The Missouri State University men’s soccer roster does not include a single player from the Midwest. Around five hours north from there, Drake University’s men’s soccer roster has only four players who are not from the midwest. This gap is seen in all 34 Division I men’s soccer roster in the region, according to an analysis of their 2026 rosters. 

For a local midwestern player, where they grow up can decide whether a Division I program will look at them or whether the state has one at all. 

In total, there are 34 Division I men’s soccer programs in the Midwest. These programs compete in seven different conferences: the Big Ten, Horizon League, Ohio Valley Conference, Summit League, Missouri Valley Conference, Big East and Mid-American Conference. 

Most Midwestern Division I schools do not develop players from the region but instead recruit players from other parts of the country or from other countries. One reason for this, according to Kyle Smith, associate head coach at Drake University, is the Midwest itself. The region is spread out and unique, Smith says, and many players struggle to play at a very high level year-round. For example, Lindenwood University has only two players from the Midwest, while Missouri State University does not have a single Midwestern player on its roster. In contrast, Drake University and Purdue Fort Wayne have rosters with only four players who are not from the Midwest.

Since the level of local soccer varies across the region, it can be hard for coaches to judge how a Midwestern high school player will perform in college. Kevin Brennan, associate head coach of Drake women’s soccer, says that the risk of recruiting an international player who may have played in a professional team academy can be lower than the risk of recruiting a local player whose level is harder to predict.

As shown on the map above, North Dakota, South Dakota and Kansas don’t have a single Division I men’s soccer program. These states are in the western part of the Midwest, which generally does not have as many Division I opportunities. Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa have only four Division I soccer programs across the three states. In addition, the Midwest is pretty rural and major cities with Division I Men’s soccer schools are primarily located in the eastern part of the region.

In my stories, I will also discuss how the region affects the recruiting process and what that means for universities and players as well as how the whole system of soccer works differently in Germany.