Charlotte FC Preseason Notes: The Crown finishes first weekend slate at Coachella with final dress rehearsal upcoming

By Brian Maurer

Photo courtesy CJ Hellner/TopBin90

Another weekend of preseason games is in the books for Charlotte FC, and finally, fans and media got a chance to watch a game streamed, highlighting just how close we are to the start of the 2026 MLS season.

Here are a few notes and takeaways from the Charlotte action against San Jose, which was streamed, as well as some notes from their closed-door friendly against Phoenix Rising the following day.

Charlotte FC loses 1-0 to San Jose Earthquakes

1. Players are starting to get closer to full shifts - Kristijan Kahlina and Andrew Privett played the full 90 minutes. Pep Biel was given 70 minutes, and the front four of Wilfried Zaha, Idan Toklomati, Biel, and Liel Abada all got an entire 70-minute shift together. It's not a huge surprise, but this looks like the highest likelihood front four for opening week against St. Louis City.

2. Left back depth is a strength in 2026 - Harry Toffolo exited early with what looked like some discomfort, and David Schnegg came in and continues to look the part. Left back could be one of Charlotte FC's deeper positions right now.

3. LDLT continues to get reps with the entire midfield group - Luca de la Torre is getting lots of minutes to get familiar with several different midfield pairings. Against San Jose, he played 45 minutes with Djibril Diani and then 25 minutes with Ashley Westwood. This gives Dean Smith a chance to see how all his midfielders look together in different setups and rotations.

4. Abada putting his body on the line to earn his spot back - Abada had an opportunity to show some two-way ability against an active DeJuan Jones, who was attacking on his side. Jones forced Abada to put his body on the line a good bit defensively, which was a good sign that he was willing to do so, given the position battle he is in on the right wing against Kerwin Vargas. We still haven't seen a ton of difference-making ability from the Israeli winger in preseason action yet, but he did have a few good moments, especially when Zaha found him over the top, getting him a chance on goal.

5. Privett's ball progression is going to be a key in early season stretch - Privett looked sound defensively but missed a great opportunity to put Toklomati through on goal. He will need to get those types of passes down this year to convince Smith he can replace what Adilson Malanda's distribution brought to the table last year.

   
   

   He currently looks primed to have a starting role to start the season, as he was also given the captain's armband, and should have an opportunity to fight to keep his place.

6. Zaha helped the team create by finding the ball in central pockets - Zaha created two really good moments down the stretch in the first half and looked like the most lively attacking player on the field by the end of the half. He created dangerous moments by receiving the ball more centrally and then sending the ball on to runners in and around the box. Overall, Charlotte's front four didn't look completely insync, but there were moments where the group showed that they are looking to attack defenses in a wider variety of ways.

Charlotte FC beats Phoenix Rising 2-1 in a closed-door friendly on Sunday

1. A lot of young prospects got long runouts - Will Cleary, Andrew Johnson, Baye Coulibaly, and Emmanuel Uchegbu got full 90-minute shifts. Smith is clearly looking to see which of this group will be earning first-team supplemental roster spots, as there are still a few available.

   
   

2. Bronico played a full 90 - Bronico played a full 90 against Phoenix and only about 20 minutes against San Jose. It looks like he could be getting rotated into a bench role to start the year. Not tremendously surprising given the de la Torre signing, but one situation to watch with the final dress rehearsal approaching.

4. Clear A and B Team starting to materialize - This will become clearer in the coming week with the final dress rehearsal preseason matchup next weekend, but it appears there is a clear A team and B team forming based on how minutes are getting allocated and in which set-ups. The game against San Jose looked close to what the starting XI opening week could be (depending on Tim Ream and Nathan Byrne's health). The Phoenix Rising game rotation looks like the potential second-string group to start 2026.

5. Tim Ream and Nathan Byrne continue to be absent - Tim Ream and Nathan Byrne are the main notable absences with their calf injuries. Preseason reps won't be the key for them, but the main concern is fitness for opening night. Diani at left center-back, and Jack Neeley at right back appear to be frontrunners as opening night substitutes if needed, based on how reps are being distributed across the preseason games so far.

Charlotte FC minutes-by-position breakdown through preseason

GK:

Kristijan Kahlina - 180'

Tyler Miller - 130'

Isaac Walker - 65'

LB:

David Schnegg - 220'

Harry Toffolo - 110'

Will Cleary - 45'

LCB:

Andrew Privett - 195'

Djibril Diani - 90'

Jack Neeley - 45'

Morrison Agyemang - 45'

RCB:

Andrew Johnson - 200'

Morrison Agyemang - 175'

RB:

Jack Neeley - 175'

Will Cleary - 110'

Nathan Byrne - 45'

Willian Sangoquiza - 45'

CM:

Baye Coulibaly - 215'

Ashley Westwood - 205'

Luca de la Torre - 195'

Djibril Diani - 90'

Aron John - 45'

AM:

Brandt Bronico - 215'

Pep Biel - 115'

Aron John - 45'

LW:

Wilfried Zaha - 115'

Emmanuel Uchegbu - 110'

Liel Abada - 105'

Kerwin Vargas - 45'

CF:

Idan Toklomati - 195'

Kerwin Vargas - 85'

Archie Goodwin - 45'

Tyger Smalls - 45'

Rodolfo Aloko - 5'

RW:

Rodolfo Aloko - 180'

Liel Abada - 90'

Emmanuel Uchegbu - 75'

Kerwin Vargas - 30'