It’s here, everyone — the return of the match preview! We’re excited to be back, so without further ado, let’s dive into everything you need to know ahead of Minnesota United’s season opener down at Austin’s Q2 Stadium.

Where We Left Off

Minnesota United FC

The offseason was busy for the Black and Blue, with a handful of departures followed by a slew of new signings. We’ll get into some of those names in a minute here, but on the coaching side, Cameron Knowles was promoted to Head Coach just last month after Eric Ramsay’s departure for West Brom, and Josh Wolff signed on as Assistant Coach. A high concentration of returning players paired with a bunch of fresh faces and some new leadership will look to build on the momentum of Minnesota’s record-breaking 2025 season. It’s time to see just how far the Black and Blue can take it in their 10th year in the league.

Austin FC

El Tree finished the 2025 regular season at sixth in the West, 11 points behind your Loons, and fell to powerhouse LAFC in the first round of the playoffs. They finished out the Coachella Valley Invitational over the weekend with no wins, losing to a pair of Western Conference clubs that missed the playoffs last year. It’s unclear whether Owen Wolff will be available for this initial matchup after a surgery earlier this year, and star striker Brandon Vázquez tore his ACL in July. But hope is not lost for Austin’s attack — the Verde and Black still have Dani Pereira to man the midfield, plus DP Myrto Uzuni up top. Under the solid leadership of Nico Estévez and with a few high-impact offseason additions, these guys could come out of left field as a force to be reckoned with.

Keys to the Match:

The New Black and Blue

Over the offseason, the Loons said goodbye to keeper Dayne St. Clair (Miami), midfielders Robin Lod (Chicago) and Hassani Dotson (Seattle), and left back Joseph Rosales (Austin). Those absences were filled with new faces including midfielder Peter Stroud, wingers Tomás Chancalay and Mauricio Gonzáles, keeper Drake Callendar, forward Marcus Caldeira, and a pair of MNUFC2 signings in Kayne Rizvanovich and Britton Fischer. 

But let’s address the Colombian superstar in the room: Attacking midfielder James Rodríguez signed a contract with Minnesota through May, bringing massive international talent to the number 10 spot and stirring some big-time excitement in the Twin Cities. Having played for Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and a lineup of other famous clubs, plus two notable World Cup appearances, Rodríguez has no shortage of high-stakes experience. He has the potential to revolutionize the Loons’ attack in a way that perfectly plays off of Knowles’ pushier playstyle. Right now, he’s working his way back into form, so we’ll see how the boys line up on the road.

Austin’s Biggest Moves

Across the pitch, Estévez’s lineup has a few crucial additions as well. Recently, the Verde and Black signed DP winger Facundo Torres from Brazilian side Palmeiras, and also added some speed on the left with 23-year-old winger Jayden Nelson, formerly of Vancouver. With Osman Bukari and Diego Rubio both gone and Wolff’s status questionable this weekend, we’re likely to see Uzuni head up the charge with Torres and Nelson flanking him. That trio in particular has the power to revitalize Austin’s attack in a way that could really rattle any opposition. Should Austin keep to their favored 3-4-3, former Seattle defender Jonathan Bell will likely shake up that back line alongside seasoned defenders Brendan Hines-Ike and Oleksandr Svatok. Brad Stuver will continue to be a formidable presence in net. The midfield is the most unclear, but not for lack of options — Minnesota traded Joseph Rosales to El Tree for a huge chunk of GAM, so we could see him on the left opposite right back Mikkel Desler with some combination of Pereira, Ilie Sánchez, and Besard Sabovic in the middle.

Keeping Score

Now, let’s get a little more technical. Austin scored the fewest goals in the Western Conference last year with 37. Minnesota built up a reputation as a low-possession, defensively-oriented side under Ramsay’s leadership, preferring to capitalize on counters rather than playing on the front foot. Simply put, neither of these teams were known for their attacking last season, but the changes we just talked about could turn that on its head. We know from Knowles’ pre-Ramsay stint as head coach in 2024 that he likes a more on-the-ball, aggressive approach. He’s indicated in pressers this offseason that he’s looking to advance the frontlines this year, and he’s added the personnel to do it while maintaining the solid back line that defined the Loons’ disciplined defense in 2025. For Austin, Torres set a club record in goal contributions during his time with Orlando City. Nelson tallied 11 assists with the Whitecaps last year. With this pair on the left flank, Austin’s goal-scoring efforts are going to be dialed up big-time.

See how it all shakes out when Minnesota kicks off season 10 in Austin this Saturday, February 21, at 7:30 p.m. CT.