The 2026 World Cup is just around the corner, with Mexico vs South Africa kicking off the global competition tomorrow. With the focus on players representing their country, it can be easy for some to overlook that many players used the college pathway before turning pro and competing for a spot on their national team.
27 former college players from 14 different conferences (12 US college conferences and two in Canada) will be looking to make their mark on the global stage over the next several weeks.
Here is a list of players split by conference that will be featured on rosters in the 2026 World Cup:
ACC (8)
Sebastian Berhalter – USA – North Carolina
Mark McKenzie – USA – Wake Forest
Miles Robinson – USA – Syracuse
Joe Bell – New Zealand – Virginia
Alistair Johnston – Canada – Wake Forest
Tajon Buchanon – Canada – Syracuse
Mohammad Abualnadi – Jordan – Pittsburgh
Derrick Etienne Jr – Haiti – Virginia
America East (1)
Moise Bombito – Canada – New Hampshire
Atlantic 10 (1)
Tim Ream – USA – Saint Louis
Big East (3)
Richie Laryea – Canada – Akron
Cyle Larin – Canada – Connecticut (pictured above)
Tani Oluwaseyi – Canada – Saint John’s
Big 10 (3)
Cristian Roldan – USA – Washington
Dayne St. Clair – Canada – Maryland
Jacen Russell-Rowe – Canada – Maryland
Big West (2)
Max Arfsten – USA – UC Davis (joining Mountain West)
Michael Boxall – New Zealand – UC Santa Barbara
CAA (1)
Hjalmar Ekdal – Sweden – UNC Wilmington
Horizon League (1)
Jesse Randall – New Zealand – Northern Kentucky
Ivy League (2)
Matt Freese – USA – Harvard
Duke Lacroix – Haiti – Penn
MAAC (1)
Matt Turner – USA – Fairfield
NEC (1)
Francis de Vries – New Zealand – Saint Francis (joining PAC in DIII)
Sun Belt (1)
Frantzdy Pierrot – Haiti – Coastal Carolina
Canadian Conferences – Canada West and OUA (2)
Joel Waterman – Canada – Trinity Western (Canada West)
Niko Sigur – Canada – York (OUA)
