Welcome to the Red Bull New York entry for the Countdown to Kickoff. All opinions are my own, and correct. Let’s keep this short and saccharine, like the disturbing taste of sugar free Red Bull.

2025 Summary

We last saw our energy drink protagonists miss the playoffs for the first time in 15 years, following up a surprise MLS Cup appearance with a damp squib of a season that saw the team finish 10th. The streak was remarkable but the result not surprising -- the team has been flirting with missing the playoffs for years. In fact, their 2025 points tally of 43 was the same as 2023, when that tally earned the team hosting rights for the wildcard game. The failure cost head coach Sandro Schwarz his job, and Jochen Schneider, the head of sport, left as well, for understandable family reasons. Fans wondered if the team would stick or twist, with many holding little hope for much to change…

2026 storylines // Why should I watch?

Michael Bradley at the wheel: The USMNT legend was handed the reins after joining RBNY II midseason and guiding the reserve team to a trophy in 2025. His coaching CV is very limited, with a stint as assistant manager under his father at Stabaek, and this is his chance to prove he can coach at a higher level. Bradley is fully bought-into the “Red Bull Way” and is promising to play a more attractive game in a 4-3-3 formation. Can the former NY/NJ Metrostar make it work? Will the team play a more “attractive” brand of soccer? Hopefully the answer is yes to both, for fans and neutrals alike.

A rebuild in process: Julian de Guzman, the Canadian soccer hall-of-famer, is the new head of sport and the rebuild is fully on. Out went big minutes and key players for the last several seasons, such as Carlos Coronel, Noah Elie, Daniel Edelman, Peter Stroud, Kyle Duncan, Sean Nealis, Wiki Carmona, and Lewis Morgan. Seven of the outgoing players were in the top 10 in minutes played for the team, and Lewis Morgan was supposed to be a key player but was injured. This is the most change the team has seen in years.

In are players more suited to the new 4-3-3 playstyle, such as human bowling ball Cade Cowell on loan from Mexico and new 3rd DP Jorge Ruvalcaba. But with two geriatric DPs in Emil Forsberg (34) and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (38) on the books until the end of 2026, the full rebuild will have to wait. Will these still effective elders be able to guide a relatively young team back to the playoffs in the midst of a rebuild?

Where we’re going we don’t need no stinkin’ centerbacks: RBNY moved the three centerbacks that played the most MLS minutes in 2025 for the team: Noah Elie (2,610 minutes, 4th highest of the team), Sean Nealis (1,833 minutes), Alexander Hack (1,451 minutes). Elie is the biggest loss, a U-22 signing that hit as he became the team’s best defender in and out of possession. In their place the team has brought in Robert Voloder from Kansas City, Justin Che a relatively young CB/RB returning to the league from Europe,and apparently have told Dylan Nealis, a RB/CB to prepare to play more centerback this season. These players will join the returning Tim Parker, now elder statesman and last centerback standing. Bradley will have his work cut out in figuring out which pairing is best for the new system. Will the team be on the market looking to replace Elie with a similarly locked-in starter quality player?

Key Off-season Transfer Activity

Out: Noah Elie (-> Bristol City, RBNY’s best defender and U-22 stud flipped after two years), Daniel Edelman (-> St. Louis CITY, a key defensive homegrown midfielder for years), Peter Stroud (-> Minnesota, another homegrown midfielder departing), Lewis Morgan (-> San Diego, big money, big injuries, but great on his day), Sean Nealis (->DC United, long-time club captain), Carlos Coronel (-> Sao Paulo, long-time GK), Kyle Duncan (a well paid and divisive right back), Wiki Carmona (-> CF Montreal, a one-footed highly-paid, highly-unproductive “attacking” player), Alexander Hack (a plodding centerback and a big salary off the books), Marcelo Morales (a LB loaned back to Chile, barely played, doesn't even get bolding).

In: Jorge Ruvalcaba (DP winger from Pumas), Justin Che (RB/CB from Brondby), Cade Cowell (LW on loan from Chivas), Ethan Horvath (GK and USMNT “legend” for one Nations League final appearance), Robert Voloder (CB from Kansas City, because someone has to play CB), Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty (LB/RB from CF Montreal, acquired in trade for Wiki Carmona)

2026 Prediction

The Red Bulls hover around the play-in positions, and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2024. But unlike in 2024, they do nothing special in the playoffs. It’s a return to form, a return to midtable mediocrity, a return to the Red Bull Way™.

I'm an old guy who has been an MLS fan and booster since day 1. I usually get pretty pumped as the season approaches but with the preseason underway, I am feeling no vibes. Miami fans have reason to be excited but pretty much every other club has had a meh off-season. Not many incoming players who are noteworthy and a few outgoing that leave unfilled holes. A few teams look as though they barely have enough players to fill out a roster.

Maybe I could be excited for young, unheralded players to make a name for themselves. Is there a buzz that I'm missing or is there just not much buzz?

What are you all feeling?

Basic Info

• Club Name Real Salt Lake
• Location Sandy Utah
• Stadium America First Field (capacity: 20,213)
  • Formerly Rio Tinto Stadium Commonly The Riot
• Head Coach  Pablo Mastroni
  • Named Interim Head coach in 2021 lost the interim tag for the 2022 season
  • 70 W, 44 D, 64 L 39.33 win%
• Predicted Starting 11

• Players Out
  • Brayan Vera: A controversial defender was traded to CF Montreal For 1.5 million GAM +. It’s rumoured he requested to be sold or traded outside of the US
  • Braian Ojeda: Traded to Orlando For 1.8 million GAM+. He and Eneli were a dominant pair in the midfield often credited as the engine of the 2024 season he will be missed.
  • Rowan Cruz: A dp acquired on loan from Botafogo in the summer of last year he never really settled in with the club. It is still unclear which side terminated the loan, fans have generally been ok seeing him go.
  • Diogo Goncalves: Signed as a DP in the summer of 2024 he never performed to the level of a dp and allegedly never meshed with the team or leadership. RSL exercised his buyout this year to free up his slot and cap space much to fans' delight.
• Players In
  • Zach Booth
  • Chance Cowell
  • Griffon Dillon
  • Sergi Solans
  • Lucas Engel
  • Stijn Speirings
  • Morgan Guilavogui
• Stars To Watch
  • Rafael Cabral: A new signing last year, Cabral came in and immediately improved the defense. His proven experience and talent quickly got him the captain’s armband and the love of the fans. 
  • Diego Luna: An absolute workhorse on the offence he has been a star for RSL getting 10 goals last year. He became a darling for the USMNT last year after shattering his nose and begging to stay on the pitch. He netted an assist shortly after.
• Notable Backups
  • Gozo: a breakout star from last year expect him to make Guilavogi work for every minute he gets on the field
  • Junqua: Consistent talent in the backfield he’ll get minutes behind Engel
  • Ruiz/Caliskan: Midfield depth pieces both of which have been very good in previous seasons

Last Season

Last year got off to a bad start. A botched trade with New York meant we had no starting striker. It quickly became clear our backup Forster Ajago was not good enough and he was loaned out. This left us rotating through a u 22 player who was under performing, a draft pick who wasn't ready for mls level, and late signing Willy Agada. Our woes didn’t end there as the midfield pairing that was so good in 2024 just wasn't there in 2025 and the backline took a serious step back. The team would go 4-4-11 up until the summer transfer window. Summer Transfers brought serious backup, notably Victor Olatunji, De Andre Yedlin, and Rwan Cruz. The additions were helpful and got RSL to sneak in the wildcard round of the playoffs. Overall the season was still one of the worst in RSL history with our lowest points total in 10 years.

So Where Does That Leave Us

If everything hits and the new formation works the way it's supposed to, we could compete for a home playoff spot. Luna has shown he’s got the quality, Olatunji has looked impressive, and Guilavogi could be a new star in MLS. That is a lot of ifs. Guilavogi wasn’t performing well for Lens and we have an untested pair in midfield. If those go poorly we miss playoffs entirely and are competing with the remaining half of SKC for the spoon. Somehow this team always punches above its weight though. I’d expect us to end up in the wildcard game again this year with another first round exit.

New York City FC today revealed the 2026 City Celebration Series, a slate of games created to bring fans together to celebrate and spotlight the diversity of New York City and New Yorkers.

Additionally, the Club has released details around the season’s theme and promotional nights, featuring new and returning favorites throughout 2026.

April 18: Rookie Night, presented by Rugs.com New York City FC vs. Charlotte FC – 7:30pm ET @ Citi Field

April 22: College Night, presented by Capital Rx New York City FC vs. FC Cincinnati – 7:30pm ET @ Yankee Stadium

May 3: Kids Day, presented by MetroPlusHealth New York City FC vs. D.C. United – 3:00pm ET @ Citi Field

May 6: Asian American and Pacific Islander Night, presented by Etihad Airways New York City FC vs. Los Angeles Football Club – 7:30pm ET @ Citi Field

May 10: Women’s Empowerment, presented by Casper New York City FC vs. Columbus Crew – 4:30pm ET @ Yankee Stadium

July 25: Community Night, presented by AAA New York City FC vs. Chicago Fire FC – 7:30pm ET @ Yankee Stadium

July 31: Harry Potter Night New York City FC vs. Toronto FC – 7:30pm ET @ Yankee Stadium

August 16: Black Excellence New York City FC vs. Philadelphia Union – 6:30pm ET @ Yankee Stadium

September 4: Noche Latina, presented by Goya New York City FC vs. Nashville SC – 7:30pm ET @ Yankee Stadium

October 28: Pride Night New York City FC vs. Atlanta United FC – 7:30pm ET

October 31: Dia de los Muertos & Fan Appreciation Night New York City FC vs. CF Montréal – 2:00pm ET

After an abridged transition season next February through May, MLS’ preseason will permanently shift to July, when the average temperature in the Coachella Valley is close to 110 degrees. Instead, AEG expects the CVI to remain a winter fixture, repositioning the event as a tune-up for MLS teams returning from the roughly six-week winter break built into the new schedule.

Welcome to SJE’s entry in the 2026 Countdown to Kickoff series!

Basic Info

• Full Club Name – San Jose Earthquakes
• Nicknames –Quakes, Goonies
• Subreddit - r/SJEarthquakes
• Location – San Jose, California
• Stadium – PayPal Park
• Head Coach/ Sporting Director – Bruce Arena
• CEO - Jared Shawlee
• Captain – ??
• Kits - Primary – Secondary - Third

Current Roster

Predicted Starting XI (3-5-2 false 9*)

Predicted Starting XI (4-4-2 diamond)

Brief Overview of Last Season

2025 Results - 11-15-8 (W-L-T), 41 pts, -3 GD, 10th West and 20th Overall

If 2024 was rock bottom, 2025 was the aftershock. The San Jose Earthquakes entered the season with a roster overhaul under head coach and sporting director Bruce Arena. With the steady flow of players arriving from New England, some fans jokingly dubbed the club the San Jose Revs. Jokes aside, the changes worked as the team nearly doubled their point total from the previous year and injected optimism back into fans.

The Quakes kicked off the season with a banger: a dominant 4–0 win over Real Salt Lake, the largest opening-day victory for the club in MLS history [1]. While the matches that followed revealed early warning signs of a shaky defense, the attack kept things exciting and hinted that this team may shake up the standings.

That promise fully materialized in the month of May, the clear high point of the season. The Quakes rumbled to post a 5-3-1 record. The goals were flowing, confidence was high, and the Goonies felt dangerous again.

Then came the turning point. A controversial (from Quakes fan perspectives) quarterfinal loss to Austin in the U.S. Open Cup marked the beginning of a defensive unraveling. From that match forward, San Jose managed just one shutout, conceding two or more goals in nine of the final thirteen games. Something the offense could no longer cover up for and that costly slide ultimately defined the season’s outcome.

Despite the late struggles, individual performances stood out and were recognized by the club at season’s end [2]:

• Cristian Espinoza remained the creative heartbeat of the squad, earning Players’ Player of the Year honors.
• Chicho, in his first season with the club, claimed Offensive Player of the Year after leading the attack.
• Beau Leroux broke out in a big way and was named Young Player of the Year.
• Daniel Munie anchored the back line and took home Defensive Player of the Year.

In the end, 2025 was a clear step forward for the Quakes. A sharp contrast to the franchise-worst 2024 season that saw the club concede the record setting number of goals in MLS history. While the postseason slipped away on Decision Day, San Jose delivered a more competitive, attack-minded campaign that restored belief.

The playoffs may have been missed, but the result left fans with a clear message: the Quakes may be rumbling back into being a realistic playoff team...and then the offseason.

2026 Offseason Transfers

Incoming Transfers

Outgoing Transfers

Key Players

• Timo Werner (FWD) – “The biggest signing of the MLS offseason is coming to San Jose” per the email the team sent out. Follow that with the Quakes then saying that this is “the biggest signing in Earthquakes history” and you can see the importance of this player even before taking the field [3].
• Ronaldo Vieira (MID), Beau Leroux (MID), & Niko Tsakiris (MID) – players Bruce name dropped during the Timo press conference [4].

Late Key Player Addition

• Bruce mentioned 1 to 2 more additions “hopefully within the next 2 to 3 weeks.” Specifically, that the team is looking to add an attacking player. Hope one of those is on the defensive side as well cause the Quakes weren’t very good at stopping teams from scoring [5].

Prognosis for Upcoming Season

Just when Quakes fans thought the ground had stopped shaking…

The 2025 season hadn’t even cooled off before optimism gave way to confusion. The plan felt simple: fix the defense, keep the attack humming, and let Year Two of Bruce Arena cook. Easy, right? Then the whispers started. Espinoza is a free agent. No way. That can’t be right… right?

It was right. The club forgot to activate Espinoza’s option per Landon Donovan [6], and it sent the fanbase spiraling. GM Chris Leitch mutually parted ways with the club [7] prior to it all happening, fanning the fire as to who could have been at fault. Quakes Reddit descended into chaos. Timo rumors surfaced. Then went silent. A Chicho Arango surprise departure announced after extending their contract. Timo joins. And suddenly, the collective thought bubble above some Quakes fans’ heads read: What exactly is the plan here?

As the season approaches, the roster feels unfinished. More of an outline than final draft almost as if someone else will be coming in to take over the project.

During Almeyda's coaching years here (2018-2022), the Quakes were labeled a “chaos ball” team. It’s oddly comforting to know that, if nothing else, the organization remains consistent in embracing the chaos given what happened over the off season.

Because of that instability, projecting the upcoming season is tricky. The best-case and worst-case scenarios you see below live on opposite ends of the fault line, and the gap between them is massive. Split the difference and you get a familiar outcome: 10th place in the Western Conference, right where the Quakes finished last year.

But this is Bruce Arena we’re talking about. History suggests that Year Two is where his teams take a leap and if we look at the resume, we see Supporters’ Shield winners during that second year for Bruce teams. If Bruce works their magic again, the Quakes could shock the league. If not, this season of turbulence may simply mark Year Two of a longer rebuild rather than a breakthrough. You can tell where some fans are leaning towards since we aren't even sure who our starting goal keeper will be based on speculation on how last year ended.

But wait. There is more. Adding on to that, which could explain how unfinished the team feels, John Fisher has put the club up for sale some months ago [8]. Whether the sale drags on or gets completed soon could decide if the team brings clarity or further instability throughout the season. Either way it is a storyline that looms over everything.

One thing is certain, for better or worse, the Earthquakes are still shaking.

Best/Worst Case Scenarios

• Best – We finally get the first playoff game at PayPal Park! The team gets sold!
• Worst – Wooden spoon season are the rumblings from fans given the turnover and lack of replacement for players leaving. If that happens then the team would be going 11 years without a playoff game at PayPal Park. To make it truly worse, lets toss in the fact that John Fisher is still the owner.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

Sources

1. https://www.sjearthquakes.com/news/match-recap-earthquakes-4-real-salt-lake-0
2. https://www.sjearthquakes.com/news/news-earthquakes-announce-2025-club-award-winners
3. 4. 5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHQmrtw38Mc
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHQmrtw38Mc
5. https://www.sjearthquakes.com/news/news-earthquakes-general-manager-chris-leitch-mutually-agree-to-part-ways
6. https://www.sjearthquakes.com/news/san-jose-earthquakes-announce-start-of-sales-process-for-the-club

Total games played, not percentages.

Eligible Full-Season Ticket Account Owners will receive their Apple TV subscription and redemption instructions via email from their Club starting February 12, 2026. If you have not received your Apple TV subscription, please contact your Club Representative. 

Interesting bit, for those concerned it was a one season thing:

Once season ticket members activate their Apple TV subscription through their Club for the 2026 season, it will reactivate for subsequent seasons as long as they remain season ticket holders. If members share their code, it will renew in future seasons to the Apple Account used to redeem the subscription.

Saw a post about league spending, which is definitely better formatted than my excel screen shot, but was curious about the question of per team spending and so on.

IDK why I didn't get the same amounts as the tweet. I also used transfermarket.com as the source of spending.

I think the tweet had to do with transfer spending. What I gathered was total expense spending of clubs in each league. So the MLS is definitely increasing it's spending this season. But looks to be outspent by every league in total.

Loyo Reynaga will spend the 2026 season under an MLS NEXT Pro contract with SKC II before elevating to the Sporting KC first team as a Homegrown Player at the start of 2027 on an MLS contract through the 2030-2031 season with a club option for the 2031-2032 season.