Austin’s Minister of Culture, Crew intrigue
Major League Soccer kicks off its 26th season this weekend. Here are five key storylines to follow.
1. Top MLS Cup contenders
The reigning champion Columbus Crew reloaded over the offseason, adding Kevin Molino, Bradley Wright-Phillips and Alexandru Matan to an already talent-laden roster, and aims to become the league’s first repeat champion since the Los Angeles Galaxy won MLS Cups in 2011-12. In a league built for parity (it’s had seven different champions in the last eight seasons), that’s a big ask. In the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia Union, New England Revolution, Orlando City and Toronto FC are foreseen as the biggest challengers.
In the West, the defending conference champion Seattle Sounders look to increase their league record for consecutive playoff seasons to 13. Despite a drop-off in performance in 2020, Los Angeles FC is expected to contend with Seattle, with the Portland Timbers, Minnesota United and Sporting Kansas City also in the mix.
2. Austin FC, co-owned by Matthew McConaughey, debuts
Alright, alright, alright! Austin FC becomes the 27th MLS team. Austin is one of three teams – the Crew and FC Cincinnati the others – opening new stadiums this season, increasing the number of stadiums built with the purpose for MLS clubs to 23.
With Austin on board, Matthew McConaughey becomes the latest celebrity co-owner in MLS, joining the likes of Will Ferrell, Mia Hamm and Magic Johnson (LAFC), Drew Carey, Ken Griffey Jr., Macklemore, Russell Wilson and Ciara (Seattle Sounders), Brooklyn Nets teammates Kevin Durant (Philadelphia Union) and James Harden (Houston Dynamo), and former soccer star/global icon David Beckham (Inter Miami CF). McConaughey also is Austin FC’s “Minister of Culture,” a hilarious title he also holds at the University of Texas. If he’s as visible at Austin FC games as Ferrell is at LAFC games, fans are in for a treat.
3. Newcomers to watch
Austin FC brings two new designated players to the league in midfielder Tomás
Pochettino and forward Cecilio Domínguez, with the pair being counted on to link up on the attacking end.
FC Cincinnati arguably made the biggest splash of the offseason, bringing in 21-year-old Brazilian forward Brenner on one of the highest transfer fees in MLS history (a reported $13 million). Brenner will be counted on to boost an attack that scored 12 goals in 23 games last season.
Orlando City signed a veteran Brazilian forward in hopes of continuing its ascent from also-ran to championship contender. With Alexandre Pato, who’s played for Italian powerhouse AC Milan as well as the Brazilian national team, Orlando will look to build off its most successful season yet.
LAFC hopes South Korean international Kim Moon-hwan can solidify the right back spot, and the Galaxy brought in experienced defender Derrick Williams and goalkeeper Jonathan Bond from clubs in England to help sort out what had been a spare parts defense.
After missing the playoffs last season, Atlanta United brings a revamped roster under new coach Gabriel Heinze. Midfielder Santiago Sosa (21 years old) and defensive midfielder Franco Ibarra (19) move from the Argentine Primera División to MLS and are expected to play key roles for an Atlanta team aiming to regain its status among the league’s elite teams. Atlanta United also welcomes back 2018 MVP and Golden Boot winner Josef Martinez, who missed all but one game last season with a knee injury.
4. USMNT prospects
Play the kids, as they say, and MLS has made a concerted effort to do so.
It helps when MLS teams have been able to move homegrown players to Europe for robust transfer fees, with Bryan Reynolds from FC Dallas to AS
Roma and Brenden Aaronson from Philadelphia to Red Bull Salzburg among those to make the move over the winter. Both are 20 or younger and figure to be U.S. national team fixtures for years.
There’s a promising list of national team prospects to follow in MLS who are 20 or younger and have yet to earn their first USMNT cap, among the notables being midfielder Aidan Morris (19, Columbus), defender/midfielder James Sands (20, NYCFC), midfielder Caden Clark (17, New York Red Bulls), forward Gianluca Busio (18, KC), midfielder Paxten Aaronson (17, Philadelphia), midfielder Cole Bassett (19, Colorado Rapids), forward Ricardo Pepi (18, Dallas), midfielder Cade Cowell (17, San Jose Earthquakes), midfielder Kevin Paredes (17, DC United), and midfielder Efraín Álvarez (18, Galaxy), who has yet to decide if he’ll play for the U.S. or Mexico.
5. Concussion substitutions
MLS is participating in a FIFA pilot program that allows teams up to two additional substitutes for concussions or suspected concussions each game. These are in addition to the five substitutions that are already allowed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic (typically, three subs are allowed per game).