1. LAFC
The champs get the number one slot until they prove unworthy. Denis Bouanga is set to step into a huge role for LAFC this season after the departure of Chicho Arango. The midfield and defense remains intact, so there is no real reason to believe that this team will not be near the top.
2. PHILADELPHIA UNION
The Philadelphia Union set defensive records in 2022, and did just about everything right up until Gareth Bale's headed goal in MLS Cup. The league's best defense returns this season, so Philly will always be a tough team to break down. Additionally, the entire rest of the starting lineup remains, meaning the Union are seeking revenge.
3. ORLANDO CITY SC
Orlando City SC had an exceptional off-season, adding Martin Ojeda, Ramiro Enrique, Dagur Dan Thorhallson, and Rafael Santos. This attack becomes extremely dangerous through the new signings alongside Facundo Torres and Ercan Kara. The defense, especially at the fullback spots, are a bit uncertain at the moment. Regardless, Orlando looks dangerous in 2023.
4. AUSTIN FC
Austin FC showed up in a big way last season, completely shifting form from their inaugural season, with the help of MVP runner-up Sebastian Driussi. They added an experienced goal scorer in Gyasi Zardes, which should help take some pressure off Driussi. Emiliano Rigoni could also be in for a breakout year, while Diego Fagundez has just re-signed with the club. Austin has a chance to find the same success this year.
5. FC CINCINNATI
The three-time wooden spoon champion FC Cincinnati find themselves in an unfamiliar spot, near the top of the preseason power rankings. The dynamic and always exciting attacking trio of Brenner, Brandon Vazquez, and Luciano Acosta will try to replicate their numbers from last season. Brenner may be headed for a summer departure, so that will be something to watch down the stretch for this high-potential squad.
6. NEW YORK RED BULLS
The New York Red Bulls needed a striker, so they got one. The entire team has been quite solid, but they lacked a goal scorer that could bail them out in tough situations. RBNY are hoping Dante Vanzeir is that guy, as he will join Luquinhas and Lewis Morgan in the attack. If these guys fire all on cylinders, the Red Bulls will be in the top spots in the Eastern Conference.
7. LA GALAXY
The LA Galaxy have quite an interesting roster make-up, but their latest moves set them up in a far better spot than they were in a few weeks ago. Riqui Puig is among the best players in MLS, and the rising star Dejan Joveljic should become a starter this season. Lucas Calegari, Memo Rodriguez, and Tyler Boyd will provide help in important areas, while the rumors of Isco are still in the air. Despite the Chris Klein protests off the field, the on-field performance should be quite fun to watch.
8. FC DALLAS
FC Dallas did not make massive moves during the off-season, but their team is one built for this league. Paul Arriola and Jesus Ferreira will hold down the attack with Alan Velasco, who is another breakout candidate in 2023. Dallas continued their obsession with Jesus through adding Geovane Jesus for some RB help, as well as Jesus Jimenez, who could start up top if Ferreira plays the #10 role. The defense is still up in the air with the departure of club legend Matt Hedges, but it looks as if FC Dallas can be a solid team this year.
9. SPORTING KANSAS CITY
SKC are the biggest movers from last season to now. This is partly because their two injured DPs (Alan Pulido and Gadi Kinda) will be returning sometime soon. But, they also seem to have a star forward in Willy Agada, as well as a solid midfield. Proven La Liga CDM Nemanja Radoja will slot straight into the XI next to Thommy and Walter. Sporting Kansas City may surprise some people that haven't been paying attention here in 2023.
10. NYCFC
Callens and Taty Castellanos left for Girona, while GK Sean Johnson went to Toronto FC, Maxi Moralez and Anton Tinnerholm returned to their home countries, so NYCFC won't be any good right? Maybe if they did not still have the South American quartet of Talles Magno, Santiago Rodriguez, Gabi Pereira, and Thiago Andrade. NYCFC's attack remains young and powerful, so counting them out would not be very wise.
11. PORTLAND TIMBERS
The Portland Timbers did not have a great off-season outside of club record signing Evander, but there's still time luckily. This team may very well come out of the gates extremely slow, as the injury bug has hit Portland prior to the season. They are working on signing a new #9, which would be a massive help to an attack that desperately needs a consistent scorer.
12. TORONTO FC
Toronto FC have made a ton of moves to address most of their holes, a lot of which came in the back. Matt Hedges, Sigurd Rosted, and Raoul Petretta will be 3/4 new starters across the back-line for TFC. Adama Diomande will join up top as a target man striker next to the Italian duo of Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi. If those two can get into good form, with the support of Diomande in the middle, the rest will sort itself out for Toronto FC.
13. ATLANTA UNITED
Atlanta United are among the biggest question marks in 2022, will the signing of DP striker Giorgos Giakoumakis really change everything? Last season was disappointing to say the least, but new GM Garth Lagerwey has begun to turn the tides of the roster, adding Luis Abram and Derrick Etienne Jr. in addition to their new forward. Thiago Almada's Atlanta United has a ton of potential if these three new signings hit as they expect them to.
14. COLUMBUS CREW
Lucas Zelarayan and Cucho Hernandez showed flashes of just how good they can be together at the end of last season. If the Crew want to go far, it will have to come through them. Their off-season was rather quiet, but the return of Christian Ramirez to MLS could definitely help them as well. They lost all of Mensah, Santos, Artur, and Etienne, so only time will tell how that will effect the Columbus Crew.
15. SEATTLE SOUNDERS
The Seattle Sounders have been a great team, everyone knows that. But, this roster is only getting older and not much has changed around it. Joao Paulo is coming off an ACL tear, Raul Ruidiaz is 32, and Nico Lodeiro is 33. The only notable change was the signing of depth ST Heber. The Seattle Sounders have the framework of a solid MLS team, but their lack of true dynamicity in the attack could hurt them down the stretch.
16. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
The New England Revolution missed the playoffs last season and were riddled by injuries to their stars. This off-season, they have added Latif Blessing and Dave Romney to fill major holes in the starting lineup, while they hope Giacomo Vrioni and Dylan Borrero can stay healthy and provide legit scoring numbers. A team with Carles Gil in control of it always has the potential to be among the best.
17. CF MONTREAL
CF Montreal sold a lot of players and did not sign a lot of players. Ismael Kone, Djordje Mihailovic, Alistair Johnston, Joaquin Torres, and Kei Kamara all left. With that being said, the defense from their magical 2022 season is still intact (Aaron Herrera also joined), and some young players will have real opportunities to step up and help Romell Quioto in the Montreal attack. CF Montreal currently find themselves in an interesting position, but it's hard to judge them until they've played some games.
18. NASHVILLE SC
Nashville SC's squad just does not really inspire much confidence. This team will go far as Hany Mukhtar takes them, because his help is not up to par. This off-season, Nashville added some domestic players from various areas, since they have made it a point to trade all their international slots away, but Fafa Picault is the only proven addition at this point in time. The Nashville defense will always be solid, but it's hard to get excited about the entire team.
19. CHARLOTTE FC
Charlotte FC truly have a chance to do what Austin FC did last year, put together a massive second year in the league. This will likely fall into the hands of new DP striker Enzo Copetti, who will pair up with Karol Swiderski. Ashley Westwood was added in the midfield from Burnley. Bill Tuiloma will help mitigate some CB problems, as Guzman Corujo is going to be out to start the season. Charlotte FC are definitely a team to watch that can rise up the ranks in 2023.
20. REAL SALT LAKE
Real Salt Lake are by no means a bad team, but their lack of consistent goal scoring at the #9 position is a bit concerning. Rubio Rubin and Danny Musovski are the options at striker. Damir Kreilach's return from injury will be huge, and their new U22 signing Andres Gomez looks good. The defense gets the job done overall, but Jefferson Savarino will have most of the pressure to lead RSL's attack to the promised land.
21. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
The Vancouver Whitecaps have built up what looks to be a great lineup on paper, but they will need to prove it on the field first. Sergio Cordova should help the goal scoring in a big way, with Yohei Takaoka coming in to keep goals out. The attacking midfielder depth is absurd, they've got options including Vite, Caicedo, Dajome, Gauld, as well as Julian Gressel, who is expected to start in the Vancouver midfield. They also helped out their defense with Mathias Laborda. The Whitecaps could be dangerous once the new signings settle in.
22. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
The San Jose Earthquakes showcased their ambition by adding Carlos Gruezo as a DP central midfielder. Jonathan Mensah and Daniel were brought in to bolster the defense, too. It feels as if Cade Cowell's big year could be coming in 2023, with the help of consistent striker Jeremy Ebobisse, Benji Kikanovic, and Christian Espinoza. The Quakes have a lot of work to do, but there's no question that the talent is there.
23. COLORADO RAPIDS
The Colorado Rapids were another ambitious team this off-season, but it's hard to rank a completely new lineup before it has been to the test in a real match. Cole Bassett returns to Colorado, while they added projected starters in Alex Gersbach, Andreas Maxso, Connor Ronan, and Kevin Cabral. It will take some time for the Rapids to figure out how to play with almost an entirely new squad, but the front office has made the necessary strides towards recovering their 2021 form.
24. INTER MIAMI CF
Inter Miami CF will be one of the more intriguing situations to watch unfold this year, mostly because of the addition of Josef Martinez from Atlanta. Miami will have to play with two strikers, they mostly used just one last year. Kryvstov and Negri arrived to help the Miami defense, but most of the attacking pressure will be put on the shoulders of Leo Campana and Josef. Nicolas Stefanelli is another name to watch and Rodolfo Pizarro returned from his loan in Mexico as well. Miami is not expected to be one of the top teams in the East, but they could sneak into the expanded playoffs by the season's end.
25. HOUSTON DYNAMO
The Houston Dynamo were fairly busy during the last few months, though there's no telling if any of the new signings will be huge additions. They added all of Luis Caicedo, Franco Escobar, Artur, Amine Bassi, Ivan Franco, and Djevencio van der Kust, among other smaller signings. Houston sort of cleaned house this off-season and rebuilt for a new beginning. Only time will tell if said rebuild will bring newfound success in 2023.
26. DC UNITED
DC United have been a mess for a while now, but Wayne Rooney is doing his best to fix some of the main issues in the team. Mateusz Klich was the biggest signing for DC, but they also found a new starting GK in Tyler Miller, and some fullbacks by the names of Ruan and Mohanad Jeahze. DC United are probably still quite far from glory, but at least positive strides are being made.
27. MINNESOTA UNITED
Minnesota United are not a bad team, but just the fact that Emanuel Reynoso is currently suspended and not with the team brings justified concerns. Reynoso has carried Minnesota through thick and thin, but without him it could all crumble. Their off-season was far from impressive as well, as they have only taken stabs at helping their back-line. There are some truly capable players in Minnesota, but as long as their #10 is out, things might not be so pretty.
28. CHICAGO FIRE
The Chicago Fire love waiting until the last minute, as they are finally starting to make moves a day prior to the MLS season kickoff. Greek youngster Georgios Koutsias is expected to join soon, and they have acquired journeyman forward Kei Kamara from CF Montreal. Despite any further moves they make, it's hard to project the 2023 Chicago Fire anywhere above the bottom until they completely revamp their roster.
29. ST. LOUIS CITY SC
At this point, it's tradition to leave the newest expansion team at the very bottom in the preseason. Some rise to the top, while others never leave the cellar. St. Louis City SC are far more likely to be the latter because the roster lacks star power and proven difference makers. With that being said, it's literally impossible to judge an expansion team before they've ever played a game together, so all judgement should be reserved for later on.
Comments