Everything you need to know ahead of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft

As the 2023 Major League Soccer season reached it's conclusion not too long ago, teams will soon begin to prepare for the new season with the upcoming 2024 SuperDraft.

And just like that, the clock has started ticking ahead of the highly-anticipated 2024 season. Lionel Messi will be reunited with Luis Suarez at Inter Miami, Columbus Crew will look to defend their MLS Cup victory while it will be the final campaign with 29 teams in the league before San Diego FC joins in 2025.

While it's easy to get excited about trades and marquee signings, several MLS sides have found hidden gems in the SuperDraft in recent seasons. For example, Columbus' shot-stopper Patrick Schulte was the 12th overall pick in the 2022 SuperDraft and has worked his way up to become an MLS Cup winning goalkeeper.

As the Colorado Rapids look to get back to winning ways with first-year head coach Chris Armas and their league-leading four picks, here's everything you need to know ahead of the 25th edition of the SuperDraft.

How does the MLS SuperDraft work?

The SuperDraft works similarly to the NFL Draft, where the team with the worst regular season record gets the number one overall pick in the Draft (unless traded away) to select in their mind the best player in American college football. In MLS, the team with the least amount of points - which was Toronto FC with 22 - receives the first overall pick.

Also like the NFL's draft, the remaining order of teams is based on their points total for the regular season and then the postseason based on their finish (for example, Columbus will pick last since they won MLS Cup while Colorado will pick second overall since they had the second-worst points total).

Each MLS team will get one pick in three rounds (unless traded away), with 87 total selections to be made by the night of the night.

What time does the 2024 MLS SuperDraft start?

The 2024 MLS SuperDraft is set to kick-off on Tuesday, December 19 at 3:00 pm EST.

How can I watch the 2024 MLS SuperDraft?

Like the regular & postseason, the SuperDraft will be available on Apple TV via MLS Season Pass.

Who can be selected in the SuperDraft?

Before this year's SuperDraft, only players where were seniors in college could be selected. But that has now changed, as sophomore, juniors and seniors are all available for selection in this year's SuperDraft.

There are 400 eligible players for this year's SuperDraft, but only 87 will be selected- or roughly 22% - meaning college soccer's best of the best will join MLS sides to jumpstart their professional careers.

2024 MLS SuperDraft order - First Round

• 1. Toronto FC (22 points)
• 2. Colorado Rapids (27 points)
• 3. Inter Miami (34 points)
• 4. Colorado Rapids (acquired in a trade with the LA Galaxy who finished with 36 points)
• 5. Austin FC (39 points)
• 6. Chicago Fire (40 points)
• 7. D.C. United (40 points)
• 8. New York City FC (41 points)
• 9. Minnesota United (41 points)
• 10. CF Montreal (41 points)
• 11. Portland Timbers (43 points)
• 12. Colorado Rapids (acquired in a trade with Charlotte FC)
• 13. San Jose Earthquakes (Western Conference wild card)
• 14. New York Red Bulls (Eastern Conference first round)
• 15. FC Dallas (46 points)
• 16. St Louis CITY (acquired in a trade with Vancouver Whitecaps who finished with 48 points in first round)
• 17. Nashville SC (Eastern Conference first round)
• 18. Real Salt Lake (Western Conference first round)
• 19. Atlanta United (Eastern Conference first round)
• 20. New England Revolution (Eastern Conference first round)
• 21. Colorado Rapids (acquired in a trade with St Louis CITY)
• 22. Sporting Kansas City (Western Conference semifinalists)
• 23. Seattle Sounders (Western Conference semifinalists)
• 24. Inter Miami (acquired in a trade with Philadelphia Union who finished with 55 points in Conference semifinals)
• 25. Orlando City (Eastern Conference semifinalists)
• 26. Houston Dynamo (Western Conference runners-up)
• 27. FC Cincinnati (Eastern Conference runners-up)
• 28. LAFC (MLS Cup runners-up)
• 29. Columbus Crew (won MLS Cup)

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