MLS Disciplinary Wave And Injury List Loom Large

Major League Soccer clubs are set to navigate a challenging round of fixtures after the league released its latest disciplinary summary and player availability report on March 25, 2026, confirming multiple suspensions and a growing list of injured players across the competition.

Six players will serve suspensions following red cards issued in recent matches, with several key fixtures directly impacted. FC Cincinnati will be without both Gerardo Valenzuela and Miles Robinson for their April 4 trip to New York Red Bulls, after the pair were dismissed for serious foul play and a second caution, respectively.

Houston Dynamo FC are also hit with a double setback, as Nicholas Markanich (serious foul play) and Erik Sviatchenko (second caution) will miss their clash against Seattle Sounders FC.

Elsewhere, Kamal Miller of Portland Timbers is suspended for serious foul play ahead of their meeting with Vancouver Whitecaps FC, while New York’s Gustav Berggren will sit out due to denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO). San Diego FC defender Christopher McVey is also sidelined after accumulating a second caution in his previous outing.

In addition to suspensions, Charlotte FC forward Wilfried Zaha is walking a disciplinary tightrope, sitting one caution away from a suspension.

The availability report paints an equally demanding picture for clubs, with injuries continuing to pile up league-wide.

Los Angeles Football Club face one of the most severe crises, listing six players unavailable and another questionable, including key absences such as Aaron Long and Igor Jesus. Real Salt Lake are similarly stretched, with seven players ruled out, including DeAndre Yedlin and Emeka Eneli.

Austin FC will be without several regulars, including Brandon Vazquez and Owen Wolff, while Inter Miami CF are missing high-profile names such as Rodrigo De Paul and Sergio Reguilón.

In the Eastern Conference, Toronto FC, D.C. United, and Philadelphia Union are among the sides dealing with multiple absentees, while Chicago Fire FC and Atlanta United also face notable injury concerns.

Meanwhile, San Jose Earthquakes stand out as the only club with a fully fit squad heading into the next round.

With suspensions disrupting lineups and injuries continuing to test squad depth, Matchday 6 is shaping up to be a significant early-season test across the league, as teams look to maintain momentum despite increasingly stretched resources.

_{Featured Image Credit: Unsplash / Tareq Ismail}