ATLANTA, GEORGIA — The United States men's national team started no Major League Soccer players in its final group stage match against Iran at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the first time that had occurred at a World Cup since MLS began play in 1996.

MLS began play in 1996 as a promise made to FIFA by U.S. Soccer for the right to host the 1994 World Cup. When the United States traveled to France for the 1998 World Cup, the roster included 16 MLS players among its 22 members.

At the 1998 tournament, the United States started MLS players 21 times across three group-stage matches, an average of seven per starting lineup. The average declined at each subsequent World Cup the team contested.

In the 2002 World Cup, the United States started an average of 5.4 MLS players per match over five matches. That figure fell to 3.33 per match at the 2006 World Cup and to two per match at the 2010 World Cup.

At the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the United States started an average of 4.75 MLS players per match over four matches. By the 2022 World Cup, the average had dropped to one MLS player per starting lineup across the tournament before dropping to zero in the final group stage match against Iran.

Despite the decline in MLS starters in Qatar, MLS academies remained a source of player development for the squad. Of the 2022 USMNT roster, 16 players were products of MLS academies. Of 27 players deemed either on the squad or up for debate for the roster, 19 were developed by MLS academies.

MLS invests in developing domestic youth players and young talent from other parts of the Americas rather than pursuing the most expensive players.