After a first round playoff exit in 2025 there's some interesting upgrades for 2026, fingers crossed.

Big news is Bukari moving on to a Euro club (sounds like part of the reason was his wife and baby coming to the US, which I totally understand right now) and the signing of Facundo Torres late last week as a replacement DP. Torres was in MLS two seasons ago with Orlando and had 20 goals and 6 assists in all competitions before leaving for Palmeiras in Brazil for a year. He's a left footed winger who likes to play inverted on the right, should be a big upgrade for the attack.




Other additions

Joseph Rosales - defender/midfielder signed from Minnesota for 1.5 million with the new MLS cashfer option, Honduran international, likely slots in at left back or left wing/wingback but can also play centrally

Jayden Nelson - winger and Canadian international signed from Vancouver for our first round 2026 pick and 1.25 million in GAM split across 2025 and 2026, absolute burner who's the likely starter at left wing

Jon Bell - center back who's got a couple appearances for the Jamaican national team, free agent signing that last played in Seattle, likely depth at center back


Outgoing

Jader Obrian - contract termination exercised by club just today, that move brings us into roster compliance at 25 spots

Julio Cascante - contract option declined by club

Diego Rubio - contract option declined by club

Stefan Cleveland - backup keeper traded to Kansas City for 50k GAM


Other notes

- Owen Wolff underwent surgery for a sports hernia a few weeks ago and is expected to be active for the season opener. Curious to see if we play him as more of a 10/forward pressing 8 after a lot of time on the wing last season.

- Brandon Vazquez is still rehabbing after ACL surgery and expected back in May.

- Damian Las is back from his loan with Louisville City and will backup Stuver at goalkeeper, only two keepers on the roster.


We've definitely got more firepower than we did last season, big question for me is what we do with Uzuni once BV is back. They didn't seem to mesh well together last season, we tried Uzuni some on the left wing but he's not a true winger and we've got better options there now. Not sure if we try some kind of 4-4-2/3-5-2 or look to move Uzuni on in the summer window.

Verde Listos!

Thanks for getting the thread started!

This year's roster seems better than last's, but I still imagine our forwards all crowding each other and no one getting them the ball anyway. Hope I'm wrong.

Either way, Listos!

This team has drawn the two best teams in MLS the last two games, and last night scored the first goal in Miami's new (also Nu) stadium.

Biro heads it in to get us started in Miami! pic.twitter.com/vGTpvmjVUF

— Austin FC (@AustinFC) April 5, 2026

We were also denied a pen inside the first two minutes that even the neutrals on Reddit said was obvious. Messi scored a few minutes later but we played a solid first half, then in the second half we had this gorgeous counter:

Instant impact. @JaydenNelson__'s first in the VERDE & Black! pic.twitter.com/jiGQokNwCq

— Austin FC (@AustinFC) April 5, 2026

And Stuver stood on his head as always:

🗣️STUUUU!@brad_stuver denies Messi in stoppage time to preserve the point! pic.twitter.com/YdtlhwyBhM

— Austin FC (@AustinFC) April 5, 2026

They unfortunately equalized late, it can happen when the other team has two Barcelona legends (Suarez with the equalizer). But Rosales also had a great game and Uzuni looks like a man possessed these past two games. He had a rocket of a freekick off the post and missed by inches on another, also had some fantastic possession and looked dangerous all night.

Considering we've still got Vazquez and Wolff out and Desler is just getting back to fitness this team's best games are ahead, could be a really fun season. April run of games is a mix of teams along with our first US Open Cup match against USL side Louisville City.


Full highlights:

Man, , Stuver is playing like a man possessed!!!

Well I was gonna post about how it's been a rough couple weeks but bigger news just came down the pipe:

Austin FC Parts Ways with Sporting Director Rodolfo Borrell and Head Coach Nico Estvez

One more match before the World Cup break, looks like it could be an interesting summer.

Every FC Dallas fan would've told you this was going to happen when Austin announced the hire!

I don't think many Austin fans thought it would end any differently, he was a very underwhelming choice from the jump.

He was exactly what he has been, seems like a lovely guy but his teams don't get it done.

Surprised we let go of Rodo. Other than the coach hire, I think he's done well building a team. Not sure I trust Precourt to replace him with anyone more qualified.

I've generally thought the same, although I feel like some of our signings have been odd. Like I don't know why we spent on Uzuni after signing Vazquez to play the same position, and we're weirdly deep at places like left back while needing other spots.

This, however, changed my opinion in a few ways, the Soccerwise podcast was live on air when the news was announced and they did not hold back on Rodo (Austin section starts at 26:33). He's also made a few recent comments about how it's his job to sign the players then the coach has to make it work, which seems like kind of a dysfunctional way to build a team.

Season after season, I feel like 2022 was a complete outlier and we might never sniff that type of "success" again.