Duncan McGuire

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, McGuire prepped at Creighton Preparatory School where he was a two-time Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska First Team selection (2018 and 2019) and was chosen to play at the 2019 Nebraska High School Soccer Senior Showcase. He played club soccer for Elkhorn SC.

Creighton Bluejays

Having attended the program's youth summer camps for a decade, McGuire committed to playing college soccer at Creighton University. He played three seasons for the Creighton Bluejays between 2019 and 2022, redshirting as a freshman in 2019. With the 2020 season delayed until early 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, McGuire eventually made his collegiate debut on February 20, 2021, away to Marquette Golden Eagles. He was one of six players to appear in all 12 matches during the season, making four starts, scoring four goals and three assists, and was named to the All-Big East Second Team. He made a further 19 appearances as a redshirt sophomore, making five starts and scoring five goals. 2022 proved a breakout year for McGuire. He played in all 24 matches, starting in all but one, and scored 23 goals, the most in the nation and a new Bluejays single season record. Six of his goals came as Creighton won the 2022 Big East Conference men's soccer tournament and McGuire was named tournament offensive MVP. Creighton also made a run to the NCAA College Cup semi-finals, losing to eventual champions Syracuse Orange 3–2. Individually McGuire was named Big East Offensive…

Lane United

McGuire played the 2022 USL League Two season with Lane United. He debuted in the first game of the season and scored his first goal in a 5–1 loss to Ballard FC on May 21, 2022. On June 4, McGuire assisted in two goals in a 2–0 victory over Oly Town FC, his first win with the club. In total, McGuire scored four goals and assisted three others in 11 appearances.

Orlando City

2023: MLS debut and top club goal scorer

On December 21, 2022, McGuire was selected in the first round (6th overall) of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City. He was officially announced as a new signing by Orlando on February 22, 2023. He scored his first professional goal in his debut for Orlando against D.C. United on March 11 in a 1–1 draw. McGuire scored the equalizing goal against Houston Dynamo FC on July 21 in the group stage of the Leagues Cup, leading to a penalty shootout in which the Lions won. In the second group stage game on July 29, McGuire scored the equalizing goal against Santos Laguna in a 3–2 victory, helping to send Orlando top of the group and qualify for the round of 32. In the last five matches of the regular season, McGuire scored or assisted in at least one goal in each match, including his first brace for the club in a 2–0 victory over Toronto FC on October 22, one of which was awarded Goal of the Matchday. The Lions advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs before being eliminated by Columbus Crew in a 2–0 loss.…

Youth

In October 2023, McGuire was called up to the United States under-23 national team ahead of friendlies against Mexico and Japan. He scored his first international goal on his second appearance just two minutes after being substituted on against Japan in an eventual 4–1 victory on October 18. On March 14, 2024, McGuire received a call-up to the under-23s for training camp in Spain and France as well as friendlies against Guinea and France, which resulted in a 3–0 victory and 2–2 draw respectively. McGuire started for the under-23s in a 2–0 friendly loss against Japan on June 11 in the lead-up to the 2024 Summer Olympics. McGuire was ultimately selected for the Olympic Soccer Team. In an interview, McGuire described how he felt after receiving a call from Marko Mitrović and getting called up to represent the United States at the Olympics, saying that he was overjoyed and "wanted to jump up and down like a little kid". The United States faced France, New Zealand, and Guinea in Group A in the group stage of the Olympics. McGuire started in their loss to France and win over New Zealand, but he came on as a 66th-minute substitute for Paxten Aaronson in their victory over Guinea, which secured the Americans moving onto the knockout stage in second place to face Morocco in the quarterfinals. McGuire once again came on as a substitute, this time as a 66th-minute substitute for Djordje Mihailovic, and McGuire and the United States were eliminated 4–0 by the…

McGuire is noted for playing with an intense work rate and consistently pressing opposition players in order to foment turnovers of the ball and create chances.