Nov 30, 2016
Canadians to gain domestic status in MLS
MLS, Canada Soccer, and U.S. Soccer have agreed to modify the parameters that determine a player’s international status, making Canadian players domestic on all MLS squads.
TSN.ca Staff

MLS, Canada Soccer, and U.S. Soccer have agreed to modify the parameters that determine a player’s international status on both U.S.-based and Canadian-based MLS team rosters.
The organizations announced in a joint statement that in addition to the existing parameters determining a player’s international status on MLS rosters, any player who meets the requirements to qualify as a Homegrown Player as a member of an MLS club academy or has met similar requirements as a member of a Canadian Approved Youth Club, will count as a domestic player on all MLS clubs.
Current and future MLS players will be affected in that any current MLS player who was a member of an MLS club academy in, either the U.S. or Canada, in the year prior to the year in which they turned 16 will now be considered a domestic player on MLS rosters in both the U.S. and Canada.
Additionally, any amateur player who was a member of an MLS club academy, either in the U.S. or Canada, or a Canadian Approved Youth Club in the year prior to the year in which he turned 16, will be considered a domestic player upon signing his first professional contract with an MLS club or an MLS club’s USL affiliate.
The updated parameters will go into effect in 2017.