FC Dallas enters the 2026 season with more international players than available roster slots for those players. This isn’t anything new, FC Dallas tends to always be at or above its limit with international roster slots, and 2026 is looking no different.
Each year, Major League Soccer gives clubs eight slots for their 30-man roster. Those slots are tradable for allocation money or as part of a player trade. Players with green cards do not count against the eight spots.
As we dive deeper into the busier part of the offseason, it is worth taking some time to examine where the available slots will be for the club. Using the league's most recent roster profile document, along with the moves already made, FC Dallas will have to do some work to add any other new international players this winter.
International Slots: Under Contract
- Alvaro Augusto
- Ramiro Benetti
- Ran Binyamin (U22)
- Louicius Deedson
- Patrickson Delgado (U22)
- Geovane Jesus (U22)
- Kaick (U22)
- Petar Musa (Designated Player)
- Enes Sali (U22)
- Osaze Urhoghide
A few too many
Right now, FC Dallas is over their limits in terms of available international slots. In 2025, they had nine total slots and 11 players under contract. They loaned out one player (Carl Sainte) and had another on the season ending injury list (Geovane Jesus). There is also a chance they ‘loaned’ Alvaro Augusto down to North Texas to help be compliant from time-to-time.
Going into 2026, they’re going to have to so more maneuvering to be compliant with the rules.
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How to obtain additional slots
There are a few ways FC Dallas could obtain more slots in 2026. More than likely we’re going to see them do one of the following for 2026:
- Trade for some additional slots: This is something we’ve seen the club do most seasons. I would expect this is the one route they will take before long. Given their GAM totals at the moment, the club has some space to work with to obtain a slot or two (which most tend to go for around $100-200k depending on which team you’re working with).
- Buyout or transfer Sali: This is something we’ve been discussing for a while now. The club not only has too many internationals on the roster, but they also have one too many U22 players on the roster as well. Unloading Sali will help in both cases.
- Trade someone: Could Anderson Julio still be on the trading block? Out of all of the international players on the roster, Julio feels like the one the club could move this winter to help open up a slot.
- Loan someone out: Right now, I kind of have my eye on a couple of loans that could open up some slots. Both Deedson and Alvaro Augusto look like decent players to loan (both are on long contracts and need minutes that may be tough to obtain in Dallas in 2026).
- Green cards: It has been a couple of years since FC Dallas has gotten some green cards for an international player. Our sources tell us that the club is constantly working on green cards where they can, but it is a long process these days (for many reasons).
As the calendar is getting set to move to 2026, don’t be shocked if most of these items end up happening for the club.
