Led by Lionel Messi and a supporting cast of his former Barcelona teammates, Inter Miami were the overwhelming favorites to win MLS Cup in 2024. This being MLS, though, where parity reigns supreme, the star-studded South Floridians were knocked out in the first round.
Ultimately, the final came down to a battle between two original '96ers, the LA Galaxy defeating the New York Red Bulls to put a sixth star on the front of their shirt. And a lot has changed since then.
The Herons have a new coach. The Galaxy have a new striker leading their line. The life of the Red Bulls' back line left for the Bundesliga. What else have they done to prepare for another postseason quest? And what have the other 27 clubs in MLS done this offseason to try to catch up?
Grab yourself a beverage and a snack and settle in as Jon Arnold, Lizzy Becherano, Jeff Carlisle, Cesar Hernandez, Joseph Lowery, Ryan O'Hanlon, Ryan Rosenblatt and Megan Swanick give us the lowdown on all 30 MLS teams ahead of the 2025 season.
Atlanta United
What they've been up to: Atlanta United stand as one of many MLS teams entering the new season with a new manager at the helm. The team let go of interim head coach Rob Valentino to make way for former NYCFC manager Ronny Deila.
The Norwegian left MLS in 2022 to lead Standard Liège in the Belgian Pro League before making a return to lead Atlanta. He joins new sporting director Chris Henderson in hopes of inspiring the Eastern Conference contenders to success. In terms of new faces, Atlanta let go of Erik Centeno, Nick Firmino, Ronald Hernández, Franco Ibarra, Jamal Thiaré and Tyler Wolff to sign forward Cayman Togashi and midfielder Mateusz Klich.
What's more, the team broke MLS' record transfer fee in signing striker Emmanuel Latte Lath from EFL Championship side Middlesbrough for a reported $22 million. He's expected to be a huge part of the Five Stripes' hunt for a trophy, and yet Latte Lath still isn't the biggest offseason move.
Biggest offseason move: Despite a new coach, new sporting director and two new attacking players, the biggest move in Atlanta this offseason is the return of Miguel Almirón. The Paraguay playmaker is back in Georgia for the first time since 2019, when he departed MLS for Premier League side Newcastle United.
He first signed with Atlanta in 2017 as a young designated player to help the team in their debut season. He recorded 22 goals in 70 games across two campaigns before jetting off to England to score 30 goals in 223 appearances.
2025 will be a success if ... They can return to their winning ways in MLS or Leagues Cup. The team set high expectations by winning MLS Cup in its second season, and has since declined. The end of the 2024 campaign provided fans with some highs when eliminating Miami in the first round of the playoffs, but the team can and must do more. With the right lineup and under Deila's new management, Atlanta United should aim for silverware only. -- Becherano
One stat to keep in mind: If you're both an Atlanta United and a USMNT fan, you can choose to take this one of two ways. For Middlesbrough in the Championship this year, Latte Lath averaged 0.61 non-penalty goals plus assists per 90 minutes. That ranked 12th among qualified players, behind a group that includes Haji Wright (0.70) and Josh Sargent (0.78). -- O'Hanlon
Austin FC
What they've been up to: After bidding farewell to Josh Wolff -- the only manager the club had ever known -- sporting director Rodolfo Borrell has been working to build a team that can contend. It now will be led by Borrell's Spanish compatriot Nico Estévez, who last coached FC Dallas, Austin's rival 200 miles to the north, between 2022 and 2024.
Wolff wasn't the only big departure. Sebastián Driussi returned to boyhood club River Plate, ending a run as the club's best-ever designated player, a tenure that started beautifully but ended tumultuously.
Biggest offseason move: Signing forward Brandon Vázquez from Monterrey. Other MLS clubs were hoping to bring the California native back to the U.S. after he became surplus for Rayados, but Austin won out. For a big investment -- signing the 26-year-old to a four-year deal and reportedly paying a transfer fee in the $10m range -- they get a player who already has shown he can finish in MLS.
2025 will be a success if ... They return to the playoffs. Hopes may be even higher as Austin overhauls its roster, with winger Myrto Uzuni completing a total reimagining of the attack along with Vázquez and summer 2024 arrival Osman Bukari.
Yet, the 2022 campaign stands as the only season in the first four of the club's history that it finished above 10th in the Western Conference. Perhaps Los Verdes will be able to cheer on a title contender, but for now, reaching postseason play would be an improvement. -- Arnold
One stat to keep in mind: If you're an old team, you want to be a good team. And if you're a bad team, you want to be a young team. That's a pretty simple team-building heuristic, no? If you've got a roster of players who are all likely to get worse soon, then you better be competing for trophies now. And if you're not winning trophies, you at least want to be developing talent and stocking your roster with players with upside. Last season, Austin was both bad (worst expected-goal differential in MLS) and old (an average age of 28.8, third oldest in MLS). -- O'Hanlon
Charlotte FC
What they've been up to: After a respectable fifth-place finish in the Eastern Conference and a first-round playoff exit, English manager Dean Smith has been busy bolstering his squad with a few exciting signings. That includes U.S. international midfielder Eryk Williamson, signed from the Portland Timbers, as well as the big-name signing of former Premier League forward Wilfried Zaha.
Biggest offseason move: Charlotte is bringing in a new DP forward on loan from Galatasaray in former Crystal Palace stalwart Zaha. The Ivory Coast international scored 68 goals in 305 appearances for three different clubs in the Premier League during an impressive decade in the world's top league.
2025 will be a success if ... They maintain their rock-solid defending and maximize their impact at the other end, which seems likely. Charlotte allowed the second-fewest goals (37) in MLS last season but scored relatively few (46 in the regular season, tied for seventh fewest) as well. The addition of Zaha, described by Smith as an "elite goal scorer," could make a massive impact in '25. He'll play alongside the likes of Patrick Agyemang, who's fresh off an impressive debut for the USMNT, and Liel Abada. -- Swanick
One stat to keep in mind: Based on where the shots he faced were attempted from and where they ended up on the goal frame, Kristijan Kahlina was expected to concede 47.5 goals last season. Instead, he only allowed 37. The orange circles are goals and the purple ones are saves; the larger the circle, the larger the xG (expected goals) value of the shot:
Those 10.5 goals saved were, by far, the most in the league last season. -- O'Hanlon
Chicago Fire
What they've been up to: Chicago needed big changes this winter, and they've done just that by adding Jack Elliott and Jonathan Bamba. Elliott is the type of proven, dependable defender that this team was crying out for, and Bamba should be a perfect fit in Gregg Berhalter's system. The Fire also moved into their brand-new training ground, arguably their biggest investment yet as owner Joe Mansueto continues to try to move the club in line with the league's best.
Biggest offseason move: This occurred in the waning days of the 2024 season, hiring Berhalter as both head coach and director of football. Berhalter was often criticized as manager of the U.S. men's national team, but he won three trophies and made the 2022 World Cup round of 16. Before that, he was considered one of the best in MLS while in charge of the Columbus Crew, which he led to the MLS Cup final in 2015. It's truly a new era in Chicago.
2025 will be a success if ... They make the playoffs. Rebuilding teams usually want to talk about laying a foundation for future success and showing progress first and foremost, and Berhalter will certainly want that. He'll want to see his system start to take shape and players buy into the intensity it requires.
He'll want his new signings to look like they can take the team to great heights in seasons to come. He'll want his next designated player signing, be it in the next few weeks or in the summer, to hit the ground running. But this is a club that hasn't been to the playoffs since 2017 and has made it in just two of the past 15 years. Forget process and foundation for a minute. Just getting back into the postseason is the dream. -- Rosenblatt
One stat to keep in mind: Hugo Cuypers cost €11 million to acquire from Gent in Belgium, and he was the 12th-highest-paid player in the league last season. All in all, the Fire invested a ton of money on the center forward ... and he averaged 0.41 non-penalty goals+assists per 90 minutes. That was the 87th-best mark in the league. -- O'Hanlon
FC Cincinnati
What they've been up to: After finishing third in the East last year, the 2023 Supporters' Shield winners have earned deserved headlines as they sent former league MVP Luciano Acosta to FC Dallas and secured a few seismic signings.
Biggest offseason move: FCC made waves in both directions. Fans wondering what they'd do without Acosta immediately got the answer: The same day their former star attacker left, FCC signed 26-year-old Brazilian talent Evander from Portland for an intra-MLS record fee of $12 million. But wait, there's one more: In November, 24-year-old DP striker Kévin Denkey signed from Cercle Brugge for $16.2 million, breaking the MLS transfer fee at the time.
2025 will be a success if ... FCC have had a strong few seasons with GM Chris Albright and head coach Pat Noonan. After finishing third in the East last year and fifth overall in the Supporters' Shield standings, they could contend for a trophy in 2025 if their defense delivers and Denkey and Evander make smooth transitions. They've certainly got the ingredients for a massive year. -- Swanick
One stat to keep in mind: There are two main ways to measure a team's press. There's passes per defensive action (PPDA), which essentially measures how many passes you allow in the attacking half before attempting a defensive action. And then there's opposition pass completion percentage. Think of it this way: PPDA is how aggressively you press, opposition pass completion percentage is how effectively you press. And, well:
FC Cincinnati were the most aggressive and most effective pressing team in MLS last season. -- O'Hanlon
Colorado Rapids
What they've been up to: After making real strides in Chris Armas' first season as head coach en route to finishing seventh in the West and making a deep Leagues Cup run, Colorado opted to improve their squad from within MLS this winter The Rapids retooled at center back in the post-Moïse Bombito era by trading for Chidozie Awaziem and Ian Murphy from FC Cincinnati. They've also added a low-key (but much-needed) attacking boost in Ted Ku-DiPietro via a cash deal from D.C. United and traded for rising defensive midfielder Josh Atencio from the Sounders.
Biggest offseason move: Ku-DiPietro didn't take a step forward with D.C. in 2024, but the 23-year-old still has some untapped potential. He's a borderline elite dribbler and adds versatility to Colorado with his ability to play on the wing or as a second forward.
2025 will be a success if ... The Rapids find a way to close the gap to the best in the West.
For all of Colorado's progress in 2024, things came crashing down when the team endured a brutal two-game sweep against the LA Galaxy in the opening round of the playoffs. Losing by a combined 9-1 scoreline was a reminder that the Rapids are still a huge step below the top teams in MLS. Unsurprisingly, given ownership's spending habits, the Rapids opted not to add any big-time players this winter. But between ironing out Armas' tactical approach and squeezing even more out of their rostered players, can Colorado find a way to stand toe-to-toe with the big boys? That's the looming question. -- Lowery
One stat to keep in mind: Last season, the Rapids won 11 penalties -- tied for the highest single-season mark in MLS since 2016. Winning a penalty is the most valuable action in the sport. They're converted about 80% of the time, and they're almost always won from positions that don't come anywhere near a four-in-five goal probability. The only problem: There's no evidence that past penalties are predictive of future penalties. It's random, not a skill -- unless you're Jamie Vardy. -- O'Hanlon
Columbus Crew
What they've been up to: Losing one of the most talented players in MLS history, mostly. When Real Betis came in for an offer for Cucho Hernández just before the January transfer deadline in Spain, the Colombia forward wanted to move. Between Hernández's exit and Christian Ramirez moving to the Galaxy, it's been a gut-wrenching offseason for Columbus fans. Crew general manager Issa Tall now has his first chance to reshape the attack in his image.
Biggest offseason move: The Crew haven't added any impact players this winter, so until they find a new attacking DP, it's Hernández's move to LaLiga that's still top of mind. Even if they reinvest the eight-figure transfer fee from Betis, finding someone who can replace Hernández's 29 goal contributions from 2024 borders on impossible.
2025 will be a success if ... The attacking replacements thrive and Wilfried Nancy sticks around.
Jeff Carlisle explains why he thinks MLS will eventually increase to 32 teams.
When the Crew fell in the first round of last year's playoffs, the concern was that they might not get a chance to run it back for another year with Hernández roaming in the attack and Nancy setting things up from the sidelines. Now Hernández is gone. A smart European team could tempt Nancy away this summer. Even if its manager stays for the entire season, Columbus have 27 goals to replace between Hernández and Ramirez. Tall needs to find high-quality options, and quickly, for the Crew to push for the Supporters' Shield. -- Lowery
One stat to keep in mind: Not only are the Crew one of the best teams in MLS, they're perhaps the most distinct, too. TruMedia maintains MLS data going all the way back to the 2012 season. In the past 13 seasons, the average MLS team moves the ball upfield at a rate of 1.59 meters per second. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the fastest team in that stretch was the New York Red Bulls in 2019: 2.29 meters per second. The slowest team? Nancy's Crew of last year. They moved the ball upfield at a rate of 1.05 meters per second. -- O'Hanlon
D.C. United
What they've been up to: D.C. United have been fairly quiet this offseason, making a couple of small signings here and there to build around star figure Christian Benteke. The team acquired Australia international center back Kye Rowles from Hearts in the Scottish Premier League, midfielder Randall Leal from the MLS waiver protocol and South Korean goalkeeper Kim Joon-hong from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC. The emphasis has been largely on outbound players, though, with the departure of midfielder Mateusz Klich to Atlanta.
Biggest offseason move: It's another outbound. The team permanently transferred homegrown defender Matai Akinmboni to Premier League side AFC Bournemouth for an undisclosed fee. D.C., however, will retain a percentage of any future transfer fees for Akinmboni to make the transfer even more valuable.
2025 will be a success if ... They make a playoff run. United were on the cusp of reaching the 2024 postseason, losing out on a spot in the play-in on goal difference. Despite having Benteke and his Golden Boot season, the team failed to capitalize on his efforts.
Now, in 2025, success will be clinching a playoff spot and making it past the first round. With Benteke and a cast of supporting figures to provide depth, head coach Troy Lesesne must find a way to lead the team to the late stages of either the MLS playoffs or the U.S. Open Cup. -- Becherano
One stat to keep in mind: Across his 10 years in the Premier League, Benteke established himself as a rare kind of striker: one who got on the end of enough chances to be a valuable player but was also bad at finishing. Throughout that decade in England, he scored 86 goals from 90.85 xG. The underperformance continued for his first two seasons in MLS -- until last year. Benteke scored 23 goals from 18 expected. -- O'Hanlon
FC Dallas
What they've been up to: Hitting the reset button. Dallas brought in Eric Quill as the manager, years after he won a league title for the club's reserve affiliate and helped develop many first-team players. It seems to be an indication the club wants to get back to being a big-time developer, especially as Quill will have to get results out of a team that has moved on from many regulars.
Biggest offseason move: Getting Jesús Ferreira to the Seattle Sounders for Léo Chú, general allocation money and an international roster slot. While Dallas also bid farewell to record signing Alan Velasco, who joined Boca Juniors, center back Nkosi Tafari, who went to LAFC, and Paul Arriola, who also joined Seattle, Ferreira's departure is the most significant.
The son of a player who won the MLS MVP award with Dallas, Ferreira developed in the club's academy, became one of its biggest stars and then plateaued to the point where FCD were willing to move him to a conference rival.
2025 will be a success if ... There's some sense of direction. Fans have become used to FC Dallas being a team that makes a lot of transfers, but the trade-off has been enjoying the success of native sons as they begin their professional soccer journey. But with Ferreira being traded away, Paxton Pomykal continuing to struggle with injuries and the pipeline from the academy ranks trickling much more slowly, fans will want a sense of what, exactly, the club wants to do in the next several years.
Renovations are underway to bring Toyota Stadium in line with other venues around MLS. Will the team on the field also compete with the league's contenders when the work is done in 2028? Will it happen sooner? Fans will get an indication early this year. -- Arnold
One stat to keep in mind: Petar Musa scored 15 goals in his first MLS season after arriving from Benfica. No one else on the team scored more than five -- and the two guys who did score five, Arriola and Ferreira, are both now in Seattle. However, Musa scored those 15 goals from just 9.9 expected. Among players returning to the league this season, only Luis Suárez and, uh, Lionel Messi finished their chances at a higher number above expectation. -- O'Hanlon
Houston Dynamo
What they've been up to: With perhaps the team's two most recognizable players heading to Liga MX this winter, as Héctor Herrera and Adalberto Carrasquilla both moved south, there is a feeling of transition around the Dynamo. Yet there are many established pieces still in place, with manager Ben Olsen preparing for his third season in charge, forward Ezequiel Ponce preparing for his first full season in MLS after arriving in the summer and all four members of the back line returning for another year.
Biggest offseason move: Star Panama midfielder Carrasquilla headed to Pumas in a deal that set the Dynamo club record for an outgoing transfer, reportedly $3.5m. While Herrera's departure was expected, the 26-year-old Carrasquilla was the key player in the Dynamo midfield. They moved to replace him by bringing in Jack McGlynn in MLS' first-ever intra-league cash-for-player transfer.
2025 will be a success if ... The momentum continues. Olsen steered the team to the Western Conference finals in 2023 and had a better regular season last year before crashing out of the playoffs against Seattle. Turnover was expected, but there are still questions, especially in the midfield. The team might answer those questions with additional signings, or perhaps it trusts enough in the players already in town to keep Olsen's project running smoothly. -- Arnold
One stat to keep in mind: Of the 30 players with the most progressive passes completed in MLS last season, four of them played for the Dynamo. However, two of them -- Carrasquilla and Herrera -- left for Liga MX in the offseason. But maybe a shift in approach is for the best? Despite so many players able to push the ball forward, the Dynamo finished the season with a negative xG differential. -- O'Hanlon
Inter Miami CF
What they've been up to: Since Inter Miami's 2024 campaign came to a screeching halt in November, falling to Atlanta United in the first round of playoffs, the team has experienced a coaching change, multiple roster cuts, several signings and front office additions.
Matías Rojas, Facundo Farías, Nicolas Freire and Diego Gómez all left to make way for new figures. Gonzalo Luján, Fafà Picault, Tadeo Allende, Rocco Rios Novo and Telasco Segovia all joined the team to add much-needed depth. Miami will be competing in four tournaments throughout 2025 and will need to depend on these additions to provide relief to the starting 11.
Biggest offseason move: The biggest change for the team comes at the helm. Javier Mascherano replaced Gerardo "Tata" Martino as manager after signing a two-year contract through the end of the 2027 season. He brings along a whole new coaching staff to lead the Herons, with assistant coach Javier Morales as the only figure to stay through the new era. The bar is high after Martino led the team to the 2023 Leagues Cup trophy, the 2024 Supporters' Shield and a league record for most points recorded in a single season.
Lizzy Becherano assesses Inter Miami's hopes of winning MLS Cup in 2025.
2025 will be a success if ... They win. The team will have to juggle Leagues Cup, MLS, Concacaf Champions Cup and the Club World Cup in the span of nine months, making it difficult to retain a similar starting 11 throughout. Mascherano must prioritize certain tournaments, rotate when necessary and understand energy must be preserved for the playoffs to win MLS Cup. -- Becherano
One stat to keep in mind: You've no doubt heard plenty of talk about how much Lionel Messi walks over the course of the game, but how about we actually put some numbers on it? Per data from PFF FC, Messi walked for about 69 minutes for every 90 minutes that he played last season. The only players who walked more -- defined as moving slower than seven kilometers per hour -- were goalkeepers. And no other outfield player walked for more than 64 minutes per match. -- O'Hanlon
LAFC
What they've been up to: LAFC have been in rebuild mode and aren't looking too shabby in the new year. The new faces aren't exactly Hollywood headliners (or at least not yet until the summer, if the rumors of Antoine Griezmann's signing persist), but the low-key intelligent moves are promising ones for the team that will aim to become title contenders once again.
And while part of that revamp has made areas like the midfield look entirely different, they'll still have recognizable faces such as Dénis Bouanga, Hugo Lloris, Olivier Giroud, Aaron Long and Timothy Tillman in the mix.
Biggest offseason move: You don't say no when Cruz Azul are offering a reported transfer fee of more than $10m, but with the exit of the versatile Mateusz Bogusz, LAFC are now missing a key attacking figure that was second to only Bouanga in goal contributions for the team last season. They'll now need others, like Giroud, to step up in 2025.
2025 will be a success if ... They win their second MLS Cup or first Concacaf Champions Cup.
Even in a rebuild, LAFC should have the expectations of returning as heavy favorites with some of the league's biggest stars remaining on their roster. There's a clear desire to showcase that talent beyond MLS, and if they're finally able to secure the midseason Concacaf Champions Cup, 2025 will automatically go down as a success.
Champions Cup or not, they still need to find the right figure to fill their third DP spot that could push them to a strong regular season finish ahead of the playoffs. Part of that Griezmann process could also help win over Carlos Vela during current talks, although he didn't have much of a role in his return last fall. -- Hernandez
One stat to keep in mind: Among what we'll call "normal" MLS players -- applying traditional methods of statistical analysis to Lionel Messi in MLS has proven foolish over the past two seasons -- the only player who might rival Riqui Puig as the best in the league is Bouanga. Over the past two seasons combined, the French forward edged out Puig ever so slightly for the most goals added above average, per the DAVIES model: 19.54 to 19.45. -- O'Hanlon
LA Galaxy
What they've been up to: The Galaxy had been basking in the afterglow of their sixth MLS Cup, but there wasn't much time to celebrate. With the club strapped for cap space, GM Will Kuntz was compelled to trade away some key members of the Galaxy's championship run, including MLS Cup MVP Gastón Brugman, academy product Jalen Neal, hometown hero Mark Delgado and -- the biggest one of all -- forward Dejan Joveljic.
Biggest offseason move: The offseason acquisitions had been modest through much of January -- that is, until news broke that the Galaxy had acquired Nacional midfielder Lucas Sanabria for $5m via an under-22 slot. Sanabria is basically the Delgado replacement, a No. 8 with a big engine who has caught the eye of Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa. Sanabria is light on experience, but expectations are high.
2025 will be a success if ... They can figure out a way to survive without Riqui Puig. Yes, usually the question surrounding a league champion is: Can they repeat? But the loss of creative hub and MVP candidate Puig, who tore an ACL in the Western Conference final against Seattle, is a massive blow. He's expected to come back before the season's end, but who knows how quickly he'll recover and how sharp he'll be when he does. Sure, the Galaxy overcame his loss to win MLS Cup, but coping over a large swath of the season is a different matter.
It certainly helps that attacking mainstays Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil return, as does most of the back line. The arrival of veteran striker Christian Ramirez should soften the blow of losing Joveljic. The bigger question is: Can Marco Reus -- and maybe Diego Fagundez as well -- find a way to make up for Puig's absence?
The center of midfield requires some changing. In addition to Sanabria, highly rated youngster Elijah Wynder arrives from USL side Louisville City. Edwin Cerrillo should provide a stabilizing influence, but it might take some time for the pieces to gel, and keep the team ticking over until Puig returns. -- Carlisle
One stat to keep in mind: Per Michael Imburgio's DAVIES model, which tries to sum up the value of everything a player does on the ball, the best player in MLS last season wasn't the one who walked the most. No, it was Puig, who added 10.14 goals more than the average player at his position. Since 2019, only LAFC's Carlos Vela, in 2019, added more goals in a single season (12.08). -- O'Hanlon
Minnesota United
What they've been up to: MNUFC have had a fairly normal offseason, which is sweet news to Loons fans. Remember, this is the club that didn't hire manager Eric Ramsay until last season was already underway, so with a boss in tow this winter, it has been able to focus on upgrading the squad. It has smartly addressed a couple of its needs, supplementing a team that lost just one of its past 10 matches before being eliminated in the Western Conference semifinals and will enter 2025 with high hopes.
Biggest offseason move: The Loons have been crying out for an impact central midfielder for years, and it appears as if they finally have that in Jung Ho-yeon. The South Korean was one of his country's best young players and starred on its U23 Asian Games-winning team before making his senior international debut last year. Now he's tasked with driving the Minnesota midfield.
2025 will be a success if ... They crack the top three in the West and look like a serious threat to make an MLS Cup run. Expectations were always going to be high in Minnesota this year after how good they finished 2024, and they've only reinforced that with some good work in the winter. In addition to Jung, the Loons added center back Nicolás Romero, and if he hits the ground running, any small concerns about the defense will disappear.
The strength of this team should be the absence of weaknesses, with the Loons well stocked from front to back, and even in depth. They may not have a clear superstar like some of the other best teams in the league, but Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Kelvin Yeboah, Robin Lod and Tani Oluwaseyi can all be match winners on any given day, and the array of options should make life easy on Ramsay. This could be a special year up north. -- Rosenblatt
One stat to keep in mind: Last season, Luis Suárez led the league with 0.92 non-penalty expected goals and assists per 90 minutes. Right behind him: Lionel Messi, at 0.91. But right behind Messi? Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United's second-year forward at 0.89. Now, he only started 10 matches, and sub minutes inflate your per-minute production in a number of ways, but if Oluwaseyi can maintain something close to that level under an increased minutes load, he'll become one of the best players in the league. -- O'Hanlon
CF Montreal
What they've been up to: Giacomo Vrioni joined as a castoff from the Revs to become the team's only DP. A couple of veterans arrived from within the league such as Fabian Herbers and Prince Owusu, who should help Vrioni replace outgoing strikers Josef Martínez and Matias Coccaro. Youngsters Jalen Neal and Hennadii Synchuk also arrived on U22 Initiative contracts. So, to answer the question of what CF Montreal have been up to: just normal CF Montreal things.
Jeff Carlisle, Bill Connelly Lizzy Becherano and Luis Miguel Echegaray suggest some rule changes for MLS.
Biggest offseason move: Neal's arrival from the Galaxy gives Montreal yet another high-potential defender. The 21-year-old didn't have a path to minutes in Southern California but should have chances to play as part of Laurent Courtois' back three. With good passing range and useful mobility, Neal has been on the USMNT's radar in the past for a reason.
2025 will be a success if ... You define success as something other than winning.
CF Montreal operate in their own little world in MLS. They barely sign DPs -- it looks like 2025 will be their third straight season with just one on the roster -- they spend less on the first-team roster than any other team in the league, and they don't have realistic trophy aspirations outside of the Canadian Championship. If you want to have success at CF Montreal, you simply have to define success differently than most teams in North American professional sports. For Montreal, serving as a platform for players like Neal, Nathan Saliba, Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty and other young players to develop and move to Europe is the alternative. -- Lowery
One stat to keep in mind: Three teams in MLS last season played fewer than 30% of their passes forward. One of them, the LA Galaxy, won MLS Cup. Another one, Inter Miami, won the Supporters' Shield. And the third, CF Montreal, finished the season with the second-worst xG differential in the Easter Conference. -- O'Hanlon
Nashville SC
What they've been up to: Nashville is preparing for its first full season guided by B.J. Callaghan, the former U.S. assistant who took over the club in summer 2024. With just three wins to close out the regular season, Nashville missed the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Now, it's up to Callaghan to once again get the team back in the postseason and prove in the process he's the right man for the head coaching job.
Biggest offseason move: With the LA Galaxy trying to work out a few cap issues, Nashville were able to pick up the MVP of the 2024 MLS Cup, adding veteran Uruguayan midfielder Gastón Brugman. Brugman bolsters a midfield where Nashville also added veteran Honduran stopper Bryan Acosta.
2025 will be a success if ... Hany is back. The MLS MVP in 2022 and again a Best XI player in 2023, Hany Mukhtar turns 30 in March. He registered 18 goal contributions in MLS play in 2024, down from 26 in 2023 and 34 in his MVP season. Just eight of those were goals scored, second on the team after Sam Surridge's dozen, as Nashville struggled to find a punch. The Boys in Gold will need him to return to his best, or have someone else emerge as a top star in the league, to get back to the level fans have come to expect. -- Arnold
One stat to keep in mind: Only one team scored fewer goals than Nashville last season, and it's pretty easy to explain why: it wasn't good at anything while in possession. It finished in the bottom five for shots, pullbacks, through balls and touches inside the box. More than 20% of its final-third passes were crosses -- second-highest mark in the league, and a clear sign of a team unable to break down its opponents. And with a bottom-five PPDA, too, it wasn't able to generate chances from turnovers, either. -- O'Hanlon
New England Revolution
What they've been up to: We'll see how things settle with the rolling of the roster dice, but the Revs have been busy with lots of new defensive faces, the additions of attacking players such as Ignatius Ganago (on loan) and Leonardo Campana, and other alterations that have utilized general allocation money in any way they could.
It's difficult to tell how this could play out, but credit should be given to the organization for shaking things up after finishing with just 31 points last season. Looking back at that defense, no other team outside of the San Jose Earthquakes allowed more goals than New England in 2024.
Biggest offseason move: There's a lot of intrigue about what Ganago could bring, but Campana already has some MLS know-how and some room to grow as their striker up top. The Ecuadorian has some decent underlying numbers from last year with Inter Miami and will be sure to be involved in much of the possession of the ball, in addition to his goal scoring.
Jeff Carlisle explains why he thinks it is unfair to call MLS a retirement league.
2025 will be a success if ... The Revs' roster gamble works and the team improves on a lackluster 2024.
Realistically speaking, playoff qualification might still be out of reach for head coach Caleb Porter and his men, but as long as their new setup can avoid the depths of their 14th-place finish in the Eastern Conference from last year, they should feel hopeful about what they're building. Considering that expectations will still be tempered for the regular season, Porter could afford to experiment, and perhaps even gain some momentum, through the U.S. Open Cup -- which will be the Revs' only other competition in 2025. -- Hernandez
One stat to keep in mind: How about two? The New England Revolution created the fewest expected goals of any team in MLS, and they conceded the most expected goals of any team in MLS. On the bright side ... lots of room for improvement? -- O'Hanlon
New York City FC
What they've been up to: Days after a crushing defeat to the Red Bulls in last year's playoff derby, the Pigeons let go of then-manager Nick Cushing. Since then, they've appointed new manager Pascal Jansen and focused their efforts on reinforcing their roster of young talent.
Biggest offseason move: The arrival of Jansen. NYCFC appointed the 52-year-old Dutch manager on Jan. 6, and he brings experience coaching in Hungary and the Netherlands.
2025 will be a success if ... They take the next step.
After a shaky start to last season, NYCFC finished a respectable sixth place in the East before departing the playoffs to the rival Red Bulls. Building on that momentum with a young, talented roster should be achievable. In Jansen's first address to the media, he emphasized a need for more flexibility in their style but was clear he feels a key component will be intensity, saying he aims to instill a "bulletproof mindset" in the team. -- Swanick
One stat to keep in mind: There is a professional soccer team in New York, a subsidiary of a much larger, recognized global club network that's known for producing a very specific style of soccer. And, per PFF FC, this team sprinted 228 times per 90 minutes -- by far the most in MLS. This team, however, is not the team owned by an energy drink company. No, it's that team's rival, NYCFC. -- O'Hanlon
New York Red Bulls
What they've been up to: A largely familiar Red Bulls squad remains intact after their run to MLS Cup last year. Still, they made some notable changes at both ends this winter.
DP striker Dante Vanzeir moved back to Belgium while Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting took his place. center back Andrés Reyes headed to San Diego FC, with Alexander Hack arriving in that same position. Elsewhere, John Tolkin's transfer to Holstein Keil earned the Red Bulls a reported $3m fee and prompted them to add multiple left-backs in the hope of replacing the American.
Biggest offseason move: With his experience as a backup at Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, Choupo-Moting is the headliner. Now, he hasn't scored more than 10 goals in a single league season in his career and has played more than 1,000 league minutes just once in the past six years. Still, he should blow Vanzeir's four-goal total from 2024 out of the water.
2025 will be a success if ... Emil Forsberg stays healthy (and performs) and Choupo-Moting is a top-of-the-line DP.
Even before manager Sandro Schwarz arrived, eager to turn the New York Red Bulls into a team that can use the ball to create chances, they lacked high-end attackers. Given Schwarz's preferred tactical approach, that need is even more pronounced.
For the Red Bulls to become not just a fear-inducing team, but a versatile team in 2025, they'll need a full, healthy year from Forsberg and for Choupo-Moting (or another DP who could sign now or in the summer window) to consistently change games. RBNY had a top-five defense in the league last year, based on FBref's non-penalty xG metric. Can the attack push into that range, too? -- Lowery
One stat to keep in mind: They were outrun by their tristate neighbors, and if you go back and look at that pressing chart from earlier, the Red Bulls actually ranked toward the bottom of the league for PPDA and just above average for opposition pass-completion percentage allowed. So, they forsook their identity -- and all it got them was a lousy appearance in MLS Cup. But despite the change in pressure they provided, one tenet of the Red Bull way did remain: With an average age of 24.3, they were the youngest team in the league. -- O'Hanlon
Orlando City
What they've been up to: Since losing to the Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference final, Orlando City have seen few changes to the core roster. The biggest loss comes in the attack, after seeing Facundo Torres depart for Brazil's Palmeiras. His absence propelled Orlando to chase Croatian player Marco Pasalic from HNK Rijeka in the Croatian league. He joins as a designated player on a three-year contract through 2027, with a club option in 2028.
Orlando made an additional signing to deepen the roster with winger Nicolás Rodríguez and added midfielder Eduard Atuesta from Palmeiras. Atuesta adds MLS experience after recording 11 goals and 29 assists in 124 regular season appearances with LAFC, helping the Black and Gold clinch the 2019 Supporters' Shield and 2024 U.S. Open Cup.
Biggest offseason move: While certain teams boast a new head coach or star signing, Orlando's biggest offseason move comes in the form of a goodbye. The departure of Torres will likely be felt throughout the season, despite best efforts to quickly mask his absence with new wingers.
In just three seasons with the club, Torres recorded 37 goals and 20 assists in 95 MLS appearances. He played an integral role under head coach Oscar Pareja and knew how to connect well with the players around him.
2025 will be a success if ... They win it all. Orlando have been constant contenders for the past couple of years, but to be successful, the Lions must finally make a run to MLS Cup.
Pareja built a roster to his liking, collecting a good mix of young and experienced talents to challenge the great teams across MLS. Although the team continues to fall short of the major trophy, Orlando cannot lose sight of what can be in reach. -- Becherano
One stat to keep in mind: Orlando City ranked in the bottom half of the league for expected goals created despite doing all of the other things that great attacking teams tend to do. They were third in field tilt (possession adjusted only for passes in the final third), second in pull backs created, sixth in through balls and seventh for touches inside the opposition penalty area. For a team that was also one of the best defenses in the league, they could take a huge leap if they can turn all of that final-third activity into more attempts on goal. -- O'Hanlon
Philadelphia Union
What they've been up to: New coach, old ethos? Philadelphia named a new coach on Jan. 2 in South Africa-born manager Bradley Carnell (the inaugural manager of St. Louis City). Under his stewardship, the Union added to some interesting international signings (striker Bruno Damiani, midfielder Jovan Lukic, center back Ian Glavinovich) with multiple homegrown deals, hinting that "the kids" will be key to the rebuild.
Jeff Carlisle details some key aspects from San Diego FC's preparation for their first MLS season.
Biggest offseason move: After failing to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017, Philly said farewell to Jim Curtin after 11 seasons with the 2022 Coach of the Year. At the time of his departure, Curtin was the second-longest-tenured coach in MLS and near-synonymous with the identity of the club. That's a massive offseason move by any measure.
In February, Philly unfurled another big outgoing move: homegrown talent, 21-year-old midfielder Jack McGlynn was sent to Houston for cash, joining longtime stalwarts Jack Elliott and Leon Flach in their departures. Biggest incoming move? A club-record transfer for Damiani, who joins for $3.4 million from Uruguayan club Nacional.
2025 will be a success if ... They return to the playoffs, something the Union did for six straight seasons before finishing 12th in the East last year. They can do that by returning Subaru Park to the fortress it had been in recent years, making it an inhospitable place for visitors to play while relying on a solid defense and dangerous press -- a style Carnell seems intent on continuing. Dániel Gazdag's prowess, Tai Baribo's form, Mikael Uhre's hope to reach his next level, and the entry of Philly's young talents alongside Damiani's transition will be key factors. -- Swanick
One stat to keep in mind: Pass completion doesn't really tell you much about a player's passing ability. He might be completing a bunch of passes backward that are actually decreasing his team's chances of scoring, or he might have a low completion percentage because he's attempting a lot of high-value passes. To thread this needle, the site American Soccer Analysis determines a player's expected pass completion percentage based on historically similar passes. Last season, McGlynn's expected completion rate was 80.1%, but he completed 84.6% of his passes. Overall, he completed 77.5 passes more than expected -- the highest mark in the league. -- O'Hanlon
Portland Timbers
What they've been up to: Dealing with drama mostly. The Timbers' humiliating, 5-0 playoff loss to Cascadia rivals the Vancouver Whitecaps was bad enough. Heaping even more misery on that defeat were comments by star midfielder Evander immediately afterward, who ripped the Timbers' front office over his ongoing contract dispute by saying, "Portland fans do not deserve the people who have power over this club." The Brazilian was at last transferred to Cincinnati for $12 million in cash plus add-ons.
Biggest offseason move: It hasn't been all doom and gloom. By far the biggest arrival is forward Kevin Kelsy from Shakhtar Donetsk, by way of FC Cincinnati, where he was on loan last season. The Timbers shelled out a reported $6m for Kelsy, and he'll be expected to lead the line. Providing the supply in Evander's stead is former Lens attacker David Da Costa who commanded a $6 million transfer fee of his own.
2025 will be a success if ... The Timbers can somehow move past their showdown with Evander and get back to the playoffs. It certainly helps that the situation was resolved before the start of the regular season. Da Costa will at least have some time to get acclimated.
The Timbers do have other impressive attacking options, with Jonathan Rodríguez (16 goals and seven assists) and Santiago Moreno (six goals and 14 assists) both capable of repeating the numbers they put up last season. Defensively, things need to improve after conceding 56 goals. The signing of midfielder Joao Ortiz from Ecuadoran side Independiente should help. Portland will also have New Zealand center-back Finn Surman for a full season. Whether those additions -- and any other arrivals -- translate into a cohesive defense unit remains the big question heading into 2025. -- Carlisle
One stat to keep in mind: Only one player in the league last season met the following three criteria: 1) over 35 years old, 2) played at least 2,000 minutes, and 3) not a goalkeeper. Diego Chará turns 39 in April and he played more than 2,400 minutes last season. He joined the Timbers in 2011, and he's played at least three quarters of the available minutes in every season since then. -- O'Hanlon
Real Salt Lake
What they've been up to: Moving Cristian Arango to the San Jose Earthquakes, for one thing. The DP striker wasn't the only attacking piece to depart this winter, either. Matt Crooks moved back to England, while Anderson Julio went to FC Dallas. Elsewhere, young goalkeeper Gavin Beavers moved abroad and Rafael Cabral arrived as the new No. 1. The search for a new striker to replace Arango is still on and the front office has an open designated player spot to play with.
Biggest offseason move: Until a new high-end attacker arrives, Arango's exit is the biggest move of RSL's offseason. The Colombian asked for a transfer after a brutal stretch of form to finish 2024. Still, he finished last year as the team's leading scorer with 17 goals.
2025 will be a success if ... The attack finds new life.
If you want to know why Arango didn't manage to score for Real Salt Lake after July 6 last year, there are worse places to start than Andres Gomez -- his running mate on the right wing -- being transferred to Stade Rennais for an eight-figure fee last summer. Without Gómez to worry about, defenses could pay extra attention to Arango, clog the center and neutralize much of RSL's attack.
To finish near the top of the West in 2025 as they did in 2024, it will be up to summer signings Diogo Gonçalves, a DP winger, and Dominik Marczuk, a U22 Initiative player, and Diego Luna to create chances at a higher level than they did to finish last season.. -- Lowery
One stat to keep in mind: Last season, Gómez and Arango combined for 36.9 non-penalty expected goals and assists. They were two of only seven players in the league to reach the 0.8 xG+xAG-per-90 mark. The only other team with two players to do it was Inter Miami, with Lionel Messi and Suárez. All in all, they accounted for 40% of RSL's attacking production last season, and neither one plays for the team anymore. -- O'Hanlon
San Diego FC
What they've been up to: Considering that 2025 will be their debut season ... plenty. Centered around Mexico superstar Hirving Lozano, San Diego have been rapidly building their first-ever roster as they prepare to make their entrance as the league's latest expansion side.
Head coach Mikey Varas, formerly an interim with the U.S. men's national team, has stated early on in the preseason that his players have shown signs of quick adaptation, thereby hinting that the club could hit the ground running. A fascinating litmus test lies ahead in their season-opener against champions LA Galaxy.
Biggest offseason move: He no longer has the same breathtaking speed and stamina that made him a star in the 2018 World Cup, but due to the impact he'll have on and off the field, it's Lozano. Although he'll be turning 30 this summer, the winger still has enough pace and clever movement with the ball to become a candidate for league MVP.
2025 will be a success if ... They qualify for the playoffs. Sure, a majority of teams do qualify for the playoffs in MLS so it's not exactly the most ambitious goal, but a top-nine finish in the Western Conference would make the argument that San Diego were competitive in their first season.
To do so, Varas will need to get the best out of his DPs (Lozano and Anders Dreyer) who may need to compensate for some question marks in the current state of the roster. Defensively, and in goal, it's tough to feel entirely confident, but Varas could avoid problems if he's able to make this team greater than the sum of their parts. -- Hernandez
One stat to keep in mind: One thing you typically see when an analytics guy gets to run the show at a European club: the average age of the team almost immediately plummets. Even as the transfer market has moved toward signing younger players, age curves are still poorly understood in the soccer world; most players peak between ages 24 and 28. San Diego FC made Tyler Heaps their sporting director -- the youngest in the league, at 33, and formerly the head of analysis at the U.S. Soccer Federation and with AS Monaco in Ligue 1. Interestingly, San Diego's current roster, based on Transfermarkt, has an average age of 26.0, making them the 12th-oldest team in the league. -- O'Hanlon
San Jose Earthquakes
What they've been up to: After finishing dead last in the entire league -- and a whopping nine points clear in the Wooden Spoon standings -- the Earthquakes embarked on yet another rebuild. The difference is that this one is being orchestrated by Bruce Arena, who was hired as sporting director and manager last November and has as good a track record as anyone in the league in terms of building teams. With him at the helm, the Quakes figure to be far more competitive than they were a year ago.
Biggest offseason move: Arena has been busy, with more than 20 player moves so far (both incoming and outgoing), including the departures of former mainstays Jeremy Ebobisse, Jackson Yueill and Carlos Gruezo. But by far the biggest acquisition is forward Chicho Arango from Real Salt Lake. He came relatively cheap too, costing San Jose just $1.4m in allocation money after RSL spent $6m to pry the Colombian away from Pachuca.
That move was followed by the signing of former league MVP Josef Martínez as a free agent. He's likely more of a depth piece at this stage of his career, but he could thrive in a super-sub role.
2025 will be a success if ... The Quakes can make it back to the playoffs. Yes, expectations are still modest after last year's disaster.
Arena is on record as insisting that last year's roster was better than it showed. There are some enticing pieces, especially in attack. Cristian Espinoza remains one of the league's best-kept secrets given how long he's toiled for a bad team. Hernan Lopez has plenty of ability as a No. 10, and it will be interesting to see how he fares this year with a better supporting cast. Niko Tsakiris gained valuable experience last year as a 19-year-old.
One development that absolutely has to take place is improvement on the defensive end. The Quakes surrendered a league-record 78 goals last year, and one would expect that Arena will get this sorted out. To that end, he's brought in four former Revs in center back Dave Romney and outside-back Nick Lima, as well as midfielders Ian Harkes and Mark-Anthony Kaye. Goalkeeper Daniel is expected to bounce back after a sub-par, injury-hit season.
Can the Quakes enjoy an epic turnaround? They certainly have the man in charge to do it, but the team still seems a piece or two away from looking like a playoff outfit. -- Carlisle
One stat to keep in mind: Last season, San Jose's keepers allowed 78 goals -- four more than any other team in the league. And that was mainly due to, well, their inability to prevent shots from turning into goals. Facing the exact same shots as the Earthquakes keepers, the average keeper would've been expected to concede 62.5 goals. That's a gap of 10.5 goals -- by far the biggest in the league. -- O'Hanlon
Seattle Sounders
What they've been up to: Adding veteran pieces in a bid to compete on multiple fronts, including the Sounders' foray in the FIFA Club World Cup. They'll also be aiming to do better than last year's elimination in the Western Conference finals.
Biggest offseason move: GM Craig Waibel hasn't made many moves. Given the production out of the club's academy, he hasn't had to, but the twin acquisitions of Jesús Ferreira and Paul Arriola from FC Dallas -- the former cost $2m in GAM, and international roster spot plus winger Leo Chu, while the latter saw $300,000 in GAM go in the other direction -- should give the Sounders improved depth and a more varied attack. They'll need it, too, given that in addition to the Club World Cup, they'll be in the Concacaf Champions Cup and the Leagues Cup. Korean defender Kim Kee-Hee returns for a second stint with the Sounders and should give manager Brian Schmetzer another option in the back.
2025 will be a success if ... Seattle can get their attacking pieces -- both new and old -- to fit. The defense looks plenty solid, what with Jackson Ragen, Yeimar Gómez, Cristian Roldan and Obed Vargas forming the base of the spine, but Seattle needs to get more out of Pedro de la Vega. For a team that recently has tended to fall maddeningly short of the promised land, De la Vega was supposed to put them over the top last year. Injuries and inconsistency meant that didn't happen.
The good news is that with Ferreira and Arriola on board, there are more options in the attacking half for Schmetzer to pick from, so much so that he is poised to roll out a 3-5-2 formation this season. Jordan Morris continues to put up impressive numbers (14 goals and five assists last season) while Paul Rothrock (five goals and two assists) and Albert Rusnák (10 goals and 16 assists) contributed as well. Given the congested schedule, everyone should get their chance to shine. The hope is that the end of the season sees some silverware for the first time since 2022. -- Carlisle
One stat to keep in mind: The Sounders were easily the best defensive team in the league in 2024, ranking first in both goals allowed and goals scored. But they paired that with an attack that only generated the 15th-most shots at just the 20th-best shot quality:
If the offseason acquisitions of sometime-USMNTers Ferreira and Arriola can significantly boost the offense, then this could be the best team in the league. -- O'Hanlon
Sporting Kansas City
What they've been up to: Sporting KC finally faced reality this winter and started to overhaul their roster after three consecutive disappointing seasons. Alan Pulido, Tim Melia, Johnny Russell, Andreu Fontas and Remi Walter are all gone, opening up roster slots and cap space to try to rebuild a club in need of just that. Sporting director Mike Burns' first winter with the team has not gone quietly.
Biggest offseason move: SKC became the first team to use MLS's new intra-league transfer system, signing Dejan Joveljic from the LA Galaxy for a reported $4m. The striker is fresh off an MLS Cup-winning 21-goal campaign and gives Sporting a proven star in front of goal to lead them into a new era. For a team whose leading scorer didn't exceed 10 goals in two of the past three years, that's massive.
2025 will be a success if ... Their new signings look like the foundation of a team that can start competing in 2026. In addition to Joveljic, SKC signed another DP in Manu García, with Shapi Suleymanov also coming over from Greece's Aris Thessaloniki. Add them to the returning Dániel Sallói, William Agada, Erik Thommy and Jake Davis, and Peter Vermes has the beginnings of a core that they are hoping returns them to the lofty heights of eras past.
It's unlikely they challenge for a playoff spot with the defense looking like a mess, but if they get the front two lines right then they might only be a year away from being able to make a run. -- Rosenblatt
One stat to keep in mind: There's no right way to play, but whatever Sporting Kansas City did last season didn't work. Their minus-15 goal differential was the worst since the franchise was still known as the Kansas City Wizards and Tony Meola was still their goalkeeper. This isn't necessarily why they played so poorly, but SKC players covered 2.08 kilometers per game at sprinting speed -- the lowest in the league. For comparison, the two teams that reached MLS Cup, the Galaxy (2.46) and Red Bulls (2.6), both ranked in the top five. -- O'Hanlon
St. Louis City SC
What they've been up to: City have taken things pretty slowly this offseason, which makes sense after they fired their coach and turned over more than half the starting lineup last summer. The hard work was done and this winter they got to augmenting with the likes of Timo Baumgartl, who should help the center of defense, and Conrad Wallem, whose versatility should prove invaluable.
Biggest offseason move: Olof Mellberg took over as St. Louis manager this winter, bringing with him a wealth of experience playing in Europe and some time at the helm of several clubs in Sweden and Denmark. He liked to play with three at the back in his previous stops and City flashed that in the preseason, so there appears to be a big shape change in St. Louis and it will be worth watching how Mellberg finds the wing-backs for such an approach.
2025 will be a success if ... City make their late-season improvements from a year ago stick. Simon Becher, Marcel Hartel and Cedric Teuchert all hit the ground running after joining in the summer and transforming the St. Louis attack. It also allowed Eduard Löwen to play further down the pitch, which solidified the midfield. Add in the always-excellent Roman Bürki in goal and there's no reason to think their midseason transformation was a fluke. They were talented and good.
Now it's just about kicking that up a notch so it can sustain over a full season, and Baumgartl and Wallem should help them do just that. If João Klauss can play at a high level, St. Louis could finish in the top four of the West. -- Rosenblatt
One stat to keep in mind: Over his two seasons in MLS, Bürki has faced 315 shots expected to be worth 107.7 goals -- and he's only allowed 97 of them to cross the goal line. Those 16.7 goals saved edge out Charlotte's Kristijan Kahlina by nearly two for the best mark in the league since 2023. No other goalkeeper in MLS has even saved nine goals more than expected over the past two seasons. -- O'Hanlon
Toronto FC
What they've been up to: In the fallout from "Spygate" at the Paris Olympics (where Canada's women's team were caught spying on New Zealand in France, later revealing a further-reaching systemic issue), former Canada manager (of both the men's and women's teams) John Herdman stepped down from his role as manager of TFC. In January, the Reds announced a new boss in Robin Fraser.
Biggest offseason move: Appointing Fraser. Toronto have had a wild ride in the past few years, and they'll enter 2025 with the 15th manager in club history. The 58-year-old brings extensive league experience with him, as both a player and manager, most recently serving as head coach of the Rapids from 2019-2023.
2025 will be a success if ... Progress continues. Last year's 11th-place finish was an improvement from 2023's last-in-the-league performance. Still, there hasn't been as much offseason activity as fans may have hoped for, and their plans for 2025 feel to be determined. GM Jason Hernandez hinted new signings could still be coming, and so far, both big-name Italians (with troublesome reputations) in Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeshchi are still on the roster -- although Hernandez hinted that a departure could be possible. -- Swanick
One stat to keep in mind: Based on ESPN BET's odds, Toronto FC are a, uh, good bet to be the worst team in MLS. They have the joint-worst odds to win MLS Cup (plus-6600) with seven other teams, and they share, with the Chicago Fire, the longest odds (plus-6600) to win the Eastern Conference.
Why the low expectations? This might be the least talented team in the league. Per Transfermarkt's estimations, the combined transfer value of this roster is €22.9m. That's the lowest in the league and the only roster below €25m. -- O'Hanlon
Vancouver Whitecaps
What they've been up to: Former coach Vanni Sartini is no longer in charge, DP Stuart Armstrong is also gone after just a few months with the club, and Fafa Picault --- who was second in assists and third for goal contributions last season --- is no longer in the picture.
It's going to be an uphill battle for new coach Jesper Sørensen in his first stint in MLS. The good news for Sørensen and the club is that goal scorer Brian White will have a boost of winter confidence after finding the back of the net for the USMNT last month.
Biggest offseason move: After being described as a "missing piece" last September, Armstrong and the club recently parted ways after an offer from English second-division club Sheffield Wednesday. Vancouver's 2024 playoff run wasn't dependent on the midfielder who only had 10 MLS appearances, but his brief flashes of game-changing moments will still undoubtedly be missed.
2025 will be a success if ... Sørensen is the missing piece of the puzzle.
For a few seasons now, Vancouver have consistently been a mid-to-lower-table club that either narrowly miss out on the postseason or don't stay in the playoff chase for very long. Credit is due to the fight they gave to LAFC in 2024, and part of Sørensen's goals should be to build off that Round One series that likely instilled some confidence. Doing that also means continuing to find a way to provide service to key attacking figures such as White and Ryan Gauld in 2025.
Either way, a nimble bounce back will be expected under the new head coach. Last month, sporting director Axel Schuster stated that throughout Sørensen's career, "he has delivered immediate success with his teams." -- Hernandez
One stat to keep in mind: Can Sørensen evolve Vancouver's tactical approach? Last season, the Whitecaps were the least aggressive pressing team in the league, and they were also quite conservative in possession. They ranked 25th for how quickly they moved the ball upfield and 24th in the percentage of their passes that went forward. On top of that, 19.1% of their final-third passes were crosses -- third-most in the league. You can let opponents attack you, you can attack slowly, or you can cross the ball a ton -- but you should never do all three of those things at the same time. -- O'Hanlon