Major League Soccer (MLS) today unveiled the full 2026 22 Under 22 class, highlighting the best young players across the league, with LAFC midfielder Jude Terry making his first appearance on the list.
Terry signed a MLS Homegrown contract in 2025, becoming the eighth homegrown player in LAFC history after originally joining the LAFC Academy as a 12-year-old in 2021 from Legends FC. He made his first-team debut this year, registering his first goal on April 11 against the Portland Timbers. In total, Terry has two goals and one assist across 17 appearances for LAFC this season, while also appearing four times for LAFC2 with two goals, including the opening score in LAFC2’s defeat of the Houston Dynamo 2 in the first round of the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs, and the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Goal of the Year.
The Chula Vista, CA, native represents LAFC’s 13th selection to the 22 Under 22 list since the club began play in 2018. LAFC has had at least one player included in the 22 Under 22 ranking every season except 2023 and has landed multiple players on the list three times: 2018, 2019, and 2025.
2026: Jude Terry (20) |
2025: Nathan Ordaz (8), David Martínez (5) |
2024: David Martínez (19) |
2022: Kwadwo Opoku (9) |
2021: Brian Rodríguez (4) |
2020: Brian Rodríguez (2) |
2019: Brian Rodríguez (4), Diego Rossi (1) |
2018: Eduard Atuesta (16), Andre Horta (13), Latif Blessing (11), Diego Rossi(3) |
The 2026 class underscores the continued impact of MLS player development pathways, with 17 players having competed in MLS NEXT, 16 in MLS NEXT Pro, and 15 signing Homegrown contracts. Players were voted on by an expert panel of MLS coaches, general managers, sporting directors, MLS on Apple TV talent, and select media.
To be eligible for voting, players had to remain 21 or younger before Decision Day on November 7, 2026, and therefore must have been born after November 8, 2004.
