While there are still three Matchdays left on the season for FC Dallas, the offseason is inching closer and closer to becoming a reality.
On Thursday morning, MLS announced the dates and times of the upcoming offseason roster building events, including the 2026 SuperDraft.
Let’s dive into the dates for FC Dallas.
Roster Announcements
The main date I know most of you are concerned with at the moment comes up in a few weeks. FC Dallas will have until Wednesday, November 26 to submit which players they want to extend contract options or offer bona fide deals to out of contract players1. This gives FC Dallas a little over a month following their Decision Day game on October 18.
FC Dallas will then announce their roster moves once those offers have been made.
Clubs in the Conference Finals are required to submit all Bona Fide offers on the day after their final match of the postseason.
Losing Conference Final clubs must submit exercise option decisions and all Bona Fide offers to the MLS League Office on the day after their final match of the postseason.
Clubs competing in the 2025 MLS Cup presented by Audi must submit exercise option decisions and all Bona Fide offers to the MLS League Office on December 7.
Half-Day Trade Window
Unlike previous years, the league will not have an official half-day trade window following MLS Cup.
Free Agency Opens
Wednesday, December 10, a new period of MLS free agency will begin. Clubs may engage with players, other than their own, that are eligible for Free Agency.
Free Agency eligible players are out-of-contract and option-declined players who are at least 24 years old and who have completed a minimum of four service years.
A full list of free agents will be made public on December 9.
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Re-Entry Draft (Stage 1)
After the start of free agency, on Wednesday, December 11, MLS will conduct the first stage of the annual Re-Entry Draft3.
Eligible Players include those who are at least 22 years old, have a minimum of one service year, and who are not eligible for Free Agency. An out-of-contract player who has received a BFO from his current club will not be eligible for the Re-Entry Draft. The MLS Cup champions will get the 30th pick.
A full list of eligible players will be made available on December 9.
Waiver Draft
Also, on Thursday, December 11, will be the annual Waiver Draft2.
The End-of-Year Waivers process is conducted in reverse order of 2025 season finish, considering postseason performance.
Eligible for selection are players who do not meet the minimum requirements for Re-Entry Process or Free Agency.
Re-Entry Draft (Stage 2)
The following Wednesday, December 17, the Re-Entry Draft will wrap up with the second stage. Stage 2 is conducted in the same order as Stage 1 and consists of MLS players who were not selected in the Stage 1.
2025 MLS SuperDraft
And finally, on Thursday, December 18, the annual SuperDraft will wrap up the offseason roster building events for 2025.
The 2026 MLS SuperDraft will consist of three rounds of player selection. The MLS SuperDraft order is set by taking the reverse order of the club standings at the end of each MLS season, taking postseason performance into account.
If the SuperDraft were held today, FC Dallas would hold the 11th pick in the first round. With three games left, that will likely change.
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There is a good chance their roster announcements will be made much sooner than late November. If we get wind of a potential date, we will share that out with you all. ↩
This draft is rarely a big deal. Just sayin’. ↩
FC Dallas has used this Draft in the past to snag a player or two. But I would estimate they will be pretty quiet in this year’s version. ↩
