When Major League Soccer's esports league, eMLS, returns in January 2021, the competition will be better than ever.
There are now 27 clubs participating, with the addition of Inter Miami CF and St. Louis City SC, and 18 of those players are currently ranked in the Top 100 of their region in EA SPORTS FIFA 21 Global Series Rankings as of December 16.
There’s also been plenty of movement in the offseason with 13 players either transferring to new clubs or newly signed. That includes Kid M3mito, the inaugural eMLS Cup champion in 2018, transferring from the Houston Dynamo to Chicago Fire FC, FC Dallas re-signing AlanAvi, their eMLS Player from 2018 and 2019 and the Vancouver Whitecaps re-signing Skill Shack, their eMLS Player from 2019.
Reigning 2020 eMLS Cup champion Adamou was re-signed by the New York Red Bulls, while 2020 eMLS League Series One and Two Champion Fiddle was re-signed by FC Cincinnati.
In addition, Atlanta United, Austin FC, Minnesota United, Orlando City SC, the Philadelphia Union, Inter Miami CF, San Jose Earthquakes and Seattle Sounders made new signings.
The 2021 eMLS season will be comprised of three live-streamed tournaments that each take place over the course of two-days, doubling the broadcast hours of the 2020 eMLS season. The season will kick off in January with eMLS League Series One presented by Coca-Cola, continue in February with eMLS League Two presented by Coca-Cola and conclude in March with eMLS Cup presented by Coca-Cola.
Atlanta United
Atlanta United will participate in 2021 eMLS, but has not yet selected its representative.
Austin FC
"xbLeU" - John Garcia
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 16th in PS4
Chicago Fire FC
"Kid M3mito" - Guillermo Trevino
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 1st in XBOX
2018 eMLS Cup Champion
FC Cincinnati
"Fiddle" - Gordon Thornsberry
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 13th in XBOX
2020 eMLS League Series 1 and Series 2 Champion
FIFA 20 North America Summer Cup Series Champion
Colorado Rapids
"Gonzo" - Brandan Gonzales
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 126th in XBOX
Columbus Crew SC
"Crew96Skamzz" - Graham Ellix
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: 186 in XBOX
FC Dallas
"AlanAvi" - Alan Avila
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 16th in PS4
2018 eMLS All-Star Challenge Champion
D.C. United
"KingCJ0" - Mohamed Diop
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 1st in PS4
Houston Dynamo FC
"JordyReyes" - Jordy Reyes
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 37th in PS4
LAFC
"RemiMartinn" - Martin Oregel
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 108th in PS4
LA Galaxy
"GODFATHER" - Giuseppe Guastella
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 20th in XBOX
Inter Miami CF
"IMCF_Pabs" - Pablo Georgakopoulos
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 68th in PS4
Minnesota United
"tokyorift" - Brandon Yamane
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 236th in PS4
Montreal Impact
"mehdibob3" - Mehdi Benghalem
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 69th in PS4
Nashville SC
"DOOLSTA" - Cormac Dooley
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 349th (Europe) in PS4
2019 eMLS League Series 1 and Series 2 Champion
2019 eMLS Cup Champion
New England Revolution
"JKO" - John Oliveira
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 108th in PS4
New York City FC
"Didychrislito " - Christopher Holly
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 1st in PS4
2019 eChampions League Winner
New York Red Bulls
"Adamou" - George Adamou
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 1st in PS4
2020 eMLS Cup Champion
Orlando City SC
"Maloney" - Douglas Bendeck
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 56th in PS4
Philadelphia Union
"cisseSZN" - Macisse Diop
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 28th in PS4
Portland Timbers
"RCTID Thiago" - Edgar Guerrero
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 16th in PS4
San Jose Earthquakes
"BENR" - Ben Remez
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 39th in XBOX
Seattle Sounders
"GSGxSFC" - Gunbir Gill
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 312th in PS4
Sporting KC
"ALEKZANDUR" - Alexander Betancourt
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for first in XBOX & tied for 28th in PS4
St. Louis City SC
"STL CITY SC HASIB" - Hasib Zulfic
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 46th in PS4
Toronto FC
"PhilB94" - Phil Balke
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 1st in PS4
Vancouver Whitecaps
"Skill Shack" - Erfan Hosseini
FIFA 21 Global Series Ranking*: Tied for 236th in PS4
* All player rankings are as of December 15, 2020 - www.fifa.gg/fifae-world-cup/global-series-ranking
