Major League Soccer announced the details of the 2018 adidas MLS Player Combine and MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas, revealing that the Combine will be held from Jan. 11-17 at Orlando City Stadium ahead of the SuperDraft on Jan. 19 during the United Soccer Coaches Convention at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.
Beginning Thursday, January 11, an invited group of top college, youth, and international players will arrive in Orlando preparing to impress their way onto MLS rosters. With technical staffs in attendance from all 22 current MLS teams and the new 2018 expansion Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), prospects will participate in physical testing and interviews, with full-field matches set for Saturday, January 13, Monday, January 15, and Wednesday, January 17. All matches will be played at Orlando City Stadium, home of both Orlando City SC and former combine participant Cyle Larin.
Following the Combine, the 2018 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas will take place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center as a perennial component of the United Soccer Coaches Convention, which annually includes MLS-led programming during the world’s largest gathering of soccer coaches and administrators. Alongside the convention since 2003, the SuperDraft will provide an opportunity for MLS clubs to acquire new, young talent through four rounds of selections, which could tab up to 92 MLS hopefuls in 2018.
In the days immediately following the SuperDraft, Rounds 3 and 4 of the selection process will be conducted via conference call on January 21. During this continuation of the SuperDraft, teams can add to their rosters any players who have completed their college eligibility, as well as young and international players, who have not already been taken in earlier rounds.
MLS players will report to preseason on Jan. 22.
The complete list of key dates for the offseason are below:
