On a chilly winter day in Fresno, California, a group of friends gathers to play soccer at a local park. This has evolved into an annual ritual for a collective of 10 to 12 players, mostly from the United Soccer League (USL), who train together in the offseason to maintain fitness as the new year approaches. With a spirit of friendly competition, these sessions offer a crucial boost for those eyeing their goals for 2026.
Kicking and pursuing the ball across the modest public green space, many are on the lookout for new contracts in the lower leagues, while others simply aim to keep fit. But what about one notable player in attendance?
“Everyone’s basically grinding for something,” said U.S. men’s national team member Max Arfsten to ESPN. “For me, it’s trying to make the World Cup.”
With only months remaining until this year’s significant tournament, Arfsten’s preparations for 2026 began right here with his close friends in his hometown. The Columbus Crew fullback found himself frequently stopped by kids wanting photos after his practices. With his MLS season ending in early November and starting again on February 21, the 24-year-old draws upon a powerful motivation common among athletes: not wanting to lose to friends.
“Every time you play against the guys from your hometown … you kind of innately want to prove your worth,” Arfsten said. “You want to be the top dog in the city that you’re from.”
This mentality has kept Arfsten sharp during a slow period leading up to what is expected to be a pivotal 2026. In fact, players who missed the playoffs last year face a four-month gap without official MLS matches, with preseason training now in full effect. though the league plans to adopt a more globally aligned summer-to-spring calendar in 2027, shortening the offseason, there is currently a clear void of competitive games.
While this break is essential for recovery and regrouping, its timing complicates matters. Just weeks after MLS’s 2026 season kicks off, the USMNT will have its final international window before head coach Mauricio Pochettino finalizes his World Cup roster. but, the United States’ top stars in European leagues will be in the midst of their campaigns, enjoying match fitness that their domestic-based counterparts may struggle to match.
As the World Cup nears, Arfsten is not alone in seeking extra offseason training. In St. Louis, Missouri, his Columbus teammate Patrick Schulte has assembled a group to keep himself sharp.
“There’s four or five of my buddies that I grew up playing with or went to college with who all live here in the offseason, and we gather a good group,” said the goalkeeper, who, like Arfsten, thrives off a friendly sense of rivalry.
“I don’t want to get scored on by my friends because I won’t hear the end of it,” Schulte joked about his energetic sessions back home. “As a goalkeeper, some of my buddies are forwards. I just want them to know, ‘Hey, if we ever play, you got no chance.’
Schulte and his team have regularly trained this offseason at St. Louis Scott Gallagher SC, where the national team goalkeeper honed his skills at a young age, similar to Arfsten’s group. They also explored local parks, sometimes drawing up to 30 players, including amateur academy prospects looking to challenge the 24-year-old, who is vying for a World Cup spot.
“We have MLS guys, players in the USL, and those in [reserve] MLS Next Pro,” Schulte listed.
Meanwhile, fellow national team member Alex Freeman spent part of his MLS offseason at Fort Lauderdale’s SAT Soccer, a program known for tailored training regimens for elite players. According to the organization, other MLS veterans like Josef Martínez, Telasco Segovia, Juanjo Purata, and Tadeo Allende have also come there ahead of 2026.
“A lot of people in the offseason come to that spot,” Freeman said to ESPN about Fort Lauderdale. “Many guys ask me about training, and we form a small group to catch up and train together, helping us improve on what we need.”
Individual training is crucial as well. While Freeman — set to leave Orlando City SC for Villarreal in LaLiga this winter, according to a source — focused on fitness, Arfsten emphasized improvements in his specific wingback skills: “defending, working on crossing, deep crossing.” Schulte pointed out he had more offseason sessions than usual with a goalkeeping coach he grew up with.
Jack McGlynn, a USMNT midfielder for Houston Dynamo who underwent foot surgery in October, concentrated on a reflective approach to individual growth.
“A lot of mental work. When you’re injured, you have ample time to think and reflect on your season, identifying areas for improvement,” McGlynn shared with ESPN in late 2025. “I’ve been watching film on all our games to pinpoint my weaknesses, and I can’t wait to return to the field because I know I will be much improved.”
McGlynn has now returned to full fitness. Just a few days ago, he scored during a preseason match, aiming to impress Pochettino before the call-up.
since March’s international window is likely the final audition for the USMNT before the World Cup roster is decided, the tough truth for these MLS-based national team hopefuls is that they must hit the ground running when the league resumes in mid-February.
In the short term, this could be seen as a disadvantage. yet, for those MLS players who secure a World Cup spot, could being in midseason form — as opposed to entering the tournament after a grueling European club season — actually provide an advantage for the USMNT?
“You can view it both ways,” Freeman said. “Ideally, you might wish to have played more leading into January and February … but it also gives you the chance to perfect your game.”
“I don’t know. It’s a World Cup; everyone will bring their best,” Schulte noted regarding the potential midseason benefit. “We might be fresher and have fewer games in our legs, but at that point, with all the adrenaline involved, it likely won’t make much of a difference.”
For Cristian Roldan, a 30-year-old Seattle Sounders midfielder who has emerged as a surprising X factor for the national team, the impact of MLS players is clear.
“European players will likely have finished all their games … which can put them in a tough position,” he mentioned to media over the winter. “You’ll need to rely heavily on your entire squad, and there’s a definite advantage for us [in MLS] to enter fresh, capitalizing on the offseason and ramping up slowly … by summer you’re halfway through the season and in a strong position.”
According to Arfsten, it ultimately varies by player, but it wouldn’t surprise him if an MLS player gains a slight edge at the World Cup.
“It’s player-specific. depends the form you’re in,” the Columbus player said. “But regarding mental freshness, yes, I believe there will be more freshness from us.”
Perhaps the individual who propels the USMNT forward on the global stage this summer is someone who was just playing at your local park last month.
