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By Brian Maurer Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90 With the announcement that Charlotte FC plans to close the upper bowl this season, the team will introduce a new $26 price point for select lower bowl tickets, available for every MLS and Leagues Cup home match in 2026. These tickets will be available starting this morning at 9 AM ET and will be available any time for any home game moving forward throughout the year. "2026 is the biggest year of the world's sport in this country and on this continent...that really is one of the genesis of how we celebrate that moment, to create accessibility on a consistent basis for those that want to come...all while listening and addressing the fact that we are closing the upper bowl," said Tepper Sports & Entertainment (TSE) Chief Revenue Officer Eric Sudol. There will be a few hundred tickets sold at this price point each game, including the home opener against Austin FC, and the following weekend against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami. The number of seats will vary depending on the opponent. The tickets at this price point will be available in stadium sections where season tickets typically have not been sold. The aim is to be a complementary option, not a competitive one, to the rest of the ticket packages sold by the club. There are several goals Charlotte FC looks to achieve by having this new price point: Providing an accessible ticket price to fans for every single home match, not just the home opener, that is available at anytime online. Enhancing the environment of the lower bowl experience throughout the season by ensuring the bowl is filled closer to capacity. Maintaining ticket package valuations by spreading out the number of tickets available from one expanded home opener ticket release to a comparable number throughout the course of the season. The closing of the upper bowl has been one of the many discussions that fans and media alike have had. The concern around accessibility to Charlotte FC and high-level professional soccer games has been the heart of these discussions. That concern is, has been, and will continue to be valid. There was a visible concern with how the atmosphere looked at games in 2025 with the upper bowl open, as fans spread out across both the lower and upper bowl at Bank of America Stadium, diluting the fan experience. "When closing the upper bowl, obviously, part of that was atmosphere...you come to that Miami match [in 2025], you come to that third playoff match...there's social hype and buzz around that's differentiating and synergistic, that shared emotional connectivity, that sports in general offers, but Charlotte FC does to another level," said Sudol. "It's our responsibility to ensure people have that, and then by doing this, ensuring that atmosphere continues to prosper," he continued. Based on the direction of ticket sales year-over-year since Charlotte's inaugural season in 2022, the honeymoon phase is clearly over. Sudol and TSE CEO Kristi Coleman inherited the ending of that phase and are responsible for spearheading the next: longevity. They have honed in on the atmosphere of the lower bowl as a clear point of emphasis, which is where this new $26 lower bowl price point and upper bowl closure stems from. These are two of the first major moves this newly hired executive team has released that fans will directly associate with them and their time at the head of Charlotte FC. If this approach leads to a consistent 30k+ crowd and a vibrant lower bowl atmosphere game-to-game, then it should be said that they could well be on the right track with this new direction.

By Rylee McKinney Luca de la Torre on Matchday 1 (photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90) Matchday two is on the horizon for Charlotte FC as they take on LA Galaxy this Saturday on the road. After a 1-1 draw for Charlotte and a 1-1 draw for Los Angeles last week, this matchup will potentially send one team home with their first loss of the season. The last time the Crown met LA Galaxy was in 2024, ending in a 0-0 draw after 90 minutes.  Since then, both teams have made significant lineup changes, but management has remained steady. Back in 2024, Charlotte’s head coach, Dean Smith, entered his first season with the squad. Ending in 5th place in the Eastern Conference, Smith launched Charlotte into the pool of top-contending teams.  Meanwhile, the LA Galaxy had a difficult season in 2023, finishing 13th in the Western Conference. However, by 2024, head coach Greg Vanney had turned the LA Galaxy into a 2nd-place team. That season, the LA Galaxy went on a 19-game winning streak, ultimately taking home the 2024 MLS Cup.  Heading into 2026, both teams made significant offseason signings. Charlotte FC brought on midfielder Luca de La Torre, while LA Galaxy welcomed defensive midfielder Justin Haak. Last season, Charlotte’s midfield was quite crowded with Pep Biel, Brandt Bronico, Ashley Westwood, Djibril Diani, and Eryk Williamson fighting for minutes. Biel’s season-ending hamstring injury granted significant minutes to Diani. However, Biel’s return and Williamson’s departure created some slight wiggle room for Charlotte in the midfield. De la Torre’s contract was announced on December 30, adding more depth once again to the midfield. As for the LA Galaxy, after conceding 66 goals last season, they desperately needed some defensive reinforcements. Haak signed with Galaxy in late December, hoping to provide the club with some versatility and depth.  Justin Haak - LA Galaxy - Defensive Midfielder Previously with New York City FC from 2019 to 2025, Haak made a total of 111 appearances across all competitions with the Pigeons. Haak’s time with NYCFC resulted in three goals and five assists. Last season alone, Haak had 1.18 xG and 2.36 xA. Last week, Haak started in the right center midfield position against his former club, clearly getting adjusted to his new team.  Haak’s conservative presence left some serious defensive gaps for the LA Galaxy in transitional play against NYCFC. With time, Haak might find more comfort in his new role. Supporting players like Joao Klauss and captain Marco Reus might just help Haak shine with Galaxy moving forward.  Luca de la Torre - Charlotte FC - Midfielder Charlotte’s shiny new signing is de la Torre, a former San Diego FC and current United States National Team player. De la Torre spent one season on loan with San Diego FC, making 30 appearances. Across all competitions, de la Torre scored five goals and recorded two assists, resulting in a 2.18 xG and a 1.97 xA.  Having more experience under his belt, de la Torre should have a slight upper hand over Haak. However, both players are new to their teams this season and have some major adjustments to make. Most importantly, de la Torre needs to show that he can help Charlotte evolve their style of play in possession. Summary Both Haak and de la Torre are just getting started for their respective clubs. Their new squads and veteran experience will showcase who can simply adjust the fastest. National team experience might just be the tipping point for de la Torre, but both players have put in the minutes.  LA Galaxy’s dependency on Haak to fall back and support as a defensive midfielder might also tip the scales in de la Torre’s favor. After all, de la Torre does have experienced Charlotte players Ashley Westwood and Pep Biel around him.  Stats from FotMob

By Brian Maurer Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90 U-22 Initiative striker Idan Toklomati (21) had a breakout season in 2025 after he took over for Patrick Agyemang, who was transferred to Derby County last summer. The Israeli striker led Charlotte FC with 13 goals in all competitions last year and has now switched to the coveted nine kit for 2026. With wearing the number nine comes a new level of responsibility and expectation. It's been a topic of discussion across Charlotte's fan base and media, as well as among national pundits. What is the expected rise of this young attacker this season? David Gass of Soccerwise asked TopBin90's  Jorge Gonzales to go over/under 14.5 goals for Toklomati in 2026, and Gonzales responded that this was a good line for him and stated 15 was a good number for the young Israeli in 2026. Here are some reasons why the expectations for Toklomati keep going up: Making the 22 under 22 list in 2025 Toklomati was ranked third on the MLS 22 under 22 list at the end of 2025. Obed Vargas and Alex Freeman were ranked number one and two, respectively. Both Vargas and Freeman got moves to La Liga this winter, with Vargas getting his dream move to European powerhouse Atletico Madrid. If those recent transfers are any indication, the expectations are sky high for Toklomati to hit another level this season based on the young players he is getting ranked alongside. Toklomati is surrounded by top talent Charlotte FC has signed several key players in positions around Toklomati, which should set him up for success. Wilfried Zaha, to his left, is a multi-million dollar veteran Designated Player (DP) winger who has played at the highest level of the game. Pep Biel had over 20 goal contributions even when his season was cut short by injury in 2025. Liel Abada, to his right, is a club-record signing with high expectations to bring goals and assists. Kerwin Vargas has competed for Abada's minutes and has proven that he can push towards TAM-level as a winger. Luca de la Torre was brought in to help progress the ball forwards to Toklomati and the Crown's attack, and is likely on close to a max-TAM salary. Needless to say, there has been a bunch of money spent, and strong technical, experienced talent surrounding Toklomati, which should give him every reason to succeed. In some ways, the Israeli striker's situation feels similar to that of Dejan Joveljic in 2024. The Serbian was a U-22 Initiative striker for the LA Galaxy at the time and was surrounded by really strong players. Riqui Puig, one of the most talented players in MLS, especially during the 2024 season. The Galaxy also spent big during that winter to bring in wingers Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil, who both contributed over 20 goals in their 2024 campaigns. All of these surrounding pieces helped Joveljic have a career year that season with 27 goal contributions (21g/6a), including the MLS Cup Final game winner. The success of that season led the Serbian to earn a DP contract with Sporting Kansas City. With the pieces surrounding Toklomati and his rising potential, high expectations similar to this level are being set. The same level of goalscoring volume may not be necessary, but consistent goal contributions and being able to show up in key moments with the ability to find a winner is going to be a big part of the expectations for Toklomati in 2026. This is, in large part, because the pieces around him should be able to set him up to have those moments. Just like Puig, Pec, and Painstil did for Joveljic. He is in as good a position to succeed as any player on the 2025 22 under 22 list The two players above Toklomati on the 22 under 22 list last year have both moved on to La Liga, while the seven players below him in the top 10 of that list are all still in MLS this season. Those seven players are Owen Wolff, David Martinez, Quinn Sullivan, Peyton Miller, Nathan Ordaz, Luca Bombino, and Zavier Gozo. Of this group with top young players, Toklomati's situation is set up to be as good as anyone's to succeed this year. He is on a good team with a high floor (50+ points per year with Dean Smith as coach), with quality veteran players all around him who can help him grow, and a clear pathway to weekly minutes as he is the declared starting striker. Given those factors, Toklomati stands out as having one of the best situations of any U-22 player in MLS to hit another peak level in 2026. Martinez and Ordaz for LAFC, and Bombino for San Diego, all stand out as players in similarly good situations. Those players don't have the luxury or potential of being the top goal scorer on their teams this season. Something Toklomati has already accomplished in Charlotte. The floor was set in 2025 with a breakout campaign Diving deeper on Toklomati as Charlotte FC's goalscoring leader in 2025, this is as clear a floor as any that can be found on paper for the young striker. The 21-year-old had 15 goal contributions (12g/3a) in just over 2000 MLS minutes last season, leading the Crown in goals. It's safe to say this is now the established floor of what is expected from the young prospect, and his pathway to more minutes has been cleared. 2026 will be about Toklomati showing MLS what his ceiling can be. Connection with Biel Biel was Charlotte FC's main facilitator last season as he set a club record with 11 assists in 2025. According to Transfermarkt , Toklomati and Biel have combined for three goals in 1,057 minutes playing together (including last weekend's game). This season, that connection in the final third will be one of the key factors for Toklomati raising his ceiling. So far in his Charlotte career, Toklomati has combined with Ashley Westwood, Vargas, and Biel for three goals, Zaha for two, and none with Abada. Combining and connecting with teammates is one of the Israeli's greatest strengths, so improving those connections in the final third will be paramount. Overall 2026 expectations Based on all the above reasons, here is a bulletpoint breakdown of what seems to be sound expectations for the level Charlotte FC fans should see Toklomati rise to in 2026: Top 15 goal scorer in MLS 17+ goals scored (Agyemang and Toklomati combined for 18 in 2025 at the striker position) Playing a key role in pivotal moments to help Charlotte FC advance towards their season goals: advancing in MLS Cup playoffs, making a deep run in US Open Cup or Leagues Cup, rising up the Supporters' Shield table, and qualifying for Concacaf Champions Cup

By Brian Maurer Nathan Byrne (left) and Pep Biel (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90) Charlotte FC was able to pull one back and earn a point on the road against St. Louis City in a back-and-forth affair. St. Louis found a few dangerous moments through the first 30 minutes, while Charlotte’s best look in the first half came from Idan Toklomati off the post, but he was ruled offside. Liel Abada and Nathan Byrne both had strong drives and chances late in the first half but couldn’t make anything happen. The first 15 minutes of the second half were far more end-to-end, with both teams getting opportunities to create. St. Louis then took control for a stretch, and Marcel Hartel found the back of the net off a Charlotte turnover in their own half. Soon after, Pep Biel was able to find a response by finishing off a good look from in close after receiving a nice through ball from Wilfried Zaha. Kristijan Kahlina had to help salvage the Crown’s point in a big way down the stretch as St. Louis started pouring on pressure late into stoppage time. Here is our Charlotte FC stock up, stock down after their Week 1 draw: Stock Up Pep Biel  - The star midfielder was not able to make a massive impact in the first half, but when he got his look, he buried it well in the second to help the Crown get out of St. Louis with a point. That’s what you expect from your key players: being able to be the difference and find equalizing or game-winning moments regardless of the game state. Kristijan Kahlina  - The 2024 Goalkeeper of the Year had to come up big against St. Louis as he made 10 saves on the day. He had to make five saves after the 75th minute to help maintain the 1-1 draw. That many last-minute shots also highlighted how much pressure Charlotte had to deal with through the final minutes. It was not ideal as a team, but good on Kahlina for being able to stand tall. David Schnegg  - The full-back's performance didn’t light up the stat sheet, but the Austrian came in and helped the attack by playing very high for stretches and was involved in the final third play that led to Biel’s goal. It was a good start to his time in Charlotte, and continued to highlight what was seen in preseason, that the Crown has multiple options at left back this year. Stock Down Andrew Privett and Tim Ream exposed on counters  - Kahlina praised his backline during the post-match presser, but the backline duo was definitely exposed during counterattacking moments and in 1v1 situations, as both centerbacks looked to be on the back foot several times. Simon Becher and St. Louis City’s attack pressured Privett a good bit throughout this matchup, drawing an early yellow, which also didn't help the former SuperDraft pick deal with the rest of the game. Becher also exposed Ream a couple of times, both with his 1v1 pace and with a ball over the top to his teammate Brendan McSorley, who was a second-half substitute.  This exposure is a setback for the defending duo, but at the same time, the reason they were put under pressure like this is team-wide, which is what Kahlina referenced in his press conference. Below is a graphic of Charlotte FC’s starting XI’s average position that highlights how isolated and pinned back Privett and Ream were throughout the game. The Crown will need to leave this duo less isolated and do a better job of maintaining possession during build-up without losing it in bad spots as often as they did against St. Louis. Image pulled from Sofascore Liel Abada  - This wasn’t the worst performance by the Israeli winger, and he had a couple of decent looks, but this season, the DP will be under a serious microscope. The game script of being down 1-0, needing a goal, and Smith deciding that you are the player he is willing to take off in that moment is not a good first impression after regaining the starting job. Charlotte FC’s possession play and build-up  - All three lines struggled with build-up play and maintaining possession for long stretches of this match. There were several turnovers in bad areas as the Crown attempted to progress the ball from back to front that led to St. Louis counters and eventually their first goal. While above I commented on the centerback duo’s stock being down, they were definitely left hanging out to dry on many occasions by the midfield and fullbacks being out of position on counters.

By Brian Maurer Photo courtesy CJ Hellner/TopBin90 We got a good glimpse of the direction Dean Smith is thinking of taking Charlotte FC’s first starting XI of the 2026 regular season after their dress rehearsal friendly against Minnesota United. Most of that lineup appears to be starters, and they all played at least 70 minutes to get a close to full game runout ahead of opening night against St. Louis City.  There aren’t many surprises, which makes sense as the group has been preaching continuity and cohesion since training started in January. Here is our predicted starting lineup as the Crown get ready to kick off their fifth campaign: Defensive unit Kristijan Kahlina will be starting in goal. There hasn’t been any doubt about that. Ahead of the Croatian, from left to right, we expect Harry Toffolo if he’s healthy (if not, David Schnegg has looked like a more than adequate backup), Tim Ream, Andrew Privett, and Nathan Byrne. Henry Kessler hasn’t been healthy enough to get any preseason reps, and so it looks like Privett will get the first shot at claiming the starting centerback role alongside Ream. Byrne and Ream both had calf issues during the preseason but were able to get 75 minutes in against Minnesota. They should be good to go. Jack Neeley, Morrison Agyemang, and Will Cleary seem to be the other defensive options off the bench besides Schnegg. Midfield line Ashley Westwood and Luca de la Torre played a full 70+ minute shift together, and it is expected that they get first crack in the double pivot. Pep Biel will play ahead of them in his attacking midfield role. Djibril Diani and Brandt Bronico have looked like early favorites to fill in where needed within this midfield, whereas Baye Coulibaly’s minutes have been a bit more limited down the stretch in preseason. Forward line It looks like Liel Abada has beaten out Kerwin Vargas to reclaim a starting role on the right wing and made two assists this past weekend to Idan Toklomati, who bagged the brace. Toklomati is far and away the striker after claiming the #9 kit, and Wilfried Zaha is also a shoo-in on the left wing. Vargas, Tyger Smalls, and Archie Goodwin look like the primary attacking options off the bench for Smith to start the year. Predicted Starting XI

By Brian Maurer Andrew Privett (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90) We have seen this matchup once before when Charlotte FC was welcomed to St. Louis City for their inaugural home match in 2023. Both teams had different coaches and eras at the time. St. Louis was just setting out on their Western Conference-winning inaugural season with Bradley Carnell at the helm. Charlotte’s head coach was Christian Lattanzio, who led the Crown to a ninth-place Eastern Conference finish and was then let go to make way for current manager Dean Smith, who has substantially raised the floor in the Carolinas. St. Louis has struggled since and gone through several coaches, with their most recent hire being Yoann Damet. Their squad has been through a bit of a restructuring, especially along the backline, but more importantly, they are going through a tactical adjustment with the hiring of Damet. On the field, one of the more important matchups to watch will be St. Louis’ forward Simon Becher going up against Andrew Privett. Both look to be early-season replacements for key players from last season. Designated Player Joao Klauss was traded to the LA Galaxy, which left a hole for Becher to fill at the center forward position. Sergio Cordova is reportedly being signed by St. Louis on a loan deal, but it's unclear how quickly he will adapt to their squad. Adilson Malanda was transferred to Middlesbrough, leaving a hole in Charlotte’s backline. Simon Becher - St. Louis City - Striker Becher made 11 starts and played 1261 MLS minutes for St. Louis City last season. He vastly underperformed his xG (8.36), scoring only three goals. Overall, he had 9.63 xG+xA in MLS last year in a relatively limited role, showing that he was capable of generating opportunities and getting looks; he just struggled to convert. This will be a new tactical setup for Becher, who has talented players like Marcel Hartel supporting him, who should give him chances to score, but filling the hole left by Klauss is no small task. He will also have to show he can compete as a starter with Cordova coming to compete for minutes. Andrew Privett - Charlotte FC - Center back Privett has been in this spot before and should feel like this is a good opportunity to reclaim the starting job he lost at the beginning of 2025. Becher should be a far easier task than many of the forwards Charlotte is going to face this season, so Privett should feel he can get the better of this matchup. At the same time, the job has to get done, and if it doesn’t, he could see his minutes fall to newly signed Henry Kessler once he recovers from a hamstring injury. If Privett can return to his 2024 season form, there is a good chance he can keep his role for the season. According to American Soccer Analysis, Privett had the third-best Goals Added amongst all center backs with over 2000 minutes in 2024. His ability to make an impact on the backline was a reason Smith said he was in the running for the Crown’s Player of the Year that season. This first matchup is an opportunity for him to prove he can get back to that level. Summary Both Becher and Privett are looking to establish themselves in the starting XI for their respective clubs this season. They have an opportunity to solidify those positions against each other in this opening week fixture. Privett likely has an edge as the continuity within the Charlotte group should be an asset. The Crown’s road form left a lot to be desired last year, however, and Damet’s new look squad will want to find Becher opportunities in and around the box to ask questions of Charlotte's backline.

By Brian Maurer Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90 With MLS’s calendar shift coming next season, there have also been reports that a new five-division format will be in place. Since Charlotte FC is reportedly grouped in a Southeastern division alongside DC United, Nashville SC, Atlanta United, Orlando City, and Inter Miami, we opted to bring back our column, Beasts of the Southeast,  to provide updates on all the MLS clubs in the region. This will be a monthly column that provides updates on all six clubs, including power rankings and player of the month awards. Since the season is about to kick off, we will present this first column in alphabetical order, and then proceed with rankings in our next column, which will be published at the end of March/beginning of April. Let’s dive right in! Atlanta United Atlanta United is coming off its worst season in club history. The Ronny Deila hire was a complete one-year flop, and the Five Stripes are also locked into big transfer deals along the frontline that have not worked out. They have asked Tata Martino to come back and right the ship. This coaching hire is a doubling down on the nostalgia that the Miguel Almiron signing brought last year. The question for this club is, can Martino find that magic from the early Atlanta days with a roster that wasn’t built initially for him? Under-the-radar player to watch Newly signed U22 Initiative midfielder Tomas Jacob  (21) looks set to have a role out of the gates in Atlanta United’s midfield or on the backline. Atlanta is locked into several big contracts and transfers along their frontline, and so they looked to improve the backline and in the middle. It looks like Jacob could get a crack at the early minutes as a young prospect brought in from Necaxa. He played for Newell’s Old Boys before that. Feb/March schedule The Five Stripes open with a tough road matchup out of the gate, but return home in March to a more favorable slate of games if they can build some early momentum during their home stretch. If they get early home wins, Martino is likely to harness more belief that he can turn this club around. Saturday, 2/21, 4:45 PM ET - at FC Cincinnati Saturday, 2/28, 7:30 PM ET - at San Jose Earthquakes Saturday, 3/7, 7:30 PM ET - vs Real Salt Lake Saturday, 3/14, 3:15 PM ET - vs Philadelphia Union Saturday, 3/21, 7:30 PM ET - vs DC United Charlotte FC Head Coach Dean Smith and the squad have been preaching continuity and cohesion all preseason, and that is displayed in the limited amount of turnover on the roster. The team performed well last season, and the aim was to bring the majority of their key players back and add just a few new pieces around them. The main name is Luca de la Torre, who looks to be a key part of the midfield this year and will look to bring a new evolution to what this club can do in 2026. Under-the-radar player to watch Charlotte FC’s starting XI will be the same as last year, with just a couple of adjustments to get in-prime players like de la Torre into the fold. Young wing prospect Rodolfo Aloko  (19) was brought in on a substantial transfer fee. He may not have a substantial role out of the gate, as there are multiple players on the depth chart in front of him, but he is a prospect to watch if he can earn a role with the First Team. Feb/March schedule Charlotte FC’s schedule starts relatively favorably for them, starting with two road games against Western Conference teams that struggled in 2025 and have had to do some readjusting. They then follow those matches up with a string of three straight at home. Austin FC made the playoffs last year, but they definitely still have question marks. Miami is a very tough ask, but they will be coming off a midweek CCC game, and the NY Red Bulls failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2009. There are plenty of points for the Crown to take in this early stretch. Saturday, 2/21, 2:30 PM ET - at St. Louis City Saturday, 2/28, 10:30 PM ET - at LA Galaxy Saturday, 3/7, 7:30 PM ET - vs Austin FC Saturday, 3/14, 7:30 PM ET - vs Inter Miami Saturday, 3/21, 7:30 PM ET - vs NY Red Bulls DC United DC United is coming off a Wooden Spoon season in 2025, and the club’s response was to go out and spend big, especially in the attack, bringing in Tai Baribo (~$4.6m) from Philadelphia and Louis Munteanu (~$7m) on a club-record fee. They have a new coach, again, and a lot of new faces on this roster as they aim to rebuild and find a way back into the playoff picture; something they haven’t done in since 2019. Under-the-radar player to watch 2026 1st overall MLS SuperDraft pick Nikola Markovic  (21) looks to be a player turning some heads in DC. The young centerback helped lead NC State to the NCAA College Cup final this past year before earning a Generation Adidas contract heading into the 2026 SuperDraft. Manu Duah transitioned really well for San Diego FC as their First pick last year, and Markovic will be aiming to do the same in DC. Feb/March schedule DC United has a tough slate to begin its rebuild. Both of their home games out of the gate are against teams that finished top three in the EC last season. Their road stretch is against more favorable opposition, but road form is far from guaranteed in MLS. This is tough sledding for a squad built around a lot of new pieces. Saturday, 2/21, 7:30 PM ET - vs Philadelphia Union Sunday, 3/1, 2:30 PM ET - at Austin FC Saturday, 3/7, 4:30 PM ET - vs Inter Miami Saturday, 3/14, 8:30 PM ET - at Chicago Fire Saturday, 3/21, 7:30 PM ET - at Atlanta United Inter Miami Inter Miami had a massive finish to their campaign, winning the MLS Cup by beating the Vancouver Whitecaps in the final. They then flexed their aspirations to be an MLS super team by acquiring several high-profile additions this winter. German Berterame for ~$15m from Monterrey was the big headline, but they also fixed their leaky backline by bringing in 2025 GKOTY Dayne St. Clair as a free agent, former Houston Dynamo defender Micael on loan, and then fullbacks Sergio Reguilon and Facundo Mura. Also, finding a way to keep Tadeo Allende as a permanent transfer after his massive season and record-setting MLS Cup playoff run was another big-time play. Messi and co. It looks like a classic case of the rich getting richer, and it appears to be on the brink of becoming a true MLS super team this season. All eyes will be on their CONCACAF Champions Cup performances out of the gate. Under-the-radar player to watch It’s hard to pick out a young prospect in a group that has so many in-prime players and superstar veterans on it. The young stud Mateo Silvetti already broke out during the tail end of 2025, but another under-the-radar move I failed to mention above is David Ayala  (23) from the Portland Timbers. He has been a starter in MLS for the last couple of years, but his star could elevate to another level during his time in Miami. Feb/March schedule Inter Miami has another jam-packed season and multiple primetime matchups for MLS to try to capitalize on. Opening weekend is a star-studded matchup on the road against LAFC, and then they have a Sunday Night Soccer primetime game against Florida rivals Orlando City. Miami’s March gets more crowded as they begin their Champions Cup games, where they could potentially match up against Nashville SC, a team Lionel Messi is all too familiar with down the stretch last season. Saturday, 2/21, 9:30 PM ET - at LAFC Sunday, 3/1, 7:00 PM ET - at Orlando City Saturday, 3/7, 4:30 PM ET - at DC United 3/10-12, TBD - vs Atletico Ottawa/Nashville SC (CCC Rd of 16 First Leg) Saturday, 3/14, 7:30 PM ET - at Charlotte FC 3/17-19, TBD - vs Atletico Ottawa/Nashville SC (CCC Rd of 16 Second Leg) Sunday, 3/22, 1:00 PM ET - at NYCFC Nashville SC Nashville SC made noise when they signed the top player in free agency, Cristian Espinoza, to help bolster their attack. Now the Coyotes have another playmaker who can help feed Sam Surridge and Hany Mukhtar. The right winger will also likely get plenty of looks at goal himself, as Mukhtar will look to get him his fair share of chances as well. After the Espinoza move was announced, it was clear many MLS pundits felt the tables had turned in Nashville’s favor heading into 2026. A common projection for this club is that they take a jump this season and are considered one of the top-tier teams in the Eastern Conference. This is all on paper at the moment; the club will have to prove it on the field. Although the field proof showed itself a bit last night as Espinoza, Mukhtar, and Surridge all combined for a nice goal in CONCACAF Champions Cup action. Under-the-radar player to watch USYNT midfielder Matthew Corcoran (20) is a player to watch for Nashville this season. There is likely some recency bias here, as he was just given a start in the Coyotes' CCC matchup last night and had an assist in that game, but he was also on the USYNT U20 World Cup roster last fall and then made two starts for Nashville in their First Round playoffs against Inter Miami. Feb/March schedule Nashville SC, like Miami, has a very full February and March schedule, especially if they advance past Atletico Ottawa in CCC. They should feel they are big favorites to advance after their 2-0 result last night, which means they line up against Miami, where they will be looking to exact some revenge after being dismantled in the MLS Cup Playoffs last season. Tuesday, 2/17, 8:00 PM ET - Nashville won 2-0 at Atletico Ottawa Saturday, 2/21, 8:30 PM ET - vs New England Revolution Tuesday, 2/24, 8:00 PM ET - vs Atletico Ottawa Saturday, 2/28, 8:30 PM ET - at FC Dallas Saturday, 3/7, 8:30 PM ET - vs Minnesota United Saturday, 3/14, 6:15 PM ET - at Columbus Crew Saturday, 3/21, 6:15 PM ET - vs Orlando City Orlando City Orlando City has had what looks to be a low-key but solid offseason in terms of transfers. Something that was desperately needed after how they fell short of their goals in 2025. The most recent reports of trading for Griffin Dorsey to replace outgoing Alex Freeman was a great last-minute add. The question is, how quickly can their new signings come in and adapt to help the club meet their high expectations? Under-the-radar player to watch Take your pick on Brazilian U22 Initiative prospects here. Both forward Tiago (20) and defender Iago (20) come from Brazil on big transfers and look like they could be given opportunities to make an impact sooner rather than later.  Feb/March schedule Orlando City has a fun schedule to start the year. They should feel good about their home games outside of Miami, but it's always exciting to play your bitter in-state rivals on Sunday night primetime. Their road matchups are far less favorable, but the Lions should see this as an opportunity to do some damage in their conference with five straight EC games to kick off 2026. Saturday, 2/21, 7:30 PM ET - vs NY Red Bulls Sunday, 3/1, 7:00 PM ET - vs Inter Miami Saturday, 3/7, 2:30 PM ET - at NYCFC Saturday, 3/14, 7:30 PM ET - vs CF Montreal Saturday, 3/21, 6:15 PM ET - at Nashville SC

By Billy McGee - @iambillymcgee James Rodriguez and Minnesota United Sporting Director Khaled El-Ahmad (Photo courtesy of Major League Soccer) With the 2026 Major League Soccer season kicking off this weekend, here’s a look at some of the high-profile signings made across the league during the winter transfer window. James Rodriguez After numerous rumors over the years that he would be joining MLS, James Rodriguez signed with Minnesota United on a contract through June of 2026 with a club option through December. The 34-year-old attacking midfielder brings his playmaking ability and star power to the Loons, having most recently played for Liga MX side Club Leon. The Colombian international is one of the most recognizable names in the sport, breaking out at the 2014 World Cup with six goals and two assists, as well as having stints with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich previously.  Cristian Espinoza Nashville SC made a splash in MLS free agency, adding Cristian Espinoza (30) as a designated player to bolster their attack. Since joining the San Jose Earthquakes at age 23 in 2019, Espinoza ranks fourth in MLS goal contributions with 119 (36 goals and 83 assists) and has been named to the MLS All-Star team twice in 2023 and 2025.  Luca de la Torre After playing his first MLS season on loan for San Diego FC, Luca de la Torre made a permanent transfer to join Charlotte FC from Celta Vigo. The 27-year-old midfielder started the season playing well for San Diego last season, recording four goals and an assist in his first 17 league appearances before joining the United States Men’s National Team for the Gold Cup.  Timo Werner The San Jose Earthquakes signed Timo Werner (29) as a designated player from Red Bull Leipzig. The German international had a very prolific first stint with RB Leipzig from the 2016/17 season through the 2019/20 season, notching 20 or more goal contributions in each season before making a move to join Chelsea. Werner was part of a Chelsea side that won the UEFA Champions League and the Club World Cup in his two seasons in 2020/21 and 2021/22. German Berterame The reigning MLS Cup champions, Inter Miami, added to their squad, signing German Berterame from Liga MX side Monterrey. The Mexican international reached double-digit goals in three of his four seasons with Monterrey. The 27-year-old forward has a stellar track record playing against MLS competition, having recorded seven goals and three assists in the nine games he started against MLS clubs across the Leagues Cup and CONCACAF Champions Cup. Facundo Torres Austin FC improved its attack by adding a prolific winger with a proven MLS pedigree, Facundo Torres. The 25-year-old Uruguayan international spent three seasons in MLS playing for Orlando City from 2022-2024, tallying 37 goals and 16 assists in regular-season play across those three seasons. After the 2024 season, Torres made the move to join Brazilian side Palmeiras. With Palmeiras, he made nine goal contributions in 29 appearances and finished second in the Brazilian Serie A. Hector Herrera After spending two seasons playing in Mexico for Toluca, Hector Herrera (35) is returning to Houston Dynamo FC. The Mexican international had a successful career in Europe, winning the Primeira Liga with Porto in 2017/18 and La Liga with Atletico Madrid in 2020/21 before joining the Dynamo. In his first MLS season, he appeared in just 10 regular-season matches before having a successful 2023 season, where he notched 11 assists in 30 appearances. Following a shaky 2024 season that saw him score just one goal and assist another, he made the move to Toluca.  Sergio Reguilon Sergio Reguilon (29) was another high-profile signing for Inter Miami in the MLS offseason. Reguilon joins the MLS Cup winners after spending the last seven seasons with various top-flight clubs in Europe. The Spanish international left back has spent time with Real Madrid, Sevilla, Atletico Madrid, Manchester United, Brentford, and Tottenham Hotspur. Dayne St Clair The 2025 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year with Minnesota United joined Inter Miami in free agency. Dayne St. Clair (28) joined Minnesota United through the 2019 MLS SuperDraft and kept 42 clean sheets in 159 matches for the Loons. Walker Zimmerman Toronto FC signed the two-time MLS Defender of the Year, Walker Zimmerman (32), in free agency. Zimmerman has played 13 seasons in MLS for FC Dallas, LAFC, and Nashville SC. Along with his two MLS Defender of the Year Awards, the USMNT defender has been named to the MLS Best XI five times and selected to the MLS All-Star team four times.

By Brian Maurer Pep Biel (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90) There are a lot of discussions on players being floor-raisers and ceiling raisers, so I thought it was a worthy topic to lay out a bit more in-depth to help identify certain traits and what makes a player a floor or ceiling raiser. In scouting and evaluation, especially in a salary-capped league like MLS, the floor vs. ceiling distinction helps explain player fit, value, and impact under Dean Smith's system at Charlotte FC. Floor raisers provide reliability and elevate the team's baseline (consistency, low errors, steady points accumulation), while ceiling raisers deliver high-upside moments that push good teams toward elite results (goal contributions, match-winning plays, variability in big games). Here is a look at several different categories, using Charlotte's roster to highlight what makes a ceiling raiser versus a floor raiser: High Salary (Ceiling) vs. Value (Floor) High-salary players, often Designated Players (DPs) or TAM signings, tend to be ceiling raisers because clubs invest big in talent expected to deliver explosive upside and differentiate in playoffs or against top opposition. Ceiling raisers justify premium pay through potential for game-changing output. Charlotte's current DPs like Wilfried Zaha (~$2.75m), Liel Abada (~$2.55M guaranteed), and Pep Biel fit here: Zaha's dribbling, flair, and ability to unlock defenses in transition can raise the ceiling when the attack clicks, while Biel's vision and production in 2025 exemplified his ability to raise Charlotte's season. Abada's salary sets the standard that he needs to be a ceiling raiser in this group, and when he didn't last season, it is one reason Smith likely benched him down the stretch. Floor raisers deliver strong value at lower costs. Players like Brandt Bronico (~$390k), Andrew Privett (~$250k), or Kerwin Vargas (~$680k) provide reliability without breaking the bank; low errors and a high work rate at reduced cost help stabilize the team and raise the floor for consistent points over the course of a season. In MLS constraints, these mid-tier/low-TAM/homegrown types often offer the best ROI, helping Charlotte avoid bottom-table seasons while freeing cap for ceiling pieces. High salary correlates with ceiling potential, but true value comes from fit; overpaying a ceiling raiser in a poor system wastes resources, while undervalued floor raisers build sustainability. Goal Contributions (Ceiling) vs. Low Errors (Floor) Ceiling raisers drive goal contributions (goals + assists, high xG/xA involvement) and quality chances, often with flair or finishing that turns good attacks into lethal ones. Ceiling: Players like Biel (double-digit G/A potential), Zaha (creative bursts), or Idan Toklomati (high-upside striker) rack up contributions when spaces open. Biel's ability to create chances for himself and others exemplifies the amplification of an attack. Floor: Low-error profiles minimize dangerous giveaways and maintain possession. Ashley Westwood excels here, with high completion rates, progressive actions with less risk, and defensive cover that prevents concessions and keeps the team functional even on off-days. In Charlotte's continuity-focused build, low-error floor raisers ensure steady output (~50+ points baseline in the Smith-era), while goal-contributing ceiling raisers add the spark for higher finishes. Match-Winning (Ceiling) vs. Improving Season Average (Floor) Ceiling raisers produce match-winning moments, late winners, individual brilliance, or playoff heroics that swing high-stakes games. Ceiling: Zaha or Biel can deliver these with the ability to dribble past defenders, pinpoint passes, or clutch finishes that win games outright. Variability shines in big moments. Floor: Improving the season average means turning draws into wins and minimizing losses through reliability. Nathan Byrne, in defense, provides strong two-way play week-to-week that Smith can trust, adding points incrementally across 34 matches. Bronico's box-to-box consistency helps grind results when the attack isn't firing. MLS rewards floor raisers for regular-season points; ceiling raisers separate contenders in knockout rounds, and help their team finish near the top of their conference or in the Supporters' Shield standings. Variability (Ceiling) vs Consistency (Floor) Consistency defines floor raisers, predictable weekly output that minimizes variance and builds trust. Some variability is required for players who can hit extremely high peaks. Variability marks ceiling raisers, boom performances with massive highs (multi-goal/assist games) but potential dips. Zaha's flair brings highs that can decide titles, while Biel's creativity has a variability with a very high peak to generate chances for himself and his teammates around him. Floor: Players like Privett, Bronico, or Westwood deliver steady metrics (high work rate, tackles, low errors) regardless of opponent. They make the team harder to beat every week. Hybrids exist (e.g., a consistent creator with upside like Westwood, Tim Ream, or Harry Toffolo), but Charlotte's emphasis on continuity favors floor consistency to establish a solid base, then layering ceiling variability for contention. The key is balance: Floor raisers build the foundation (points floor, tactical discipline), ceiling raisers provide the differentiation (trophies, big wins). In Smith's Charlotte FC, prioritizing cohesiveness and smart additions, identifying these traits helps explain roster decisions and where the Crown can improve, and what key moments are needed from which players in 2026. *Salaries pulled from 2025 MLSPA Salary Guide

By Brian Maurer Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90 In Wilfried Zaha's first press conference of 2026, he mentioned his main aim is to get more goals and more assists in year two. The aim with an increase in individual production is to help the team advance further in the playoffs and up the table. Nothing out of the ordinary here, with the goal for most players being more individual production and helping the team achieve better results. I wanted to look back through Zaha's playing days and see if he had a history of making a year two jump in production after he familiarized himself with a league, coach, team play, etc. This piece aims to highlight patterns that could signal an increase in production from Zaha in 2026 after he finished with 15 goal contributions (10g/5a) last year. Zaha's year two jump in the English Championship Zaha's first full season with Crystal Palace was 2010/11, where he finished with five goal contributions (1g/4a). In year two, he doubled that level of production with 11 GCs (6g/5a) in the English Championship. One reason for this year two jump was likely coaching cohesion with Dougie Freedman. Freedman was a part of the Crystal Palace development team as a U21 coach for years before becoming the first team head coach during the 2011 season. He was the assistant manager before taking over for George Burley. Fullback Jonathan Parr likely also played a role, as the Norwegian played fullback primarily on Zaha's strongest side of the field and ended up winning Crystal Palace's Player of the Year for his performance during that 2011/12 campaign. Parr has also been quoted as having a good relationship with Zaha. "Wilf was my roommate for a long time, and I was close with him; he was a fun guy!" Parr told Crystal Palace media last year. Having players around him who were ready and capable of meeting the required level on the field, as well as being willing to build positive camaraderie off the field, likely played a major role in Zaha's year two jump. The winger's early Premier League days After helping Crystal Palace earn Premier League promotion, Zaha opted to make a big career jump by testing himself with Manchester United. The move never fully worked out, and after outgoing loans to Cardiff City and back to familiar ground at Palace, he ended up signing a new deal full-time back with the Eagles in February 2015. His first full season back with Palace was 2015/16, where he finished with only two goals and one assist in Premier League matches. His second full season back with Palace in 2016/17 was his most productive Premier League season in his career with 16 goal contributions (7g/9a). Crystal Palace, who had just earned promotion a couple of years prior, had to fight to stay consistently in the top tier of England, but you can still see an obvious production surge in Zaha's game as he stayed comfortable and consistently got minutes after moving around between other clubs like Manchester United and Cardiff City. What factors play the biggest role in unlocking a year two jump for Zaha in Charlotte? When looking back at Zaha's career, it appears there are a couple of patterns that stick out as to what can help support a big year two production surge with Charlotte FC in 2026. First is cohesion with teammates around him on and off the field. At left back, Harry Toffolo appeared to gain some quick understanding of how Zaha wants to play in the attack along the left and knew how to move and occupy space around the winger. Off the field, it appears Toffolo has already built some strong camaraderie, as he mentioned how tight-knit the group is and was willing to make some jokes about his relationship with Zaha, a good early sign of positive chemistry. Toffolo has had some really productive attacking seasons from a wingback role, especially during his days at Huddersfield Town. He had his most productive season in 2021/22, where he made 14 goal contributions (6g/8a). Forward Danny Ward had his most productive season during that campaign, and Toffolo will be looking to provide similar service to Charlotte's forward line in 2026. Another reason for optimism in Zaha's year two is cohesion with the coaching staff. Dean Smith is entering his third season at the helm of the Crown, and looks to have spent some serious time working out how to set up his star winger for optimal success at an individual level, which ideally also improves the team as a whole. In preseason, Zaha has been tasked with drifting more centrally to create opportunities for himself and teammates, while the left backs Toffolo and newly signed David Schnegg occupy the width with overlapping runs. This has put Zaha in more dangerous pockets of space and allows him to find teammates and shooting opportunities in and around the box. It also protects him a bit, as he was the most fouled player in 2025. If Zaha stays more central and around the box when he is fouled, the consequences for defenses are far greater, as those fouls set up set pieces in dangerous areas where Charlotte should have direct shots on goal. If the consequences for fouling Zaha get raised, the number of times he gets taken down could decrease, or at the very least, Charlotte should reap more rewards for the trouble. The final question about a year two jump is the contract situation. All the pieces on the field and within the team appear to be in place for the Ivory Coast international, but the contract past the summer will need to be negotiated, and those conversations are expected to start soon.

By Billy McGee - @iambillymcgee Photo courtesy CJ Hellner/TopBin90 The Soccerwise podcast did their annual over/under episode, where they set point total lines for each MLS club with Matt Doyle. Charlotte FC’s line was set at 52.5 points, 6.5 points lower than their point total of 59 last season. Tom Bogert and David Gass both took the over, while Doyle took the under. The line is the same that was given last year when Bogert, Gass , and Doyle all went over for Charlotte. Note: podcast was recorded on January 27 Bogert voiced concerns about Charlotte FC's DPs but noted he felt they have a high floor, and players like Idan Toklomati as keys to why he gave them the over.  “The variability that could come from Wilfried Zaha worries me. I’m not as worried about some of the ages for some of the key players as I think you guys are. I do think Toklomati is excellent. I don’t think that that was just a hot stretch; I think that ’ s just who he is, what he did down the stretch last season. I’m just so very hopeful that at the time somebody’s listening to this that Liel Abada does not play for Charlotte FC and they have an open DP spot.” Gass’ reasoning for going over was his confidence in Charlotte FC’s ability to replace Adilson Malanda defensively, and the addition of Luca de la Torre and how he’ll help the attack, but he doesn’t believe the team will be as good as last year, just over the line of 52.5. “I don’t think the step back losing Malanda will be that big, if at all. Justice for Andrew Privett, I think Tim Ream called him Privs, so we’re team Privs on this show. I think de la Torre, yeah, he’s not a true pure chance creator, but maybe it pushes Pep Biel out wide where he can go find the game where he wants to as often as he needs to.” Doyle factored in the age of the lineup and the club no longer having Malanda on the back line into his prediction as the reason why he went under. “I’m more worried about the age stuff than I think you guys are. Old teams get old fast, and it looked like it happened down the stretch in the playoffs… Adilson Malanda was a dominant force in his own box. Even if they go out and spend seven million dollars on a new centerback, I don’t think that that is going to, it’s not easy to replicate that.” Bogert had some pushback on what he believed the story of Charlotte FC's playoff loss was and how they’ve addressed it. “My only pushback is, I think the story of the NYCFC playoff loss was more about, I don’t know how many times the ball could die at the feet of Djibril Diani or Brandt Bronico in the final third, and Luca de la Torre helps solve that, and Pep Biel being back obviously solves that even more.” Full transcript: Bogert: “So, genuinely, I do think it's an over, but I did go back and forth on this because 52.5, I think that was a really good line, Doyle. Again, if they’re anywhere between 48 and 55, I think it's a good season, varying at the top and the low end. I think this is their window, I think this is their ballpark. The variability that could come from Wilfried Zaha worries me. I’m not as worried about some of the ages for some of the key players as I think you guys are. I do think Toklomati is excellent. I don’t think that that was just a hot stretch; I think that’s just who he is, what he did down the stretch last season. I’m just so very hopeful that at the time somebody’s listening to this, that Liel Abada does not play for Charlotte FC and they have an open DP spot. I’d feel much better about the over if I knew that for a fact right now. But, I think this team has enough talent, and if Dean Smith lets Luca de la Torre play through sometimes, that he's not going to run like Brandt Bronico, they're going to be better with the ball. I don’t know if he’s going to, though. Gass: “I’m going to go over as well. I don’t think the step back losing Malanda will be that big, if at all. Justice for Andrew Privett, I think Tim Ream called him Privs, so we’re team Privs on this show. I think de la Torre, yeah, he’s not a true pure chance creator, but maybe it pushes Pep Biel out wide, where he can go find the game where he wants to as often as he needs to. Maybe it takes a little bit of pressure off Kerwin Vargas’ shoulders. I think a full season of Toklomati, I like Archie Goodwin as well, just like throwing their bodies around and figuring out the position can be pretty strong. I think that Charlotte will be worse than they were last year, but I still think they’ll be over this number because this is a six-to-seven-point gap.” Doyle: “Yeah, I’m gonna take the under. I’m more worried about the age stuff than I think you guys are. Old teams get old fast, and it looked like it happened down the stretch in the playoffs. Gass: “Not on turf, not in an outdoor stadium.” Doyle: “Yeah, right, not in a swamp. You know, think about how old they looked in that elimination game against a shorthanded NYCFC team, right? Like that game, the story of that game was a bunch of like 34-year-old, 35-year-old, being behind the ball, just getting absolutely roasted, not able to make plays in open field. So, they still have Kritijan Kahlina, who is worth 10 points. But the age and then, look, Adilson Malanda was a dominant force in his own box. Even if they go out and spend seven million dollars on a new centerback, I don’t think that that is going to, it’s not easy to replicate that. So I just think that there’s enough in there to not be like, I don’t see this as a mid-50s point team, especially because they’re going to be juggling other tournaments now this year in a way that they weren’t necessarily last year.” Bogert: “My only pushback is, I think the story of the NYCFC playoff loss was more about, I don’t know how many times the ball could die at the feet of Djibril Diani or Brandt Bronico in the final third, and Luca de la Torre helps solve that, and Pep Biel being back obviously solves that even more.” Doyle: “I think if Luca de la Torre solved that, he would still be on San Diego. He would not be on this roster.” Gass: “I don’t disagree with that, except it's still better than what you had last year, even if you don’t think he was worth what they paid or even if you don’t think he’s the perfect solution to what their issues were.”

By Brian Maurer Nimfasha Berchimas after making his MLS debut (Photo courtesy CJ Hellner/TopBin90) At the beginning of February, MLS Insider Tom Bogert reported that Charlotte FC was in advanced talks with Bayern Munich to send their star academy graduate Nimfasha Berchimas, 17, to the German giants. More recent rumors suggest that Charlotte FC has already informed Berchimas that he is not part of their first-team plans this season, and the Crown is sticking to a high asking price for the young prospect, even though they do not intend to play him this year. While other sources have not confirmed this rumor, there appears to be some truth to it, especially given the fact that Berchimas has been given zero minutes in preseason with the First Team. The ultimate truth can usually be observed on the field, but more will be revealed with time. Berchimas is one of the top 15 youngest players to debut in MLS history and has made 44 appearances for Charlotte's development team, Crown Legacy FC. He has scored 10 goals for Legacy, including the club's first-ever hat-trick.