Four hundred and seventy-four days. That’s the time remaining until the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It’s coming fast. After more than two decades, the World Cup returns to North America, and the landscape for football in these three countries is vastly different from what it was in 1994.
Football (soccer in the U.S.) is on the brink of a massive surge. It’s a sentiment almost everyone involved in the sport across North America shares. In the next 474 days, the game’s presence will grow exponentially, reaching new heights that have never been seen before.
This weekend, February 22, marked the beginning of the 2025 MLS season. With 30 clubs spread across the U.S. and Canada, it’s the league’s 30th year and the last full season before the World Cup. Meanwhile, Liga MX’s Clausura has already started, and the Canadian Premier League’s top tier kicks off in April.
In 1994, the World Cup arriving in the U.S. coincided with the infancy of Major League Soccer—a mere idea on paper needed to secure the tournament. Fast forward to today, and MLS is now vying with Europe’s biggest leagues, eager for the 2026 World Cup to act as a springboard, pushing the sport into new territories.
It’s a lot of pressure for such a short time, but it’s well-earned. The year 2025 is poised to be a landmark, laying the groundwork for the sport’s future in North America, especially leading into 2026.
Over the next year, MLS could witness some of the final appearances of Lionel Messi, while the league also considers transitioning to a winter schedule. Additionally, the FIFA 2025 Club World Cup will be held in the U.S., featuring teams like Inter Miami and Seattle Sounders, adding further excitement. The USL is also close to launching a new top-tier men’s division, which may rival MLS and introduce promotion and relegation to North America.
And that’s just the men’s professional scene. There’s also significant change happening in development programs, collegiate football, and the rise of women’s football in all three host nations.
It all kicks off with the 2025 MLS season, which promises to see fan support reach unprecedented levels.
And this is only the beginning.
“There’s no denying how much the sport is growing in this country,” says football enthusiast Enow AyukEgba. “I think there’s no doubt that the World Cup will have a huge impact on football’s popularity in the United States. This is a pivotal time for the sport.”
In 2024, over three million children in the U.S. were registered to play football, the most of any youth sport. In Canada, nearly one million children were playing, making football the most popular youth sport, surpassing hockey.
The MLS season typically runs from late February or early March through mid-October, with each team playing 34 games. The top team earns the Supporters’ Shield, and 18 teams advance to the postseason MLS Cup playoffs in late October and November, culminating in the championship game. Unlike many global football leagues, MLS has a fixed membership and doesn’t use a promotion and relegation system.
The 2025 MLS season is already underway, and Africa is well represented, with an impressive lineup of stars. Ghana leads with 14 players in the league, closely followed by Cameroon with nine.
As this year is also an AFCON year, Elume Raymond has compiled a guide to the African players to watch in MLS this season.
Cincinnati made a major move in November, spending $16.2 million to acquire forward Kevin Denkey from Cercle Brugge. The 23-year-old from Togo was the top scorer in the Belgian Pro League during the 2023-24 season, netting 27 goals. Denkey signed a designated player contract with Cincinnati that runs through 2028, with an option for 2029. His addition addresses a key need for the Supporters’ Shield contenders. A well-rounded forward, Denkey excels as an efficient finisher with both feet and his head, offers strong hold-up play, and has the movement and instincts of a second striker. He joins fellow internationals Obinna Nwobodo of Nigeria, Tan Anunga of Cameroon, and Teenage Hadebe of Zimbabwe for the 2025 season. Denkey showed he’s ready for MLS after scoring in his first competitive match for FC Cincinnati in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday. In the season opener against the New York Red Bulls, he scored the only goal in the 70th minute to secure all three points for his team, marking his arrival to the league.
Denis Bouanga is the biggest star at LAFC. Known for his blistering speed and exceptional one-on-one ability, he’s nearly unstoppable on the counterattack. But he’s also effective in more controlled possession sequences, showcasing his versatility. Bouanga is undoubtedly an MVP-caliber player. A familiar face in MLS, the Gabonese forward has been a lethal force in front of goal for Los Angeles FC. In 2024, he netted five braces, bringing his total to 21 goals in 36 matches, making him LAFC’s top scorer, ahead of Olivier Giroud. He came close to winning the Golden Boot, finishing just three goals behind DC United’s Christian Benteke. Bouanga has consistently averaged over 20 goals in his last two seasons in MLS. He shares the pitch with Ghana’s Yaw Yeboah and Cameroon’s Jeremy Ebobisse. Bouanga had a solid performance in LAFC’s opening game against Minnesota, creating a big chance and recording two shots on target, though he didn’t find the back of the net in 90 minutes.
One of the most highly-rated wingers in MLS, Bongokuhle Hlongwane recently secured his future with Minnesota United by signing a new contract in January. The South African star is now committed to the club until at least June 2027, helping the team fend off transfer interest for one of their top talents. Hlongwane enjoyed his best season to date in 2024, scoring 11 goals and providing four assists in 35 MLS appearances. He’s joined by Nigeria’s Jordan Adebayo-Smith and Togo’s Loic Mesanvi for the upcoming campaign. In their season opener against LAFC, Hlongwane played as a right back, but the team suffered a 1-0 defeat after Jeremy Ebobisse’s 78th-minute goal.
Yusuf’s 2024 MLS season was limited to just seven appearances after his move from Royal Antwerp in August through the injury replacement mechanism. However, the Nigerian midfielder is now ready to make an impact with his tackling, ball-winning abilities, and strong presence in New England’s midfield. His role as a box-to-box midfielder should strengthen the Revs’ defense, which struggled last season, conceding the most goals (74) in the Eastern Conference. Yusuf is joined by Cameroon’s Ignatius Ganago and Mali’s Mamadou Fofana. All three African players started in the season opener against a solid Nashville side, where they earned a hard-fought draw and, notably, kept a clean sheet.
Let’s say it together now… league-record transfer. Atlanta has secured Latte Lath from English club Middlesbrough for a reported $22 million, plus add-ons, setting a new league record. Over two seasons with the second-division club, he netted 29 goals in 67 appearances, and in the 2023-24 season, he finished as the Championship’s top scorer with 16 goals. The 26-year-old Ivorian striker will stay with Atlanta through 2028, with an option for 2029. Lath’s blistering speed is immediately eye-catching, but as certified scout Awah Moma pointed out, he’s much more than just pace. He ranks among the top six forwards in the EFL Championship in multiple categories, including goals per 90 minutes, non-penalty goals per 90, non-penalty xG per 90, post-shot xG per 90, and finishing quality per 90. With his combination of speed and skill, he will be a formidable threat in 2025. Lath made an immediate impact in his league debut against CF Montreal, scoring twice before being substituted in the 90th minute of their 3-2 victory. Senegal’s Jamal Thiare came on in the final seconds to help seal the win.
The winger was acquired by Chicago Fire from Spanish club Celta Vigo for a reported $2 million transfer fee. He has signed through 2028 and is a designated player for the club. Over the past two seasons with Celta Vigo, he scored three goals in 39 appearances. Bamba joins the Fire after impressing across France with Lille, Saint-Étienne, Angers, and Paris FC. Known for his speed, skill, and direct style of play, he brings both goals and assists, as seen during the preseason. A seasoned winner, Bamba was part of Côte d’Ivoire’s squad that claimed the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations title and also played a key role in Lille’s surprising 2020-21 Ligue 1 championship victory, which shocked Paris Saint-Germain and French football. As a 2023 AFCON champion, he is one of the exciting new faces in MLS this season. The pacey winger is expected to excite Chicago fans with his relentless work rate and will add even more offensive depth to the team. Bamba recorded two assists in the Fire’s 4-2 loss to Columbus Crew, while Mali’s Romingue Kouamé did not make the matchday squad.
Zaha has joined Charlotte FC on loan from Turkish club Galatasaray until January, with an option to extend through June. The 32-year-old is widely known for his decade-long Premier League career, which included stints with Crystal Palace, Manchester United, and Cardiff. Most of his time was spent at Crystal Palace, where he scored 90 goals and provided 52 assists over nine seasons. Now, Zaha embarks on a new chapter in MLS, bringing his dazzling skills to Charlotte. After struggling to secure a regular spot at Lyon and Galatasaray, Zaha opted for a move to the U.S. His experience and creativity could be just what Charlotte needs to improve on their fifth-place finish in the Eastern Conference last season. Zaha missed the season opener against the Seattle Sounders due to his wife expecting their child, but the team still managed to earn a draw.
Nouhou Tolo is a name synonymous with consistency in Major League Soccer. His versatility and strong runs as a left-back make him one of the league’s top defenders. A 2019 MLS Cup winner, Tolo is also the most experienced African player in the league, having spent his entire professional career in the U.S. He’s been instrumental in helping fellow Côte d’Ivoire native Georgi Minoungou adjust to life in MLS. Tolo’s team will participate in the revamped June 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, featuring 32 teams, as the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League winners. After finishing fourth in the Western Conference last season, they were eliminated by LA Galaxy in the Conference Finals. Tolo played 87 minutes in his team’s first match of the season, earning a yellow card.
York Red Bulls as a free agent in December. A respected Cameroonian attacker, he has won some of European club football’s biggest trophies: two Ligue 1 titles, three Bundesliga championships, and the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup during his four years at Bayern Munich, though he was out of contract with the club last summer. He will occupy a designated player spot and is expected to bring leadership to a team that reached the MLS Cup final last year, along with providing attacking reinforcements. In addition to his ‘super sub’ appearances, the Cameroon international brings a title-winning mentality to New York, potentially making a difference after the Red Bulls’ narrow loss to LA Galaxy in the MLS Cup final last season. He shares the locker room with Ghana’s Mohammed Sofo and Ronald Donkor. In his debut against Cincinnati, he played a central role in attack but was unable to prevent a loss, as a goal from another newcomer, Kevin Denkey, sealed the game. He did, however, miss a big chance and recorded two shots on target.
Elume Raymond™ is a seasoned sports writer with more than a decade of experience in the field. He leverages data and analytics to deliver in-depth analysis across a wide range of sports events and topics, from regional competitions to global tournaments. Passionate about sports, Elume Raymond™ is dedicated to sharing his enthusiasm with his audience, offering captivating stories and unique perspectives that engage and inspire.