Charlotte FC vs FC Dallas Match Preview: Player Matchup & Predicted Starting XI
By Rylee McKinney (@rylees_roster) & Sean McGuffin (@SeanMCG704)
With the international break over, MLS returns to regular-season play tonight as Charlotte FC faces Western Conference contender FC Dallas.
Seven regular season matches remain, and the playoff pressure is steadily increasing. Currently, Charlotte sits in 5th place in the Eastern Conference, while FC Dallas holds a more-than-comfortable 3rd place in the West.
A win tonight would be major for Charlotte to avoid slipping out of the playoff qualifying zone. Yet, these three points will prove somewhat difficult for Charlotte, who recently conceded their eight-game winning streak with a 1-0 loss to Chicago before the break. Moreover, they are up against FC Dallas, who are fresh off a two-game shutout. Not only did they drop points against Chicago, but they lost veteran center back Tim Ream ahead of tonight's matchup to a red card in the 99th minute. With Tim Ream suspended, tonight's matchup will examine the depth in his place: Morrison Agyemang versus
Player Matchup:
Charlotte FC - Center Back - Morrison Agyemang
This 24-year-old defender was called up through MLS Next affiliate Crown Legacy at the beginning of this season. Morrison was simply asked to fill the shoes of Adilson Malanda, who departed from the club back in January. For a brief period of time, Morrison started in several matches, showcasing his athleticism and physicality right away. In 1,591 minutes of play so far in 2026, Morrison has won 69.2% of duals and made 151 defensive contributions.
The Ghanaian defender even recorded two goals for The Crown off set pieces, diving for a header both times. However, as the season went on, Morrison has taken a back seat, with other defenders like Will Cleary and David Schnegg earning some starting time.
Tonight will be an opportunity for Morrison to step up once again and prove he has a lot to offer to Dean Smith.
FC Dallas - Striker - Petar Musa
Morrison's biggest challenge tonight will be two-time MLS All-Star, Petar Musa.
This season, Musa has been a force up top for Dallas and is currently 2nd place in the MLS Golden Boot Race, just three goals behind Lionel Messi.
Musa's excellent performance even carried over into this year's FIFA World Cup, where he scored a goal against England during Croatia's group stage match.
Compared to other forwards, the Croatian striker is 97th percentile in goals, 89th in defensive contributions, and 91st in shot attempts. Based on his statistics, Musa will be a tricky match for Morrison, as his experience and high work rate will be a driving force for Dallas' attack.
Charlotte FC's predicted starting XI vs Dallas FC
Here is our Predicted Starting XI for tonight as Charlotte takes on Dallas FC:
Defensive Unit
Kristijan Kahlina will be in goal tonight, with Henry Kessler as a for-sure starter on defense. Harry Toffolo will likely have his second start since returning from a hamstring injury. Tim Ream will serve his one-game suspension following a red card against Chicago Fire. With his suspension, Morrison Agyemang will likely start at right-center back with Andrew Privett available as a sub. The biggest question on defense is right back, with Will Cleary and Nathan Byrne both on equal form as of late. Cleary getting the start last week gives him a slight edge over
If Cleary starts available subs will be Nathan Byrne, David Schnegg, Tyler Miller, Harry Toffolo and Andrew Privett will be available as substitutes.
Midfield
Ashley Westwood and Pep Biel will be in their usual spots in midfield. Djibril Diani has the best odds to start at defensive central midfielder, with Brandt Bronico and Luca De La Torre available as subs. Charlotte has been looking at other midfielders to add depth, but none will be seen tonight against Dallas.
Forward line
Dean Smith has his forward line back with Idan Toklomati and Liel Abada returning from international play. With Archie Goodwin’s injury, Idan Toklomati is expected to be the starting striker for the remainder of the 2026 season. Allan Saint-Maximin will continue to start at left wing. Rodolfo Aloko is typically available as an attacking sub but may not be available tonight. This means Dean Smith may call up a Crown Legacy player like Hugo Mbongue as a potential attacking sub.
Rodolfo Aloko and Tyger Smalls will be subs for tonight's match.
Predicted Starting XI
