How does the MLS draft work? A complete guide for new fans

An explainer on the MLS SuperDraft, how college players enter the league, what the draft order is based on, and how it compares to drafts in the NFL, NBA, and NHL. Aimed at soccer fans unfamiliar with the American draft system.

If you've grown up watching European football, the concept of a draft takes some getting used to. Clubs don't bid against each other for players, and they don't negotiate fees. Instead, once a year, they take turns selecting from a pool of eligible players in a set order, with the weakest teams picking first. 

It's designed to maintain competitive balance, and it's been part of American sports culture for decades. In MLS, it's called the SuperDraft, and here's how it works.

What is the MLS SuperDraft and who is eligible?

The MLS SuperDraft is an annual event where all 30 MLS clubs take turns selecting players from a pool of eligible amateurs, mostly college footballers. It takes place in December and consists of three rounds, giving each club three selections before trades alter the picture.

The pool of eligible players is primarily made up of college players from the NCAA who are sophomores or above. Players who left college early to play professionally in domestic leagues like USL can also be drafted, as can certain international players made specifically available by the league.

One thing that catches people out is what being drafted actually means. Unlike the NFL or NBA, where a first round pick guarantees a contract, being selected in the MLS SuperDraft is essentially an invitation to preseason training. The club has to then decide whether to sign the player. 

The Generation Adidas programme adds another layer. Elite young players identified by MLS before the draft can be signed to pre-draft contracts sponsored by Adidas, which fast-tracks them into the league with more financial security than a standard draft pick receives.

How the draft order is decided

The draft order follows the same basic logic as most American sports drafts. The worst performing teams pick first, the best teams pick last. Expansion clubs entering the league for the first time get the number one overall pick, which is how San Diego FC opened the 2025 SuperDraft with the first selection.

After expansion teams, the remaining picks are ordered by the previous season's regular season points per game, with non-playoff clubs going before playoff clubs. Teams eliminated in the same round of the playoffs are then separated by regular season points per game. The MLS Cup winners pick last, the runners-up pick second to last.

Picks can be traded, which is a familiar format for anyone used to watching NFL draft coverage. Clubs stockpile picks, move up or down the order, and sometimes trade picks across multiple future drafts in exchange for immediate squad needs. Colorado Rapids held four first-round picks in the 2026 SuperDraft as a result of various trades.

The most successful MLS draft picks in history

The draft has produced some genuinely great players, though the academy system has gradually scaled back as the primary talent pipeline.

Tajon Buchanan, picked ninth overall in 2019, is one of the best examples of a draft pick turning into a successful international player. He became a regular for the Canadian national team, went to the 2022 World Cup, and later moved to Club Brugge in Belgium. He is exactly the kind of player the draft is designed to find.

Duncan McGuire was picked in the 2023 draft and immediately became one of the most clinical strikers in MLS, scoring 13 goals in his debut season and winning MLS Rookie of the Year. Daniel Pereira, the number one pick in 2021, developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the league and became a regular for Venezuela at international level.

The draft has also produced its share of busts, which is part of what makes it entertaining to follow. The gap between a successful college career and a professional one is significant, and plenty of big picks have disappeared quickly. That unpredictability is part of what keeps the annual event worth watching.

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The SuperDraft is one of the quirks that makes MLS different from European football, and once you understand how it works it becomes a really interesting event to follow every year. Keep track of all the key stories and results throughout the season. Download now!