Tim Parker Retires After 2026 MLS Season
The 12-season veteran defender will play his final match in Saturday's Decision Day game against Atlanta United.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Soccer
Tim Parker announced his retirement from professional soccer following the 2026 MLS season after a 12-season career that spanned five MLS clubs. His final match will be Saturday's Decision Day game against Atlanta United.
Why it matters
Parker's career spanned multiple MLS clubs and includes a key role in Red Bull New York's 2018 Supporters' Shield-winning side. His retirement closes a decade-long career in the league that included an All-Star and Best XI selection in 2023.
Parker has 303 regular-season MLS appearances, with 7 goals and 4 assists, and two stints with Red Bull New York spanning 2018-20 and 2025-26. Red Bull allowed a league-low 33 goals in 2018, the season the club won the Supporters' Shield with 71 points.
The players
Tim Parker
Tim Parker is a central defender who played 12 MLS seasons across five clubs and earned two caps with the U.S. men's national team.
Red Bull New York
Red Bull New York is an MLS club that won the 2018 Supporters' Shield and where Parker made 126 career-high appearances across two stints.
Atlanta United
Atlanta United is an MLS club based in Atlanta, Georgia, and the opponent in Parker's final match.
The details
Parker announced his retirement after the 2026 season, and his final match will be Saturday's Decision Day fixture against Atlanta United. He was selected 13th overall by Vancouver in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft and later played for Houston Dynamo FC, St. Louis CITY SC, and the New England Revolution.
Timeline
2015: Selected 13th overall in the MLS SuperDraft by Vancouver.
2018: Red Bull New York wins the Supporters' Shield with 71 points.
2023: Named an MLS All-Star and Best XI selection with St. Louis CITY SC.
Saturday: Final match against Atlanta United on Decision Day.
Season Trajectory
Parker's retirement comes at the close of the 2026 MLS season, marking the departure of a veteran defender who represented five clubs across 12 seasons. His 2023 Best XI selection with St. Louis CITY SC stands as one of the defining recognitions of a career that spanned multiple eras of the league.
Parker's final match on Saturday, Decision Day, is the last opportunity for fans to see him play in MLS. For fantasy and roster purposes, his retirement removes a veteran defender with 303 regular-season appearances from the league.
The takeaway
Parker's career illustrates how a defender can move across multiple MLS clubs and still earn league-wide recognition. Following his final match on Decision Day offers a direct look at a player whose career spanned 12 seasons.
What happens next
Parker's final match against Atlanta United is scheduled for Saturday's Decision Day.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in the Soccer section for context on MLS careers and season outcomes.
