CHARLOTTE — On the heels of the most successful campaign in club history, Charlotte FC has entered its fifth MLS season no longer viewed as an expansion upstart but as a contender expected to win.
Under third-year coach Dean Smith, the Crown returns a largely intact roster, reinforced by targeted additions and shaped by the departure of key contributors.
Charlotte opened the 2026 season Saturday with a 1-1 road draw against St. Louis City SC, the second meeting between the clubs. Pep Biel scored the equalizer in the second half on a left-footed finish off an assist from Wilfried Zaha, salvaging a point despite St. Louis controlling play with a 22-9 shot advantage and an 11-3 edge in shots on goal.
“I felt it was an average game, an average performance,” Smith said. “We still came away for points. I know that players will get better through having the minutes from today. You could see a couple of their lads cramped up. In the first game, you’re never quite sure what to expect. The intensity is always higher for that first game, and I would expect our players to be better next week.”
Goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina, named to the MLS Team of the Matchday after a career-high 10 saves, said his confidence began building during preseason.
“I’m really proud because I think this was one of my best preseasons with how I prepared,” Kahlina said. “I had a few calls before this game, and I said ‘I feel really good’. You never know what the game can give you, but overall I feel really good,”
Charlotte finished fourth in the Eastern Conference and seventh overall in 2025, setting club records with 19 victories and 59 points while winning 11 of its final 13 matches.
The team also posted a league-best home record at Bank of America Stadium, further cementing the venue’s reputation as one of MLS’s toughest environments and a major factor in the club’s rise.
Despite that progress, the postseason ended in familiar disappointment.
Charlotte fell 3-1 in the deciding match of a best-of-three first-round series against New York City FC, reinforcing the sense that the club must evolve further. While the club has qualified for the MLS play-in tournament or playoffs in three straight seasons, advancing remains the next benchmark for a roster built to compete.
Charlotte doubled down on continuity this offseason but must replace star center back Adilson Malanda, who transferred to Middlesbrough. His exit leaves a leadership and defensive void that will need to be filled collectively.
Other departures include Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, whose loan ended, and Nikola Petkovic, who was loaned to Seattle. The club also lost Patrick Agyemang last season, creating a lingering gap in striker depth that remains a concern entering the new campaign.
Rather than overhaul the roster, Charlotte added experience and depth.
Center back Henry Kessler arrives with a Supporters’ Shield pedigree, while U.S. international midfielder Luca de la Torre adds versatility and ball progression. The club also made Pep Biel’s move permanent after his MVP-caliber first half in 2025 before a late-season knee injury disrupted the team’s rhythm.
Veteran goalkeeper Tyler Miller provides depth behind Kahlina, and fullback David Shnegg adds needed cover along the back line. The midfield projects as a strength, with Biel, captain Ashley Westwood and de la Torre forming a balanced trio supported by Brandt Bronico and Djibril Diani.
Up front, Zaha’s pedigree and Idan Toklomati’s emergence — he scored 12 goals across all competitions — provide multiple attacking threats, though striker depth remains a concern. Charlotte will rely on internal development and flexibility to compensate for the loss of proven scoring options.
Smith has built Charlotte around defensive structure and efficiency, emphasizing a counter-pressing approach designed to make the club hard to beat. Last season also saw experimentation with more aggressive setups and a central playmaking role for Biel, hinting at a more proactive attack as the roster matures.
Charlotte’s home dominance, continuity and attacking talent position the club for another potential top-four push in the East. However, questions still remain about defensive leadership, chance creation and a playoff ceiling defined by three straight first-round exits.
If the defense holds and the midfield unlocks greater creativity, Charlotte FC may finally turn steady progress into a postseason breakthrough, transforming a consistent playoff participant into a legitimate MLS Cup threat.
The LA Galaxy will host Charlotte FC in Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday, one full week before Charlotte FC’s home opener against Austin FC in the Queen City.
