On a wintery day in Fresno, California, a group of friends are playing soccer at a local park. In what has become an annual tradition for a collective of 10 to 12 players predominantly from the United Soccer League (USL), the group trains together in the offseason as a way to stay fit for the new year. With an energy of amicable competition, these sessions are an invaluable boost for those who are setting goals for 2026.
Kicking adn chasing the ball across the modest public greenery, many are looking for new contracts in the lower leagues, others are seeking to simply stay fit, but as for one prominent player in attendance?
“Everyone’s basically grinding for something,” said the U.S. men’s national team‘s Max Arfsten to ESPN. “For me, it’s trying to make the World Cup.”
Just months out from this year’s momentous tournament, Arfsten’s 2026 preparations began here with his close circle in his hometown, where the Columbus Crew fullback was stopped a couple of times by kids to take photos after his practices. With his MLS season ending in early November and not beginning again until Feb. 21, the 24-year-old drew upon a potent source of motivation for an athlete at any level: not wanting to lose to your friends.
“Every time you play against the guys from your hometown … you kind of innately want to prove your worth,” Arfsten said. “You want to be the top dog in the city that you’re from.”
Doing so helped fuel Arfsten’s rhythm during a slow period before a pivotal 2026. In fact, for those who didn’t qualify for the playoffs last year, they’ll go through a four-month stretch between official MLS matches, with preseason camps now back in full swing. Although the league will switch to a more globally aligned summer-to-spring calendar in 2027, which will push the offseason to the summer and shorten the winter break, at the moment there’s an obvious gap in competitive games.
Of course, that break is needed in order to fully recover and regroup, but its timing complicates matters when you consider that weeks after MLS’ 2026 season begins, the USMNT will have one last international window before head coach Mauricio Pochettino makes his final World Cup roster decisions. Conversely, the United States’ high-profile stars in European leagues will be in the middle of their campaigns, boasting match fitness their domestic-based compatriots are unlikely to equal.
With the World Cup around the corner, Arfsten isn’t alone when it
MLS Players prioritize Individual Training during Offseason
Several Major League Soccer players are dedicating significant time to individual training and focused skill advancement during the offseason, preparing for the 2026 season. Players are utilizing a variety of methods, from group sessions to intensive work with specialized coaches, and mental readiness following injuries.
Max Arfsten has spent the last three-plus months preparing for the upcoming MLS season after his last club match in October. According to ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle, Orlando City SC defender Alex Freeman, who will join Villarreal in Spain’s laliga this winter, noted improvements in defending, crossing, and deep crossing during his offseason work. Goalkeeper coach sessions were also a focus for some players, like goalkeeper schulte, who worked with a coach he’s known since childhood.
The offseason training isn’t limited to specific positional drills.Houston Dynamo and USMNT midfielder Jack McGlynn, recovering from foot surgery in October, emphasized the importance of mental preparation. “A lot of mental work,” McGlynn told ESPN in late 2025. “I think when you’re injured, you have a lot of time on your own to think and kind of reflect on your season, where you could do better.”
Group training sessions are also proving popular. “A lot of people in offseason come to that spot,” Freeman said about Fort Lauderdale. “A lot of guys who come in and text me about trainings, and we’re able to get a little group and be able to just catch up and be able to also train together, and just be able to improve on whatever we need to do.”
