MLS Players Eligibility Criteria (2009 - Present)
- Retired from playing for at least three years.
- Ballot-eligible players must hit three of the following criteria:
- 100 matches played across all competitions for Sounders FC.*
- Helped the club to two major trophies.*
- Recipient of a league and / or team-issued annual award (MLS MVP, Concacaf awards, Sounders FC MVP, MLS Defender of the Year, MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Sounders FC Defender of the Year, etc).
- Represented senior national team in a major international competition while playing for Sounders FC (i.e. Gold Cup, Copa America, European Championship, FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, FIFA World Cup, etc).
- More than two major trophies captured equates to a standalone qualifying criteria, as does representing the club 200 times (all competitions) If a player achieves four of the listed criteria above, they are immediately fast-tracked for ballot eligibility and are not subject to the three-year post- retirement period.
- Must have made a significant impact both on the field and in the greater Puget Sound community.
- In the event of a death within the three-year eligibility period, eligibility is granted in the next regular voting period.
NOTE: “Major trophies” are defined as: MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup, FIFA Club World Cup.