Austin FC showed some flashes of the team they might be in 2026. But according to their head coach and veteran goalkeeper, there's more work to do before Saturday's opening match.
In this installment of our MLS season previews for 2026, we go to D.C., Ft. Lauderdale. Montréal, Nashville, and Foxborough (though it could be Everett soon).
In Part 1 of our six-part MLS season preview roundup for 2026, we go East and delve into Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, and Columbus.
Since it's Valentine's Day: Roses are red/some cards are too/Verde lost two players/and then lost 0 to 2.
The good news is Austin FC scored two goals in a match. The bad news is the two goals scored against them came off corner kicks.
Nico Estévez provided some welcome news about the lineup ahead of Wednesday's match. He also admitted that there's much work to do between now and the season opener on Feb. 21
Simon Becher scored a 16th-minute goal to provide the difference between the two teams. Offense, in the absence of key attackers, continues to be a concern.
Myrto Uzuni is possibly on the move to Turkey. For now, the only concrete move to report on this week is a very specific amount of GAM.
Is Jorge Alastuey first-team material? Is Joseph Rosales a winger? Is Facundo Torres a 10? These are three questions that Austin FC head coach Nico Estévez seeks to answer in the next 20 days.
If you like watching Austin FC take shots and score goals, this was not the game for you. But it's still preseason, and key offensive players are still missing.
Facundo Torres says he's joined a good team he wants to make better and will play whenever his coach tells him to. Yes, that ticks a lot of Boy Scout boxes.
2024's co-leader in goals had a much less productive 2025. But rather than move him to a new team, Austin FC had to use a roster mechanism allowing the club to release him.
