On March 24, 2023, the United States men's national team secured a 7-1 victory against Grenada, with standout performances from Weston McKennie, Ricardo Pepi, and Christian Pulisic. Notably, this match marked a historic moment as, for the first time since Major League Soccer's inception in 1996, no player from the U.S. first division featured in the game-day roster.
This shift in player composition reflects a changing landscape in American soccer, where the influence of current MLS players on the national team appears to be diminishing. While MLS and USL Championship continue to play a crucial role in player development, the number of MLS representatives in recent World Cup squads has declined over the years.
