The 2026 MLS season starts tomorrow, and here at Soccer America, we’ve got five young players you should keep a close eye on this season.

Manu Duah, San Diego FC

The 20-year-old Manu Duah is, simply put, one of the most fun players to watch in MLS. A midfielder in college, San Diego FC drafted Duah with the first pick of last year’s SuperDraft and converted him to a center back, where he’s thrived.

He reads the game incredibly well for such a young player, has fantastic defensive instincts, but also has incredible quality on the ball. He’s press-resistent and can carry the ball forward, but also is an accomplished passer. His insertion into the starting lineup midway through last season saw San Diego hit another level, and with a full year under his belt, he should continue to thrive under Coach Mikey Varas.

Don’t be surprised to see him make the jump to Europe before long.

Peyton Miller, New England Revs

The 18-year-old Peyton Miller is heading into his third MLS season, and it might be his last. The Revolution homegrown product made 26 appearances in 2025, locking down a starting spot at left wing back and looking like a good bet to make the leap to Europe in the near future. Tottenham Hotspur and PSV Eindhoven have reportedly been interested in him, and with another year of development the list is sure to grow.

Peyton Miller. (Photo: New England Revolution)

He’s absolutely rapid, and while he’s not at his best when tasked with loads of responsibilities in possession, he has shown an increased quality with his final ball in the attacking half.

Again, he just turned 18 in November. He’s one of the highest-ceiling players to come out of MLS in the last few years, and looks like a potential national-teamer down the road.