Mzansi quartet kick off new MLS campaign

Four South Africans start their new season at the weekend as the 2026 Major League Soccer campaign gets underway.

It is not the biggest representation that the country has had in the North American league, but the quartet of players will all be striving to try and make the national team, while Bradley Carnell will be looking to continue his quest for coaching success.

The former Bafana Bafana fullback had an outstanding derby season at Philadelphia Union in 2025, finishing top of the table at the end of the regular season but then losing in the post-season playoffs.

Takeaways from our final friendly of preseason 📝 #DOOP | @sagehurley__ pic.twitter.com/4TPcAn1xge — Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) February 11, 2026

He had previously achieved the same with expansion side St. Louis City in 2023.

Union are away against DC United in their opening game of the MLS season on Saturday, having won 5-0 in Trinidad & Tobago in midweek in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

Olwethu Makhaya, 21, scored in that game. He was a regular for Union last season and is expected to feature prominently again this campaign.

Bongokuhle Hlongwane will be starting his fifth season at Minnesota United, where last campaign he was converted into a right back on occasion but still spent most games in an attacking role.

The 25-year-old scored 11 goals in MLS action in 2024 but notched only three last year, figures that he will be looking to improve on. Minnesota are away at Austin in their opening game.

Look who just arrived in Florida 👀 #cf97 pic.twitter.com/mynth5ZoJu — Chicago Fire FC (@ChicagoFire) January 21, 2026

Puso Dithejane and Mbekezeli Mbokazi have recently signed for Chicago Fire and will be heading to Texas this weekend where they are up against Houston Dynamo on Saturday.

Puso has arrived in Chicago 🇿🇦 #cf97 pic.twitter.com/TtHBwvxUwT — Chicago Fire FC (@ChicagoFire) February 4, 2026

The 20-year-old Mbokazi is expected to debut as he has played in most of Chicago’s pre-season games, but Dithejane, 21, arrived after preparations began and will be hoping he might get a chance off the bench.