Expansion sides Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC mark another milestone next week in the countdown to their 2020 MLS debut, as they prepare for the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft on Nov. 19.
Here's how the process will work on Tuesday. Both clubs will each be able to select up to five players currently on MLS teams. All teams will now be able to protect 12 players after previously being allowed to place 11 on their protected lists.
A complete list of Expansion Draft-eligible players will be released Saturday. After having players selected by FC Cincinnati in 2018, D.C. United, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, FC Dallas, the Houston Dynamo and the New York Red Bulls will be exempt from having anybody chosen this go-around. Eligible layers from the league's other 18 teams, though, are fair game.
Last month the league held the MLS Expansion Priority Draft on MLSsoccer.com’s Oct. 6 Matchday Central: Decision Day presented by AT&T Pregame Show to determine the order for the expansion teams' five available player-acquisition methods. After Miami won a coin toss, giving them the first selection, they chose the No. 1 pick in the Expansion Draft. Then Nashville took the top place in the Allocation Order, and Miami selected the No. 1 SuperDraft pick:
The last time an MLS Expansion Draft included two teams was in 2016, when Atlanta United and Minnesota United both prepared to enter the league. The 2019 Expansion Draft will be the 13th held in the league's history.
