Major League Soccer’s new five-division format is likely to include a Midwest division that blends three teams from the Eastern and Western Conferences, but the revamp is also expected to split two of the league’s longtime rivalries outside of their respective divisions.

Five players sign Generation adidas contracts or as pre-signed seniors ahead of SuperDraft on Thursday, Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. ET Media resources, including registration for the virtual No. 1 overall pick press conference,

The 2026 MLS Draft takes place on Thursday, December 18, and while the annual tradition no longer carries the same meaning that it once did due to different pipelines for acquiring elite domestic talent,

Liga MX’s Monterrey has submitted a bid to sign Luca Orellano from FC Cincinnati, sources briefed on the situation tell The Athletic. Orellano was the subject of bids from Cruz Azul last winter, but ultimately signed a new contract to stay.

Bell, 28, gives Austin FC a fourth center back and will likely be a backup to Brendan Hines-Ike and Oleksandr Svatok, who have entrenched themselves as starters. Though he represents Jamaica at the international level, Bell was born in Maryland and doesn’t take up an international roster spot.

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has held “positive talks” with Chicago Fire over a move to Major League Soccer, reports state.

MLS SuperDraft 2026 takes place this Thursday, Dec. 18. MLS will be live tracking the event on MLSsoccer.com, and the Rapids will keep all fans of the Burgundy & Blue updated on social media as picks are made.

The American is taking over New York Red Bulls and could very well be in the mix for bigger jobs if things go as planned

Still, free agency is an ever-growing tool within MLS and will be harnessed by each club heading into the 2026 campaign. Players were allowed to sign starting Dec. 10, several remain on the market, either to sign with new teams or rejoin their latest club on a newly negotiated deal.