Topbin90's 2025 Charlotte FC season preview
By Sam Vanolinda
Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90
The MLS season begins in a few days. After a painful playoff exit and an exciting offseason, Dean Smith and his Charlotte FC squad are ready to get started and achieve big things in 2025.
After much cogitation by the front office in the last few months, Wilfried Zaha became the big-name player who has arrived at the club and caused ripples in the MLS world.
Charlotte could become a true trophy contender if Zaha plays his best football. However, players alone do not win games; preparation and effort do.
It is time to provide a preview of the season to come; what player(s) will have the most impact? What place will Charlotte finish in? What are some of the key matches on the schedule? Let's look into that in this article:
Predicted Table Finish
I also reached out to a couple of media members that you likely have heard from on X:
Carroll R. Walton @CarrollRodgers (Charlotte Ledger) - 4th
Caleb Adams @itscalebadams - 3rd
Vaughn Pollman @vipollman - 3rd
And other general MLS experts gave their predictions as well:
Player of the Season
Carroll R. Walton: Patrick Agyemang
Caleb Adams: Wilfried Zaha
Vaugh Pollman: Patrick Agyemang
Brian Maurer: Andrew Privett
Jorge Gonzales: Eryk Williamson
Key Factor in Charlotte’s Success
Carrol R Walton: “How well Zaha integrates into a new team and league.”
Caleb Adams: “Getting the front four to click.”
Vaughn Pollman: “Becoming a top 10 attack in the MLS for the first time.”
Jorge Gonzales: “Being a difficult team to break down and how effective our front four will be”
Brian Maurer: “Charlotte’s focus has been on improving the attack, this will open them up at the back. How well the defensive unit responds to that pressure will be key.”
Personal Prediction:
Finish: 3rd Place
Charlotte FC will finish in third this year. With another offseason for Dean Smith to nurture the team and share his wealth of experience and knowledge with the players and coaches, I can see a top-three finish. As long as the team stays healthy and Zaha settles in well to the MLS, they have all the talent and coaching to be one of the best teams in the MLS.
Player of the Season: Wilfried Zaha
Zaha’s “Fortress,” jersey is on the way to my house as we speak. There is no way I can’t pick my favorite player as the player of the season. I think it may take a couple of games for him to get up to speed, and I hope the fans do not quickly lose faith in him because he's been out of competitive action for a long time now. With that said, he has some of the most abundant natural talent in the league, and if he performs the way I know he can, the city will lionize the Ivorian.
Key to Success: Consistency and health in the attack
The team had a substantial amount of lineup changes last year, especially with the attacking players on the team. It was hard to find any confidence in the players because the team was being switched game after game. This year, the players need to stay healthy and become a solid four at the top that barely changes. Zaha, Agyemang, Abada, and Biel, should be a force in the league.
Key Games
03/01/2025 Atlanta (HOME)
The home opener against Southern rivals Atlanta United will be one of the season's biggest games. It will also be Zaha’s first appearance at the Bank, adding to the heated rivalry between Charlotte and Atlanta. The energy in the stadium will be palpable, and hopefully, the team will deliver a rapturous performance.
03/09/2025 Miami (AWAY)
Inter Miami games will always be a must-watch while the greatest ever still plays in the MLS. One week after the exciting home opener against Atlanta, fans will be treated to a matchup against Messi and company.
04/05/2025 Nashville (HOME)
Nashville is another team close to home and the game between these two teams should be a heated one. Zaha and some Nashville SC players already got into a scuffle on the field in a closed friendly in the preseason.
04/19/2025 San Diego (HOME)
The new guys will come to town in April, I’m excited to see the new team and how they compete with the Crown. It will be fun to watch Hirving Lozano at the Bank.
05/14/2025 Orlando (AWAY)
Revenge will be on the mind at the place where Charlotte’s season ended in 2024. It would be such a sweet victory to beat Orlando after the brutal exit in the playoffs last year.
08/3/2024 Guadalajara (AWAY)*
C.D Guadalajara (Chivas) is one of the big four in Mexico. It should be an awesome experience to watch Charlotte FC play them in the Leagues Cup.
*This game is marked away, but it will be played at Bank of America Stadium.
8th place, I think there are still two players missing, one in the midfield who generates football and a winger with more experience, if you want to see the franchise player (Zaha) shine.