2019 MLS expansion draft

Lore & Background

The 2019 MLS Expansion Draft was governed by specific rules set by Major League Soccer. Five teams that had players selected by FC Cincinnati during the 2018 MLS Expansion Draft were exempt: D.C. United, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, and New York Red Bulls. Existing non-exempt teams were allowed to protect 12 players from their roster. Once a player was selected from a team, that team was no longer available for further selections in the draft. The draft lasted five rounds, for a total of ten players selected, and no trades were permitted during the draft itself.

Reader's Guide

The 2019 MLS Expansion Draft was a key mechanism for Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC to acquire players ahead of their inaugural MLS seasons. The draft's structure, including the exemption of five teams and the protection of 12 players per existing team, shaped the pool of available talent. The order of selections was determined by the Expansion Priority Draft coin toss, which Inter Miami CF won, allowing them to pick first. This draft represented a continuation of MLS's expansion process, following the precedent set by the 2018 Expansion Draft for FC Cincinnati. The ten players selected formed part of the foundational rosters for both new clubs, though post-draft trades affected some selections.

Did You Know?

• Inter Miami CF won the coin toss for the Expansion Priority Draft on October 6, 2019, and chose to select first in the expansion draft.
• Five teams were exempt from the 2019 Expansion Draft because they had players selected by FC Cincinnati in the 2018 MLS Expansion Draft.
• The draft lasted five rounds, with a total of ten players selected.