Cobi Jones on MLS, USMNT and the 2026 World Cup

Cobi Jones was on the field before Major League Soccer drew global stars, sold-out stadiums and billion-dollar valuations. The U.S. all-time caps leader helped steady a fledgling league, later partnered with David Beckham at LA Galaxy and looks back on early rejections, risky choices and the chance the 2026 World Cup in Los Angeles offers to grow the game.

Jones says his rise to 164 USMNT appearances began without fanfare. “When you're a kid, you're just playing the game for the fun of it — that's what it was for me,” he recalls, noting he wasn’t always the best player and was cut from multiple teams. Driven by a persistent love for soccer and encouragement from his mother, he turned setbacks into resilience and went on to play in three World Cups.

A move to Coventry City after the 1994 World Cup exposed Jones to life in the Premier League and a new level of professionalism. Returning home, he took a gamble on MLS, captained LA Galaxy to MLS Cups in 2002 and 2005, and witnessed how star signings accelerated the league.

United States, Los Angeles

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