It’s the most wonderful time of year again — draft time, that is. MLS SuperDraft 2026 will take place tomorrow, and while it’s not the production that the NFL or NBA drafts are, it’s an important piece of roster-building strategy for teams across the league nonetheless. We’ve put together a quick guide with everything you need to know ahead of tomorrow’s draft, from how to follow to why it matters. 

Draft 101

This year’s draft will feature a total of three rounds of 30 picks, making for 90 picks overall. The draft order is set in reverse order to the league standings from the 2025 season, giving D.C. United the first pick, Inter Miami the last pick, and MNUFC the 23rd pick. It’s not a snake draft, so the order remains the same round after round. At least, in theory: Trades muck up the waters a little bit the further you go, but the structure remains the same.  

Anyone interested in keeping tabs on the SuperDraft as it happens can do so at the official tracking webpage, with updates beginning when the draft begins at 1:00 p.m. CT on Thursday, December 18. 

MNUFC 

Now, here’s the part you care about most: what does this all mean for Minnesota United? Your Loons have four picks to play with in this year’s draft: 23, 53, 67 (pronounced sixty-seven, thank you), and 83. The 23rd, 53rd, and 83rd picks are all theirs by right, while the 67th pick was acquired from St. Louis CITY SC as part of the loan agreement that sent Devin Padelford to STL for the second half of 2025. 

In last season’s draft, the Loons selected midfielder Roman Torres, defender Kieran Chandler, forward Logan Dorsey, and defender Nick Collins. Collins remained in school after the draft, with the Loons retaining his MLS player rights. Torres, Chandler, and Dorsey all spent significant time with MNUFC2 this season, contributing to what was the best season in the second team’s history. And that is exactly what you should expect to see a bit more of moving forward. 

Upon being drafted, MLS NEXT Pro offers a natural on-ramp for players to adjust to the professional game, prove themselves, and ease into the next step of their careers. Take Chandler, for instance, who earned his way to a first-team contract by August last season. Dorsey ended the season as the joint top scorer for the Twos and is one of the players who remains on contract with the team through 2026. Both players represent the ideal result of MNUFC’s draft strategy: give young talent a chance to play at a level where they can thrive. 

It’s rare for draftees to slot straight into the starting lineup of their respective first teams, but not unheard of. Just look at San Diego’s Manu Duah or Vancouver's Tate Jacobson, both of whom were selected in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft. With the emergence of new developmental paths, the landscape of the league is changing, forcing draft strategies to shift dramatically based on each club’s position in the draft, scouting priorities, and resource allocation. 

Historically Significant

The further back you look, the more significant the SuperDraft becomes, especially for Loons fans. Defender Morris Duggan was selected in the 2024 SuperDraft from Marshall University and is at the very cusp of a true breakthrough. After working his way to the first team, he’s become more than just a valuable depth piece, establishing himself as a serious contributor to the MNUFC backline who featured in 21 games for a total of more than 1,300 minutes in 2025. 

Even further back, the likes of Tani Oluwaseyi (now the club’s record outgoing transfer), Dayne St. Clair (the 2025 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year), and Hassani Dotson (longtime contributor and Mr. Bangers Only himself) all came from various draft classes, proving two things: there’s talent to be found in college soccer, and everyone has a different journey. 

For Oluwaseyi, the path to stardom began at St. John’s University. Upon being drafted in 2022, he went straight to MNUFC2 before being sent on loan to San Antonio FC of the USL Championship. Lightning struck while he was playing in San Antonio, where the striker scored 18 goals and added seven assists before returning to the Twin Cities to take MLS by storm. 

Fellow Canadian-international Dayne St. Clair was drafted by the Loons in 2019 with the seventh overall pick. He spent time on two separate loans during his first two seasons, heading to both Forward Madison and San Antonio, which has apparently become the place for loaned Loons to discover their talents. St. Clair was recalled early from San Antonio in August of 2020, and his impressive performances in net for MNUFC to close out the season earned him a contract extension that would ultimately lead to all of the standout performances we’ve seen from him over the last five years. 

While his teammates were eased into first-team action, midfielder Hassani Dotson slotted into the rotation right away after being drafted in 2019. He made 24 appearances in his first season as a pro and went on to play in more than 150 games for the Loons across seven seasons with the club. 

From front to back, the Loons have found key contributors in the SuperDraft over the years. Whether a player is ready to step straight into the thick of things like Dotson, or if they need a little time like Oluwaseyi or Chandler, this method of player acquisition continues to be a legitimate game-changer for clubs that know how to use it. The talent is there, and the stories are just waiting to be told. Follow along with this year’s draft, and keep your eye on each selected player; you never know who the next All-Star might be.