KANSAS CITY, Mo. (August 19, 2026) – United Soccer Coaches announced on Wednesday the 27 NCAA Men’s Division I college soccer players named to the 2026 Hermann Trophy Watch List as the regular season officially got underway.
The Hermann Trophy is presented annually by the Missouri Athletic Club and is the nation’s highest individual honor recognizing the National Player of the Year as determined by voting of Division I head coaches who are members of United Soccer Coaches. It is named in honor of the late Robert Hermann, the legendary St. Louis, Mo., businessman and soccer executive who founded the National Professional Soccer League, the first pro soccer league in the United States which became the North American Soccer League. He was inducted in the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame in 2012.
The 2026 watch list was compiled by members of the Division I Men’s All-America Council from a list of returning 2025 All-Americans and First Team All-Region players. A total of 15 players will be named 2026 Hermann Trophy semifinalists on December 4 at the conclusion of NCAA Division I All-American voting. From that list, head coaches will cast votes, and three players will be named finalists. The 2026 recipient will be announced January 8, 2027, in a ceremony at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in downtown St. Louis, Mo.
2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Hermann Trophy Watch List
|
Name |
Class |
School |
Hometown |
|
Jaime Amaro |
Jr. |
UCLA |
Madrid, Spain |
|
Mitchell Baker |
Jr. |
Georgetown University |
Melbourne, Australia |
|
Harry Bertos |
Sr. |
University of Washington |
Bedford, Mass. |
|
Braden Dunham |
So. |
Furman University |
Peachtree City, Ga. |
|
Paco Fernandez |
GR-5 |
Bryant University |
Sevilla, Spain |
|
Matthew Fisher |
Sr. |
University of Michigan |
Rochester, Mich. |
|
Jeremy Francou |
Jr. |
UMKC |
Chartres, France |
|
Ransford Gyan |
Jr. |
Clemson University |
Sunyani, Ghana |
|
Niklas Herceg |
Jr. |
University of Vermont |
Alsdorf, Germany |
|
Diego Hernandez |
Sr. |
Furman University |
Mesquite, Texas |
|
Miguel Angel-Hernandez |
GR-5 |
University of Portland |
Perris, Calif. |
|
Joe Highfield |
Jr. |
University of Portland |
Plymouth, Minn. |
|
Noah Holmstrom |
Jr. |
Southern Methodist University |
Aalborg, Denmark |
|
David Ismail |
GR-5 |
University of Vermont |
Bayreuth, Germany |
|
William Lawson |
Jr. |
California Baptist University |
Paris, France |
|
Daniel Lugo |
Sr. |
High Point University |
St. Petersburg, Fla. |
|
Laurin Mack |
Jr. |
University of Maryland |
Emmendingen, Germany |
|
Connor Miller |
Sr. |
Cornell University |
Centennial, Colo. |
|
Calle Mollerberg |
Sr. |
University of California Santa Barbara |
Stockholm, Sweden |
|
Collins Oduro |
Sr. |
Indiana University |
Bibiani, Ghana |
|
Pablo Pozos |
Sr. |
West Virginia University |
Madrid, Spain |
|
Matthew Reed |
Sr. |
Creighton University |
Felton, Del. |
|
Diego Rosas |
Sr. |
University of Portland |
Benito, Texas |
|
Joschi Schelb |
Sr. |
University of North Carolina |
Freiburg, Germany |
|
Marius Stenner |
Jr. |
University of Delaware |
Svendborg, Denmark |
|
Iain Wagner |
Jr. |
University of San Diego |
San Diego, Calif. |
|
Ryan Zellefrow |
Jr. |
University of North Carolina |
Berwyn, Pa. |
The MAC Hermann Trophy is presented annually to the Division I National Players of the Year as voted by Division I College Coaches at the end of the regular season. The 2026 recipients will be announced on January 8, 2027, in St. Louis, Mo.
United Soccer Coaches is the world’s largest association of soccer coaches, serving members at every level with education, community, and recognition. Through courses, events, and awards, United Soccer Coaches helps coaches learn, connect. and lead.
