ORLANDO – The UCF men’s soccer program’s pipeline to the professional ranks grew ever stronger Thursday afternoon, as redshirt junior midfielder Joey Mueller was selected in the third round of the MLS SuperDraft 2026 by New York City FC.
His selection, 71st overall, represents the Knights’ first in the MLS SuperDraft since former UCF standout defender Anderson Rosa was taken with the 14th pick of the second round of the MLS SuperDraft 2024 by the Colorado Rapids.
Mueller becomes the 14th player in program history to be selected in the MLS SuperDraft, as well as the fifth to be chosen in the last five seasons, joining Rosa, Gino Vivi (2023, LA Galaxy), Yanis Leerman (2022, Chicago Fire), and Nick Taylor (2022, Orlando City).
He is also the seventh Knight to be selected in the SuperDraft in the Scott Calabrese era, joining Rosa, Vivi, Taylor, Leerman, Cal Jennings (2020, FC Dallas), and Jonathan Dean (2020, Orlando City).
Mueller also represents the first in program history to be drafted by New York City FC, now giving the Black and Gold nine different MLS organizations to have selected members of the program.
The St. John’s County, Florida, native enjoyed the best season of his collegiate tenure in 2025, appearing in each of UCF’s 21 matches, including 18 starts, totaling 1,320 minutes on the pitch while playing the full 90 minutes on eight occasions.
He played the full 90 minutes in each of UCF’s final four postseason contests this fall, tilts that include UCF’s 1-0 clean sheet win over top-seeded No. 19 Kentucky in the Sun Belt Conference tournament semifinal, the Knights’ 3-1 win over third-seeded No. 12 Marshall to claim the Sun Belt Conference tournament championship, and the Black and Gold’s two NCAA Tournament matchups against Florida Atlantic and seventh-seeded No. 15 Georgetown.
The midfielder set single-season career bests in goals scored (2), assists (3), shot attempts (25) and shots on goal (10), with both of his two scores coming in key matchups for his team. He first found the back of the net in the 20th minute of UCF’s dominant 3-0 win over then-No. 11 Georgia Southern Oct. 10, and later added a crucial second goal in helping lead his team to its NCAA Tournament first round 3-2 victory over the Owls in Orlando Nov. 20.
Mueller also assisted the second of Lilian Ricol’s three goals in UCF’s 3-2 win over James Madison Oct. 22, came through with a helper on Drew Hansen’s game-winner against top-seeded Kentucky in the Sun Belt Conference tournament semifinal, and assisted Ricol’s 59th-minute NCAA Tournament game-winner against Florida Atlantic.
Through three years as a Knight, Mueller has played 38 matches and totaled three goals, five assists, 35 shot attempts and 17 shots on goal.
ABOUT UCF ATHLETICS
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program, representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.