USMNT January camp off, shifts to December 2026

"In its early days, MLS Cup was held in October, with the next season not starting up until April. That meant that MLS players often went six months between competitive matches. However, the benefits of the camp have gradually decreased over the years due to the changes in the MLS calendar. Now MLS Cup typically falls in December, with the next regular season beginning in February. Rather than the camp being complementary, the MLS preseason and the January camp eventually overlapped."

""A core pillar of 'The U.S. Way' emphasizes two key priorities: expanding opportunities for both youth and senior national team players and maintaining deep, cooperative relationships with our domestic leagues and clubs," Onyewu said in a statement. "The January camp has long been an important platform for player evaluation and integration, with many current and former U.S. men's national team players earning their first international experiences during this period. Its impact on our program's growth and player pathway has been significant and enduring.""

U.S. Soccer will not hold the annual January men's national team camp this winter and will instead stage the camp every December starting in 2026. The January camp historically provided a platform for MLS players to gain international experience and first appeared in 1997 after MLS's 1996 inaugural season. Changes to the MLS calendar reduced the camp's utility, as MLS Cup now typically falls in December and the next season begins in February, causing overlap with preseason. With the 2026 World Cup approaching and the player pool largely identified, U.S. Soccer saw little value in holding the camp this winter.

Read at ESPN.com