten has also focused on enhancements relevant to his wingback role, such as “defending, working on crossing, deep crossing.” Schulte has been dedicated to increased sessions with a goalkeeper coach he’s known for years.
Houston Dynamo midfielder and USMNT player Jack McGlynn, who underwent foot surgery in October, has adopted a more introspective approach to individual improvement.
“I’ve been focusing on mental preparation,” McGlynn mentioned to ESPN at the end of 2025. “When you’re injured, you have plenty of time to reflect on the season and identify areas for growth. I’ve been reviewing film of our games to pinpoint where I can improve, and I’m excited to return to the field because I know I’ll be a better player.”
McGlynn has now regained full fitness. Recently, as he aims to show Pochettino he deserves a call-up, he scored during a preseason match.
As March’s international window approaches—likely the last opportunity for USMNT hopefuls to impress before the World Cup roster is finalized—MLS players must hit the ground running once the league kicks off in mid-February.
In the immediate term, this could put MLS players at a disadvantage. However, those who secure a spot on the World Cup roster might find that being in midseason form offers a unique edge, compared to entering the tournament post-intense club seasons in Europe.
“You can see it from both angles,” Freeman remarked. “Ideally, playing more leading into January and February might be beneficial, but it also gives time to perfect our skills.”
“I’m not sure,” added Schulte about the potential benefits of being in midseason form. “It’s a World Cup; every player will be in peak condition. We may be fresher with fewer matches under our belts, but in such a high-stakes event, adrenaline can change everything.”
For Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan, a 30-year-old veteran, the significance of MLS players is undeniable.
“European players will finish their seasons before the World Cup, making their situation tricky,” he noted during winter media sessions. “We’ll depend entirely on our squad, and MLS players could benefit from being fresh and ready at the right time, leveraging the offseason before gradually ramping up in preparation for the tournament.”
If Arfsten had to choose, he’d see it as a case-by-case scenario. However, he wouldn’t be surprised if players from MLS gained a slight edge at the World Cup.
“It really depends on the individual. It’s all about a player’s current form,” said the Columbus athlete. “But overall, when it comes to mental freshness, yes, we’ll likely have that advantage.”
Perhaps the player who propels the USMNT forward on the global stage this summer spent last month playing at your local park.