While we won’t unveil our official 2026 Songs of the Summer chart-topper until next week, a dozen MLS stars are sharing their personal Songs of the Summer with Billboard as Labor Day closes in.
We’ve got a trio of 2026 FIFA World Cup players onboard — Charlotte FC’s Tim Ream (Team USA), FC Dallas’ Petar Musa (Croatia) and Orlando City SC’s Maxime Crepeaú (Canada) — and we have 12 different MLS teams across the country represented, from San Jose down to Orlando.
Different genres also dot our soccer-fueled summer playlist, including country (Ella Langley, Riley Green, Stella Lefty), dance (Swedish House Mafia, Francis Mercier, Jonas Blue), rap (Rod Wave, Lil Durk, Mauvais Djo), and pop (Shakira, Justin Bieber).
Oh, and one player even chose his very own song: Ghanaian soccer star Joseph Paintsil, a winger for the LA Galaxy, also makes music that crosses genres, including Afrobeats, R&B and hip-hop. He picked his own 2026 single (aptly titled “LA Galaxy”) as his Song of the Summer. “Our fans come out in their numbers and give us that extra motivation to keep going,” Paintsil tells Billboard of his selection. “This song was another way for me to give that energy back to them.”
After pausing for a month-plus to accommodate the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which wrapped in mid-July, the MLS season is back in full swing, leading up to the MLS Cup Playoffs in November. If you want to tune in to watch one of the 12 players below, or another of the 30 total teams, you can watch every match (plus in-depth coverage and analysis) on Apple TV.
Find our full MLS Songs of the Summer playlist below.
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Tim Ream, Charlotte FC
Image Credit: Krista Jasso/Getty Images His 2026 Song of the Summer: Riley Green, “Change My Mind”
Why? “The country/rock blend that he brings in this song embodies the genres I listen to every day.”
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Anders Dreyer, San Diego FC
Image Credit: Alex Goodlett/Getty Images His 2026 Song of the Summer: Justin Bieber, “All I Can Take”
Why? “I like the calmness of the song and how every time I listen to it, it puts me in a good mood.”
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Denis Bouanga, LAFC
Image Credit: Courtesy of LAFC His 2026 Song of the Summer: Mauvais Djo, “Pilé”
Why? “The song never fails to put me in a good mood. It’s the perfect soundtrack for soaking up the sunshine and enjoying a beautiful day out in LA.”
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Joseph Paintsil, LA Galaxy
Image Credit: Kevin Terrell/Getty Images His 2026 Song of the Summer: Joseph Paintsil, “LA Galaxy”
Why? “‘LA Galaxy’ is my choice because this club is special to me and the opportunity to come here changed my life. Our fans come out in their numbers and give us that extra motivation to keep going. This song was another way for me to give that energy back to them.”
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Cavan Sullivan, Philadelphia Union
Image Credit: Courtesy of Philadelphia Union His 2026 Song of the Summer: Steve Lacy, “The Feeling”
Why? “’The Feeling’ has that euphoric sound that just makes every moment feel better. The lyrics actually tell a story instead of solely being catchy. Steve Lacy nailed the vibe on this one – it’s smooth, feels nostalgic, and fits every summer car ride perfectly.”
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Diego Luna, Real Salt Lake
Image Credit: Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images His 2026 Song of the Summer: Rod Wave (feat. Lil Durk), “Already Won”
Why? “I really like this song because it’s about being grateful for what really matters, and that really resonates with me.”
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Julian Hall, Red Bull New York
Image Credit: Dustin Satloff/Getty Images His 2026 Song of the Summer: Shakira and Burna Boy, “Dai Dai”
Why? “I think this is a great summer song because it gives you those vibes of driving down to the beach with the windows down, ready to have a great day.”
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Petar Musa, FC Dallas
Image Credit: Omar Vega/Getty Images His 2026 Song of the Summer: Francis Mercier, Faul & Wad and African Children’s Choir, “Sauti”
Why? “The best song for me is ‘Sauti’ – it has summer vibes and it’s really good.”
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Paxten Aaronson, Colorado Rapids
Image Credit: Dustin Bradford/Getty Images His 2026 Song of the Summer: Jonas Blue and Malive, “Edge of Desire”
Why? “The reason I like ‘Edge of Desire’ is the vibe it brings, great summer energy and brings that feel-good factor when you’re enjoying the sun.”
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Patrick Schulte, Columbus Crew
Image Credit: Jason Mowry/Getty Images His 2026 Song of the Summer: Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas”
Why? “My song this summer has been ‘Choosin’ Texas’ by Ella Langley. The boys play it a lot in the facility during the day, and it always brings good vibes when I’m there, as well as when I’m on the golf course.”
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Timo Werner, San Jose Earthquakes
Image Credit: Brandon Vallance/Getty Images His 2026 Song of the Summer: Stella Lefty, “Boston”
Why? “It’s a chill song that gets you relaxed when you’re in your car on the way to the stadium for the game.”
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Maxime Crepeaú, Orlando City SC
Image Credit: Alex Menendez/Getty Images His 2026 Song of the Summer: Swedish House Mafia, “Happiness Is So Sad”
Why? “I love the melody with the progressive drop. It’s just the right BPM to make you happy.”
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