Carlos Mercado Bio
Jose Carlos Mercado (born September 27, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper. He is signed with Major League Soccer club Orlando City, having joined the first team in 2024. Mercado has represented both the United States and Mexico at various youth international levels, reflecting his family ties to both countries.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, Mercado is one of the taller goalkeepers in American soccer and has built his career through the developmental ranks of USL League Two, the USL Championship, and MLS NEXT Pro. After years of hard work in lower divisions, he earned a Major League Soccer contract and has since been a member of the Orlando City organization.
Early Life and Background
Mercado was born in Laredo, Texas, but grew up across the border in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, where his parents chose to live because it was more affordable while still allowing them to commute to work in the United States. He is the youngest of six siblings, and his family roots in Mexico have remained central to his identity throughout his soccer career.
Although Mercado initially wanted to play as a forward as a young child, his career path changed when he was 12 years old. With his older brother’s team short a goalkeeper ahead of a 30-and-over league match, Mercado stepped in to keep the game from being canceled. He enjoyed the experience and performed well enough that his brothers soon hired a goalkeeping coach to help him develop. That decision launched his path toward playing between the posts.
He attended John B. Alexander High School in Laredo, and through an opportunity connected to his school, he earned a spot at an open tryout for the Pachuca academy in Mexico, where he spent a year training. After that, he moved on to Major League Soccer academy environments, ultimately joining the FC Dallas academy in 2014 and playing in three straight Dallas Cup tournaments, including winning the 2017 edition. He also won U-15/16 U.S. Soccer Development Academy championships with FC Dallas in 2014–15 and 2015–16.
Path to Soccer
Mercado’s youth development was shaped by time spent in two elite academy systems. After his year at Pachuca, he tried out for both the Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas academies before joining FC Dallas in 2014. There, he competed in the Dallas Cup in 2015, 2016, and 2017, lifting the trophy in 2017, and contributed to back-to-back U.S. Soccer Development Academy titles in 2014–15 and 2015–16.
In 2018, Mercado began his college career at the University of the Incarnate Word on a full-ride scholarship, playing for the Incarnate Word Cardinals. He debuted on August 24, 2018, in a 6–0 loss to Saint Mary’s Gaels, and went on to make 15 appearances that season. In 2019, he recorded his first college shutout in a 1–0 win over the Liberty Flames on September 1.
Even as a college player, Mercado was already gaining senior-level experience, joining USL League Two clubs in the summers. That blend of college competition and senior minutes helped him sharpen his game and set the stage for a full-time professional career after his college years wound down.
Carlos Mercado Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Mercado’s first senior opportunity came in 2018 with USL League Two side Des Moines Menace. He debuted on June 1, 2018, in a 2–1 win over Kaw United FC and recorded his first shutout on June 10 in a 3–0 victory over FC Manitoba. Des Moines finished the regular season atop the Heartland Division with the highest points total in the league, conceding only six goals, and Mercado was responsible for half of those. He played in both playoff matches before Des Moines fell 1–0 to Chicago FC United in the Central Conference Final.
The following year, Mercado split time between Laredo Heat of the National Premier Soccer League and Corpus Christi FC of USL League Two. With Corpus Christi FC, he made one appearance in an 8–1 loss to Brazos Valley Cavalry FC, conceding four goals. These early stings gave him valuable experience in front of varied senior-level competition.
San Antonio FC Breakthrough (2020–2023)
On March 6, 2020, Mercado signed with San Antonio FC of the USL Championship. He waited nearly two years for his professional debut, which finally came on October 31, 2021, when he came on as a 62nd-minute substitute for Matt Cardone in a 3–0 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. He was released at the end of the 2021 season but rejoined the club on February 14, 2023.
During his 2023 stint with San Antonio FC, Mercado made two appearances. He played in a 2–1 U.S. Open Cup win over Club de Lyon on April 4 and a 3–1 league win over Birmingham Legion on July 1. He again parted ways with the club at the end of that season, having firmly established himself as a reliable presence in the USL Championship.
Orlando City B Era (2024)
On March 15, 2024, Mercado joined Orlando City B of MLS NEXT Pro for the 2024 season. He debuted a day later in a 3–2 season-opening win at Atlanta United 2, playing the full match. On August 11, he recorded his first clean sheet for the club in a 0–0 draw against Crown Legacy FC. He also started in the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs on October 20, a 1–1 draw at Chicago Fire II, though Orlando City B were eliminated 5–4 on penalties.
Orlando City Era (2024–2025)
On September 20, 2024, Mercado was signed to a first-team contract with Orlando City, running through 2024 with options for 2025, 2026, and 2027. His 2025 option was declined at the conclusion of the 2024 season without an appearance for the senior side, but on January 30, 2025, he was re-signed on a one-year deal with options for 2026 and 2027 after Mason Stajduhar’s departure. On June 26, 2025, Mercado was selected to compete in the Goalie Wars event at the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, ultimately finishing as runner-up to Pedro Cruz.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 6 feet 3 inches, Mercado uses his frame to dominate his penalty area, particularly in claiming crosses and covering high balls. His development across American and Mexican academies has helped him blend comfort on the ball with traditional shot-stopping instincts, making him a modern, ball-playing goalkeeper suited to Orlando City’s style of play.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his most memorable moments are his professional debut with San Antonio FC in 2021, his selection for the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge in 2025, and his 2017 Dallas Cup triumph with FC Dallas. His path from a 12-year-old filling in for his brother’s team to an MLS contract reflects a steady climb built on persistence and family support.
Carlos Mercado Career Wins
Mercado has compiled a growing list of team and personal achievements across multiple leagues. He has contributed to two U.S. Soccer Development Academy U-15/16 championships, a 2017 Dallas Cup title, a 2018 USL League Two regular-season championship with Des Moines Menace, and selection to the 2025 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge.
Team and Tournament Highlights
With Des Moines Menace in 2018, Mercado helped the side top the Heartland Division with the best record in USL League Two, conceding only six goals all season. He was also part of the San Antonio FC squad that lifted competitive results in 2023, including a U.S. Open Cup win over Club de Lyon, and played a key role in Orlando City B’s 2024 campaign, including a first clean sheet against Crown Legacy FC.
Other Performances
Mercado’s youth international call-ups for both Mexico at the U-16 and U-18 levels and the United States at the U-18 level stand out as significant honors, underscoring his standing within two national team programs. His role as a starter for Orlando City B and as a senior-team signing with Orlando City has further cemented his reputation as a rising American goalkeeper.
Carlos Mercado Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Mercado comes from a family with deep roots in Mexico, and he has described his family as “all Mexican.” He is the youngest of six siblings and grew up moving between Laredo, Texas, and Nuevo Laredo, an experience he has said gave him a “calling for both nationalities.” His uncle status to fellow professional soccer player Sebastian Mercado, with whom he played at San Antonio FC, has continued that family connection to the sport.
Personal Life
Mercado maintains close ties to his family, who supported his move from forward to goalkeeper by hiring a coach for him when he was 12. He has spoken openly about the influence of his parents and brothers in shaping both his career and his bicultural identity.
2025 Season Performance
Mercado’s 2025 campaign has been defined by his January return to the Orlando City first team on a one-year deal. Although he was not initially retained after 2024, the departure of Mason Stajduhar opened the door for a new contract, and he has continued to train and compete with the senior squad throughout the season.
A highlight of the year came in late June when he was chosen for the Goalie Wars competition at the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge in Austin, Texas, where he faced Pedro Cruz of Houston Dynamo 2 in the final. The matchup with Cruz ended 4–3, finishing Mercado as runner-up, but the selection itself was a strong signal of his progress within the organization.
Looking ahead, Mercado is working to establish himself in Orlando City’s first-team picture while continuing to feature for Orlando City B when needed. With club options still attached to his deal and the support of the club’s goalkeeping staff, his 2025 season is about translating his developmental progress into sustained senior-team opportunities.