MLS at World Cup: Three players come away with wins

• by Arlo Moore-Bloom  @ArloMBloom, Nov 24, 2022

Swiss Xerdan Shaqiri of the Chicago Fire and Ecuadorians José Cifuentes and Jhegson Mendez of LAFC were the only three MLS players to see the field and come away with three points during the first round of games in group play in Qatar.

In fact, they were the only players from MLS teams to win their first game. Teams with MLS players on them went 2-5-5 in the first round of World Cup group play.

LAFC’s Gareth Bale was the only MLS-based player to score or assist when he equalized against the USA from the spot with eight minutes left of regular time. 

Of the 35 players on MLS first-team and World Cup rosters, 19 started or subbed on in their team’s first group game (54%).

Of the 19 who made an appearance, 11 started for their country and eight subbed on.

ARGENTINA (1-2 vs. Saudi Arabia)
DNP: Thiago Almada (M, Atlanta United)

AUSTRALIA (1-4 vs. France)
Milos Degenek (D, Columbus Crew), sub-5 minutes. 

CAMEROON (0-1 vs. Switzerland)
Nouhou Tolo (D, Seattle Sounders), 90 minutes.
DNP: Olivier Mbaizo (D, Philadelphia Union) 

CANADA (0-1 vs. Belgium)
Alistair Johnston (D, CF Montreal), 90 minutes.
Ismaël Koné (M, CF Montréal), sub-32 minutes.
Richie Laryea (D, Toronto FC), 74 minutes.
Kamal Miller (D, CF Montréal), 90 minutes.
Jonathan Osorio (M, Canada), sub-10 minutes.
DNP: Lucas Cavallini (F, Vancouver Whitecaps), Mark-Anthony Kaye (M, Toronto FC), James Pantemis (GK, CF Montreal), Samuel Piette (M, CF Montreal), Dayne St. Clair (GK, Minnesota United), Joel Waterman (D, CF Montreal)

COSTA RICA (0-7 vs. Spain)
Ronald Matarrita (D, FC Cincinnati), sub-8 minutes. 
Bryan Oviedo (D, Real Salt Lake), 82 minutes.

ECUADOR (2-0 vs. Qatar)
Jose Cifuentes (M, LAFC), sub-13 minutes.
Jhegson Méndez (M, LAFC), 90 minutes. 
DNP: Xavier Arreaga (D, Seattle Sounders), Diego Palacios (D, LAFC)

MEXICO (0-0 vs. Poland)
Hector Herrera (M, Houston Dynamo), 71 minutes 

POLAND  (0-0 vs. Mexico)
DNP: Karol Swiderski (F, Charlotte FC)

SWITZERLAND (1-0 vs. Cameroon)
Xherdan Shaqiri (F, Chicago Fire), 72 minutes 

URUGUAY (0-0 vs. South Korea)
Martin Cáceres (D, LA Galaxy), 90 minutes 
DNP: Facundo Torres (F, Orlando City)

USA (1-1 vs. Wales)
Kellyn Acosta (M, LAFC), sub-15 minutes
Jordan Morris (F, Seattle Sounders), sub-2 minutes.
DeAndre Yedlin (D, Inter Miami), sub-16 minutes.
Walker Zimmerman (D, Nashville), 90 minutes 
DNP: Jesus Ferreira (F, FC Dallas), Sean Johnson (GK, NYCFC), Aaron Long (D, New York Red Bulls), Shaq Moore (D, Nashville), Cristian Roldan (M, Seattle Sounders) 

WALES (1-1 vs. USA)
Gareth Bale (F, LAFC), 90 minutes, 1 goal 

Note: Daniel Chacon of MLS Next Pro's Colorado Rapids 2 is on Costa Rica's roster. He did not play in its 7-0 loss to Spain.