What did we learn about Charlotte FC during their Leagues Cup run?

By Brian Maurer

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Hallmark/TopBin90

Charlotte FC came out of the gates firing in Leagues Cup with back-to-back wins and shutouts to put themselves in the driver's seat going into their final Group Stage match against Pachuca. A late letdown left the Crown looking for help from several results to advance to the Quarterfinals. That help didn't come as the club was officially eliminated last night.

Here's a look at some of the things we learned about Charlotte FC during their latest tournament run:

Positives

One of the positives from this tournament was the amount of players Charlotte was able to get minutes and find wins while doing it. Tyger Smalls, Rodolfo Aloko, Will Cleary, Henry Kessler, Archie Goodwin, and Tyler Miller have all gotten a good amount of run throughout the Group Stage, and Crown Legacy prospect Nathan Richmond and new DP signing Allan Saint-Maximin were able to make their Charlotte FC debuts.

Saint-Maximin getting the opportunity to make his debut and make an impact off the bench was a great start to the new winger's tenure, and one of the most important outcomes after exiting in the Group Stage. Now he will continue to build his minutes in MLS play, but getting the jumpstart in a tournament helps.

Smalls got over 100 minutes and had two goals and an assist, which likely gives the winger some personal momentum even if his role looks to continue being limited. Aloko had several moments where he looked like a potential difference maker, especially off the bench in their third game against Pachuca, he just didn't get the finish. The Benin international getting over 170 minutes should help as he tries to find his place in the squad post-Kerwin Vargas.

Defensively the minutes given to Kessler, Cleary, and Miller were all valuable. Kessler made two starts during Leagues Cup and has now made four starts since returning from injury. This tournament was important for helping the Crown's center back get up to speed for the final push. Cleary was given a start as he continues to find ways to expand his role at either fullback position. Miller showed that he is more than capable of filling in at goalkeeper for Kristijan Kahlina if called upon.

A second positive was Dean Smith rotating midfielders and changing up the structure throughout the three games, getting a good look at how the flat three midfield versus the double pivot would look in different situations. Both had varying degrees of success in Leagues Cup play. Pep Biel made two starts at right wing opening up space for Brandt Bronico, Djibril Diani, Luca de la Torre, and Ashley Westwood to all get reps in a flat three.

This could be a direction Smith continues to go with at times as de la Torre seems to be a player Smith likes in the double pivot, or in the flat three. The coach told media yesterday that one of the reasons he has been using the flat three is to add defensive work that was lost when Vargas was transferred to Athletico Paranaense.

Both midfield setups found success at times during the tournament so Smith will feel he has options either way heading back into league play as the the squad awaits other incoming transfers.

Negatives

The most glaring negative is the club falling short in tournament play. While at the outset of the Leagues Cup the likelihood of advancing is difficult given the format. After opening with two wins the Crown put themselves in pole position with one final home game to go against a Pachuca side that had already been eliminated.

Even with all the variables in Charlotte's favor they weren't able to capitalize, making the aim of winning a trophy and accomplishing the club's season goals resting solely on the MLS table.

Another is depth. While it is a positive that Smith was able to get several of his players with a limited role some reps how much of that will carry over into consistent contributions in league play?

The Crown has seen Smalls score in Leagues Cup before and that didn't turn into an expanded role in MLS. Richmond is back playing for Crown Legacy as he is still on an MLS NEXT Pro contract. There looks to still be a gap between the group Smith is starting in key games and the options available to him off the bench.

He mentioned as much in his press conference yesterday, that it was positive for some of the expanded squad to get reps but that it doesn't change the club's aims on how to replenish the squad with new pieces. Will reinforcements get to Charlotte with enough time to make the needed impact during the club's final stretch of the 2026 season?

What's next

Charlotte currently sit in seventh in the Eastern Conference and are four points behind Chicago who has a game in hand. The Crown have an advantageous schedule coming up in their next five games so this next stretch will be crucial to make up the necessary ground to earn homefield advantage.

If the club can take advantage of this upcoming stretch and show that they can take the positives gained from their Leagues Cup and turn that into momentum in MLS play then this latest letdown will be left in the rearview mirror.

If the Crown struggles to push for top four in the East and fails to qualify for Concacaf Champions Cup, this latest tournament letdown will almost certainly be brought up plenty by fans as one of "THE moments the Crown let slip away".