By CAITLIN MURRAY
With the late addition of Chivas USA’s Oswaldo Minda to the Ecuador World Cup squad due to injury Monday, Major League Soccer can claim 22 representatives in Brazil.
Outside of the U.S. Men’s National Team, 11 players will represent MLS when the World Cup kicks off on Thursday. Including the USMNT, the total is 22, with 43 percent of the American squad coming from MLS.
That figure of 22 includes a player who has yet to actually play in MLS, but who has signed on to play in MLS in 2015. Spanish national team striker David Villa will be hoping to lead Spain to a repeat World Cup title.
The U.S. World Cup squad this year represents the league prominently, but not as much as some previous years. MLS claimed a high of 16 USMNT players in 1998 and 12 players both in 2006 and 2002. The 2010 World Cup was an all-time low, with just four MLS players.
When it comes to national teams represented by their country’s domestic league, Russia is tops with all of their players coming from careers at home. England comes close, with 22 of 23 players coming from the English Premier League.
The EPL will be the most represented league in Brazil with 110 players in the tournament. Liga MX will be represented by 24 players.
Here’s a look at the players from MLS who will be in Brazil:
AUSTRALIA:
Tim Cahill, forward, New York Red Bulls
BRAZIL:
Julio Cesar, goalkeeper, Toronto FC
COSTA RICA:
Giancarlo González, defender, Columbus Crew
Waylon Francis, defender Columbus Crew
Roy Miller, defender, New York Red Bulls
ECUADOR:
Oswaldo Minda, midfielder, Chivas USA
HONDURAS:
Victor Bernardez, defender, San Jose Earthquakes
Marvin Chavez, midfielder, Chivas USA
Oscar Boniek Garcia, midfielder, Houston Dynamo
Jerry Bengtson, forward, New England Revolution
SPAIN
David Villa, forward, New York City FC
IRAN:
Steven Beitashour, defender, Vancouver Whitecaps
UNITED STATES:
Nick Rimando, goalkeeper, Real Salt Lake
Matt Besler, defender, Sporting Kansas City
Omar Gonzalez, defender, Los Angeles Galaxy
DeAndre Yedlin, defender, Seattle Sounders FC
Kyle Beckerman, midfielder, Real Salt Lake
Michael Bradley, midfielder, Toronto FC
Brad Davis, midfielder, Houston Dynamo
Graham Zusi, midfielder, Sporting Kansas City
Clint Dempsey, forward, Seattle Sounders FC
Chris Wondolowski, forward, San Jose Earthquakes
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What do you think of the MLS players heading to the World Cup? Which players do you see having a big tournament?
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