2026 MLS Starting Goalkeeper Preseason Rankings

The 2026 Major League Soccer season kicks off this Saturday, with both New York teams on the road to start the season.

In the first of Empire Soccer Report's preseason ranking series, let's take a look at the league's starting goalkeepers ranked in their respective conferences:

2026 MLS Eastern Conference Starting Goalkeepers Ranked

1. Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union)

   • Arguably the best goalkeeper in league history, the Union and Jamaica captain is the only three-time Goalkeeper of The Year (2016, 2020, 2022) in MLS. He's lost a step or two since his best days, but it feels unfair to rank anyone else ahead of him given the career he's had. And for what it's worth, he had the lowest goals allowed per 90 in the league last season at 0.84, helping to anchor one of the league's best defenses in the Union.

2. Kristijan Kahlina (Charlotte FC)

   • The 33-year-old Croatian goalkeeper won MLS Best XI honors in 2024 and followed his best season with an equally impressive 2025 campaign. Kahlina's 77.4% save percentage was the best in MLS Eastern Conference last season.

3. Matt Freese (New York City FC)

   • The 27-year-old Philadelphia-area native broke out in 2024 when he was finally trusted with an MLS starting job and has not looked back since. In 2025, the former Harvard man earned the USMNT starting job, signed a five-year extension with NYCFC and has been among the league's most consistent shot stoppers. Like the others in the top five of this list, he's a serious goalkeeper of the year candidate.

4. Dayne St. Clair (Inter Miami CF)

   • Reigning goalkeeper of the year and Canadian national team No. 1 Dayne St. Clair made the move to the already-stacked Inter Miami after spending six seasons with Minnesota United. St. Clair led the Western Conference in 2025 with just 1.00 goals allowed per 90 and had the league's best save percentage at 80%. Miami's defense will almost certainly be improved from last year, but the 28-year-old will have to get used to playing behind a team that regularly exposes itself to danger and not a Michael Boxall-led rigid back five.

5. Matt Turner (New England Revolution)

   • The former USMNT No. 1 could still reclaim his starting spot in lieu of Freese at the 2026 World Cup if he is stellar in his full-season return to the Revs. At 31, the New Jersey native is certainly well within his goalkeeping prime, which is fitting as Turner is one of two current Designated Player goalkeepers. He may often be tasked with rescuing his team when New England's leaky backline lets up some big chances.

6. Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati)

   • At just 25, Celentano will be entering his fifth consecutive season as the Cincy No. 1. In his first four years, he's accumulated 145 appearances across all competitions and has earned multiple USMNT call-ups but is yet to feature for the national setup. His 72.9% save percentage was fourth in the East and his 1.20 goals allowed per 90 was second behind only Blake. 

7. Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew)

   • Take Celentano, but one year younger. Schulte, like his Hell is Real Derby adversary, burst onto the scene out of the NCAA and almost immediately became one of the Eastern Conference's premier goalkeepers, winning MLS Cup in his first season as the No. 1. At just 24, Schulte is poised to enter his fourth straight season as the Crew's starter, tallying 106 appearances across all competitions, even earning three USMNT caps, all under Mauricio Pochettino. He was named Best Goalkeeper in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

8. Ethan Horvath (Red Bull New York)

   • Horvath comes to RBNY after spending the last 12 years as a professional in Europe, most recently being exiled from several stops in England's second and third divisions. After successful stints at Molde, Club Brugge and Luton Town, the 30-year-old Colorado native was forced out at Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday and, most recently, Cardiff City. The job security at Sports Illustrated Stadium should be a big help for Horvath as he looks to fight an uphill battle back into the USMNT, for which he has 10 caps.

9. Chris Brady (Chicago Fire)

   • One of the brightest young keepers MLS has to offer, 21-year-old Brady has been the go-to keeper for the Fire since 2023. His 99 all-time appearances for the club are a testament to the Naperville, IL native's meteoric rise, which has also included a late 2025 call-up to the national team under Pochettino. Expect him to be a key piece in Chicago's continued ascent through the Eastern Conference.

10. Sean Johnson (DC United)

    • 36-year-old Sean Johnson is entering his 17th year in the league. An MLS Cup champion with NYCFC in 2021, Johnson joins DC after a three-year stint with Toronto. In his time with the Reds, Johnson was quietly one of the best keepers across MLS. Despite playing behind one of the worst defenses, "Sean John" was third in the East and fifth in the league in save percentage at 74.7%. He may find himself in a similar situation at Audi Field in 2026.

11. Maxime Crepeau (Orlando City)

    • Canadian international Maxime Crepeau will take over after six seasons of Pedro Gallese backstopping the Lions. Crepeau will have big shoes (tentacles) to fill in El Pulpo's absence, but the 31-year-old boasts a successful MLS resume. Stops at Montreal, Vancouver, LAFC and Portland, where he split time with countrymate James Pantemis, will help fuel Crepeau hopefully be competent when trusted with a full starter's load in 2026.

12. Lucas Hoyos (Atlanta United)

    • Argentine journeyman Lucas Hoyos will take over for long-time Atlanta United keeper Brad Guzan following his retirement at the end of 2025. The 36-year-old will rely on his experience to help anchor a generally weak backline at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, while the rest of the team in front of him will hope to live up to their heavy price tags. Hoyos may take time acclimating to his new club, having not played since 2024. It will be the first time he is trusted with a starting job since 2023.

13. Brian Schwake (Nashville SC)

    • 24-year-old Schwake will accept the torch from Joe Willis, who will be transitioning into the backup role in 2026. After brief stints in Scotland and Spain, Schwake will make the jump from being a cup keeper to the No. 1. While it will be the first big test of his career as a starter, he already managed to put up a clean sheet in Nashville's opening CONCACAF Champions Cup match against Atletico Ottawa.

14. Thomas Gillier (CF Montreal)

    • Chilean international Gillier joined CF Montreal midway through 2025 on loan from Bologna and featured in eight matches. With Jonathan Sirois traded, the 21-year-old will be tasked with handling a starter's load for the first time since 2024 when he played in 20 matches for boyhood club Universidad Católica.

15. Luka Gavran (Toronto FC)

    • 25-year-old Hamilton, ON native Gavran will take over as the starter for TFC after Sean Johnson's departure. Spending three seasons as the No. 2, Gavran will be poised to accept more responsibility in net for 2026, but has big gloves to fill.

2026 MLS Western Conference Starting Goalkeepers Ranked

1. Roman Burki (St. Louis City SC)

   • 2023 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Burki will be back between the sticks for the fourth straight season. The STL captain and first DP will be crucial to St. Louis's success in 2026, but that may be an uphill battle looking around the rest of the West. It's hard to say any other goalkeeper in the league will be as important to their team as the 35-year-old Swiss international will be.

2. Hugo Lloris (Los Angeles FC)

   • 2018 World Cup champion and LAFC vice-captain Lloris will return for his third season in black and gold. The Spurs legend already backstopped LA to an easy 5-1 victory over Real España in the Champions Cup and will be immense for them throughout 2026, even at the age of 39. He had the second-best goals against per 90 in the West at 1.08 in 2025.

3. Yohei Takaoka (Vancouver Whitecaps)

   • Reigning Western Conference champion Takaoka was third in goals against per 90 in the West at 1.12 and can be expected to carry that good form into 2026. The 29-year-old Japanese international will enter his fourth season as the Vancouver No. 1 and will be a big part of why Vancouver continues to be one of the best teams in the West.

4. Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids)

   • Former USMNT No. 1 Steffen has seen his career hit a bit of a downturn since coming back to MLS in 2024. Now 30, Steffen is well within his goalkeeping prime and will need to be stellar in order for the Rapids to have a good season and to get back into the national team fold. Having said all that, he's still one of the more reliable keepers in the league and certainly one of the best domestic options Pochettino has.

5. Brad Stuver (Austin FC)

   • Analytical darling Stuver has ascended to becoming one of the league's premier starting keepers when Austin FC took a chance on him as a starter in 2021. That gamble paid off as Stuver continues to be one of the most consistent shot-stoppers across the league. After nearly nine years as an MLS journeyman, the 34-year-old has played his way into goalkeeper of the year conversations.

6. Michael Collodi (FC Dallas)

   • 24-year-old Collodi was so good down the stretch for Dallas in 2025 that he unseated Maarten Paes for the starting role and forced his eventual move to Ajax. Certainly one of the more raw, talented keepers in MLS, he will have to prove it throughout the 2026 season. Having seen him save an Emil Forsberg penalty in preseason, though, there's every reason to believe the former MLS Next Pro Keeper of the Year is up for it.

7. Rafael Cabral (Real Salt Lake)

   • 35-year-old Rafael was quietly solid for RSL in his first MLS season in 2025. The Brazilian has loads of experience, starting in Brazil's Serie A and the English Championship and serving as a longtime backup for Napoli. He showed why his veteran presence and poise can be useful for a young team like Salt Lake in 2025. Going to be a tall task to backstop that team to any trophies in 2026, though.

8. Daniel (San Jose Earthquakes)

   • Fellow Brazilian Daniel is entering his fourth season with the Quakes, having only served as the starter for two of the previous three years. In that time, though, he has brought stability to the position for the first time in a long time and can be expected to do the same in 2026. San Jose will have bigger problems to worry about in front of him, however.

9. Stefan Frei - (Seattle Sounders)

   • Ageless wonder Frei is back after another eye-opening season with the Sounders. With over 350 appearances for Seattle since 2014, Frei is far and away the longest-tenured starting keeper in the league and for good reason. He was seventh in MLS save percentage last year with 73.3% and fifth in goals allowed per 90 at 1.19. He will continue to lead the Seattle defense until his inevitable retirement in June 2027 when his contract expires. 

10. James Pantemis (Portland Timbers)

    • Quietly one of the better Canadian keepers in MLS last season, 28-year-old Pantemis came out of the revolving door of CF Montreal and became competitive for the 2025 starting job with Crepeau, ultimately winning it and forcing the latter out the door in 2026. Will be interesting to see how he performs when trusted with a full starter's load in 2026, but if he plays like he did in 2025, just with more consistency, then he absolultely could climb up this list.

11. Pablo Sisniega  - (San Diego FC)

    • Bit of a surprise here, but after CJ Dos Santos won the starting job in 2025, it looks like Mikey Varas has turned to Sisniega as the choice for the No. 1 role in 2026. Already off to a good start in the Champions Cup, Sisniega was a luxury backup last season and should be around league average as a starter this season.

12. Drake Callender - (Minnesota United)

    • Once a regular fixture as a backup with the USMNT, Callender was a big part of Inter Miami's success in the early days of the Messi era. Since then, he has fallen through the cracks, being banished to the bench in both Miami and Charlotte. Now, the 28-year-old will have a fresh start as the full-time No. 1 at Allianz Field, but will need to be fantastic to live up to the standard that St. Clair left behind.

13. Jonathan Bond - (Houston Dynamo)

    • 32-year-old Englishman Bond broke through in MLS with the Galaxy in the early 2020s after spending years as a No. 2 across the English second and third divisions, most notably with Watford. Since joining Houston, though, Bond has settled into a rhythm nicely and could be part of a blooming Dynamo project in 2026. Despite his solid profile, he did rank towards the bottom of the league in save percentage (61.0% was the worst among MLS starters).

14. Novak Micovic - (LA Galaxy)

    • 24-year-old Serbian Micovic may not be the sexiest starting goalkeeper in MLS this coming season, but it is worth noting that he earned the No. 1 shirt from two-time MLS Cup champion John McCarthy and unseated former San Jose starter JT Marcinkowski for the position. Do I think he'll be sensational in 2026? Probably not. Do I think the Galaxy may even try to bring in a new keeper at some point in the near future? Perhaps. But Micovic, while not an elite goalkeeper by any means, should be able to keep the Galaxy afloat until then.

15. John Pulskamp - (Sporting KC)

    • Harsh to put him last, but SKC was just awful in 2025 and they may be even worse in 2026. The 24-year-old did everything he could to stop the bleeding last season but came up short more often than not. It may not all be on him, but I expect more of the same in 2026.

Empire Soccer Report Episode 6 is live!

In the latest episode of Empire Soccer Report, James Birle is joined by Zach Feldman of @rbnyszn and the UnfilteRED podcast. With preseason coming to a close, James and Zach analyze the Red Bulls' performance in the Torneo de Tejas, the Wiki Carmona for Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty trade and more: