The 2026 season of Major League Soccer is set to begin, with the next crop of talent ready to enter into the limelight. During the past few months of the previous campaign, several potentially interesting players emerged, taking a big step forward in their careers with regular appearances and noticeable development. Jacob Bartlett had a solid rookie campaign and forced himself into the starting lineup, displaying composure as a passer. The 20-year-old Sporting Kansas City midfielder-defender could be an intriguing name to watch moving forward.
Born in Overland Park, Kansas, Bartlett competed with Sporting Blue Valley before joining the Sporting Kansas City Academy in the Under-12 age group and progressing all the way up to the Under-19 side. He was a member of the teams that won the 2019 LA Galaxy Cup, finished in second place at the 2020 US Youth Futsal National Championships, and claimed a 2023 United Premier Soccer League regular season division title. Top Drawer Soccer listed him as a four-star recruit and a top-50 prospect in the country.
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“(He) came to work every day, worked really hard, put maximum focus, maximum effort, maximum energy every day, every time he was at the facility,” said academy director Declan Jogi. “He thrived on the technical elements of the game and he loved the technical work. And he threw himself into it. I think you see that now on the field: The first touch and his passing ability is elite. It’s exceptional.”
Following a growth spurt, Bartlett was included in Sporting Kansas City’s 2023 and 2024 preseason rosters, “training extensively with the first team.” He then made a single appearance with the reserves in MLS NEXT Pro, playing 67 minutes at centre-back in a 3-2 loss to FC Cincinnati II. During the next season, his number was called seven consecutive times to start the schedule on a 4-2-1 run, with the midfielder-defender nabbing an assist in a 4-1 victory over Minnesota United II.
Bartlett then matriculated to the University of Notre Dame for a brief spell, which provided the opportunity to “get out of [his] comfort zone, experience a new system, meet new players, and push [himself] in different ways.” He picked up 16 total appearances, registering the game-winning goal with a blasted shot in a 2-1 win over Louisville. The Atlantic Coast Conference named him the Defensive Player of the Week in September after picking up his first start of the season and being “instrumental” at left fullback.
Following his single collegiate campaign, Bartlett made the “easy” decision to leave school in order to achieve his dream. Sporting Kansas City signed him to a Homegrown Player contract through 2027 with options for 2028 and 2029, highlighting his ability to “adjust to different game situations.” He was with the first team to open the schedule, starting both matches and playing all 180 minutes in a 4-1 (1-0, 3-1) aggregate defeat to Inter Miami in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, registering an assist in the away leg — his “excellent” performances and immediate adaptation to the professional level impressed observers.
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Facing off against a star-studded roster for his professional debut was a trial by fire for the young player. “My parents reassured me that I deserve to be here, this is the moment that I’ve been dreaming of, and I just need to go take it,” Bartlett said on No Other Pod. “I got to the stadium; definitely the nerves, they went up a notch for sure… It’s a confidence thing. If I’m settling into the game and know I can play, I guess the adrenaline builds my confidence out. In the heat of the game, I feel like the emotion takes me away, in a good way… In those moments you see [my] fiery side.”
Bartlett made a further 31 league and cup appearances, mostly in the starting lineup before becoming a substitute in the latter portion of the schedule and added another helper in a 4-2 win over the Colorado Rapids. The club endured a dismal campaign despite firing long-tenured manager Peter Vermes in March, finishing at the bottom of MLS’ Western Conference with a 7-20-7 record. With a roster overhaul underway, the young midfielder is expected to be a key figure in 2026.
Standing at a rangy six feet, two inches tall, Bartlett is a versatile player who can line up at centre-back, fullback, and defensive midfielder, covering a fair amount of ground. He is an active part of the build-up and plays several long-range passes every match while also racking up interceptions in crucial areas, praised for “a very good confidence, playing the position well, [having] a good touch, and [having] a good understanding of the game.” The “very cerebral player” is a quick study and overcomes his mistakes, enjoying rapid progress after entering MLS in a state of physical readiness.
“I’d love to keep playing and build minutes as time goes on,” Bartlett shared with RG. “I’m chasing my next contract because nothing is guaranteed. I don’t know what’ll happen tomorrow, but I can show up every day with the same mentality and work ethic and let the rest follow… I’m trying to stay level-headed. It’s that inner drive to get better every day. I’m aggressive—I try to win the ball back quickly—and I use my stamina to keep up. Whether it’s distributing… or stopping a counterattack, I’ll do whatever helps the team win.”
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Bartlett had a solid first season in MLS, entering the professional level with some extra seasoning after two campaigns with the reserves and a brief spell in college. The next few years are crucial for his development and prospects, particularly if there is to be an eventual transfer overseas or international future. He will have to continue to perform and improve in order to earn a shot with the United States Men’s National Team, but there will be plenty of chances during the next few World Cup cycles.
