ASN provides up is MLS Western Convention Preview for the 2026 season with LAFC and Vancouver as soon as once more trying like the perfect groups within the convention.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
February 19, 2026
8:05 AM
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THE 2026 MLS SEASON is simply days away and meaning it’s time to get one more season preview that provides up predictions on the ultimate standings. To be truthful, final yr didn’t go effectively for ASN predictions within the West as we had San Diego final and Vancouver out of the playoffs. However nonetheless, we are going to strive once more.
In fact, there will likely be surprises and groups will make midseason changes, that are onerous to foretell proper now. However two days out from the beginning of the season, that is the perfect we are able to do.
1) Los Angeles FC
In MLS, teaching modifications can usher in uncertainty and make issues tough to foretell. However Marc Dos Santos was promoted from inside and may hold LAFC transferring alongside simply advantageous. He was employed to keep up the established order from Steve Cherundolo, which is the best play. You’ve got Son Heung-Min returning and this will likely be his first full season. The South Korean legend has shaped an ideal partnership with one of many league’s greatest attackers in Denis Bouanga.
— LAFC (@LAFC) February 18, 2026
Now you add Stephen Equstaquio from Porto together with fellow Canadian worldwide Jacob Shaffelburg to an already robust group with out shedding a lot.
LAFC is a really protected decide to be the highest group within the Western Convention.
2) Vancouver Whitecaps
The Vancouver Whitecaps had been the most important stunning in MLS in 2025 after advancing to the CONCACAF Champions Cup ultimate and profitable the MLS Western Convention playoff championship the place they had been stopped by Inter Miami in an in depth ultimate. The group thrived beneath new supervisor Jesper Sorensen who had them enjoying entertaining and profitable soccer.
This season will see a lot of the group return. Thomas Muller will start his first full season with the membership. Sebastian Berhalter and Tristan Blackmon had been within the MLS Finest XI. One wild card will likely be Ryan Gauld who missed most of 2025 and underwent arthroscopic surgical procedure on his knee within the offseason. If he returns in full drive by April or Might, Vancouver may have a variety of firepower.
— U.S. Soccer Males’s Nationwide Group (@USMNT) February 17, 2026
Ali Ahmed is the large loss after he was offered to Norwich (and is performing very, very effectively). Vancouver went and signed Cheikh Sabaly, 26, from Metz in France the place he scored 21 objectives and added 11 assists in 122 video games. If Sabaly produces at an identical degree, Vancouver will as soon as once more be an excellent group.
However proper now, you have to wager on Sorensen to get all the pieces on the sphere proper.
The priority is the off-field points for Vancouver and the dismal stories concerning the group’s viability within the Canadian metropolis. If speak of relocation builds in 2026, it’d dampen enthusiasm and function a distraction for all concerned. That may be very unlucky for one of many league’s most entertaining groups.
3) LA Galaxy
After a disastrous 2025 season, the LA Galaxy must be probably the most improved group within the Western Convention in 2026. Regardless of one other season-long damage to Riqui Puig, the Galaxy made vital upgrades in necessary areas.
Within the backline, the Galaxy added Justin Haak and Jakob Glesnes to associate with Emiro Garces.
Pec with the icing on the cake ???? pic.twitter.com/ndUsIZsqzU
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) February 11, 2026
Brazilian striker João Klauss joined from St. Louis and he’s a confirmed goal-scorer up entrance. Erik Thommy is also a succesful veteran within the assault.
Once you add in Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec, the Galaxy have among the finest beginning wing combos within the league.
The Galaxy are good within the entrance and good within the again. The query turns into the center of the sphere and in playmaking. What can they get regularly from Marco Reus at age 36?
4) San Diego FC
Final season, San Diego FC loved a implausible inaugural season the place they completed first within the Western Convention and superior to the Western Convention ultimate. We noticed this earlier than with St. Louis Metropolis, who then collapsed of their second season. San Diego shouldn’t endure the identical destiny. They play higher soccer beneath head coach Mikey Varas and, not like St. Louis Metropolis in its first yr, they don’t seem to be overly reliant on a high-pressing system.
San Diego’s scorers towards Pumas are the current and way forward for the Area ?? pic.twitter.com/ZwFQ58hfvd
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) February 6, 2026
Early returns are promising as San Diego regarded spectacular in its first spherical win over Pumas within the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The membership will convey again nearly everybody who was necessary to their success in 2025, together with MLS runner-up Anders Dreyer. Plus the membership will proceed to introduce extra younger gamers similar to Pedro Soma and Manu Duah who each look prepared for greater roles.
One wild card will likely be Lewis Morgan, who was nice for the New York Purple Bulls each time he was wholesome – which wasn’t usually. If he’s actually again, San Diego may have much more firepower.
The tough spot for San Diego is the way it handles Mexican worldwide Chucky Lozano who is dear, however not within the group’s plans forward of the season as a consequence of a falling out final season.
5) Austin FC
Final season, Auston FC completed sixth within the West and made optimistic strides beneath new supervisor Nico Estevez however extra must be anticipated in 2026.
Facundo Torres was signed from Palmeiras and he’s a major improve over former designated participant Osman Bukari who was shipped to Poland. Torres, an Uruguayan worldwide, has large expertise throughout the league as among the finest gamers ever for Orlando Metropolis.
From an American perspective, Owen Wolff is coming off an ideal season and was simply two days too outdated for the 2025 U-20 World Cup or the approaching Olympics. However he stays an excellent prospect.
A wild card is what occurs when Brandon Vazquez returns from his ACL surgical procedure (which he suffered final July). He must be anticipated again by late spring if the traditional timeline for that damage holds.
There are issues concerning the group’s protection, however a playoff berth must be anticipated.
6) Seattle Sounders
The Seattle Sounders are nearly at all times good and this yr the must be good once more. Many of the identical group from 2025 will return. Brian Schmetzer is aware of what he’s doing. And even in conditions the place they misplaced a key participant (similar to Obed Vargas to Atletico Madrid), a succesful MLS veteran similar to Hassani Dotson replaces him.
Lighting up the assault ????
Rewatch all the motion from yesterday’s 3-1 win over Louisville Metropolis FC in our ultimate pleasant of preseason camp! pic.twitter.com/qRCCuKbmxW
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) February 16, 2026
The priority for Seattle is age. Jordan Morris, Cristian Roldan, and Albert Rusnak are all previous 30 years outdated.
7) Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo had a disappointing 2025 season however must be improved in 2026 after making some optimistic upgrades. Former LAFC midfielder Mateusz Bogusz returns to the league after spending final season with Cruz Azul and he ought to complement USMNT hopeful Jack McGlynn effectively.
Houston additionally spent some huge cash on imports from South America. Guilherme, 30, arrives after scoring 14 objectives from Santos. Lucas Halter arrives from Botafogo and he’ll increase the backline. Midfielder Agustín Bouzat captained Velez Sarsfield to a really profitable title-winning season.
Then there may be the return of Hector Herrera, who’s now 35 however will nonetheless ship in huge moments.
The membership in the meantime was in a position to eliminate gamers who principally had been declining in manufacturing from the excellent 2024 season. Amine Bassi, Franco Escobar, Sebastian Kowalczyk, and Junior Urso have been unloaded.
The 2 losses which hurts could be very promising youth worldwide Brooklyn Raines, who went to play for his former U.S. U-20 coach in New England and fullback Griffin Dorsey.
With this a lot roster turnover, there may be threat however Houston appears to have upgraded in key areas.
8) Colorado Rapids
The Rapids are at all times a troublesome group to foretell as they usually don’t spend some huge cash and infrequently gamble on “rescue” gamers from overseas. Now they enter the 2026 season with the identical questions, this time beneath a brand new coach in former Tottenham assistant Matt Wells.
Most season preview items don’t have Colorado this excessive, however Paxten Aaronson will start his first full season with the Rapids, and he performed fairly effectively when he joined over the summer time.
A part of what makes the Rapids powerful to foretell is a number of gamers on the roster had “career-best” seasons and it nonetheless wasn’t sufficient to get them into the publish season. Rafael Navarro had 12 objectives, Dante Sealy had 9 objectives with Montreal final season, Darren Yapi had 8 objectives.
These gamers can proceed to provide however quite a bit will come right down to Aaronson’s playmaking and Nigerian newcomer Hamzat Ojediran, a defensive midfielder who arrives from RC Lens in France. Their chemistry is necessary for Colorado however Wells has pathway to get Colorado to the postseason.
9) Portland Timbers
Phil Neville enters his third yr main the Portland Timbers and whereas he has made the postseason in his first two years, it may very well be more durable in 2026. The membership has misplaced a variety of mainstays. Midfielder David Ayala was traded, goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau signed for Orlando. Midfielder Christhian Paredes returned residence to Paraguay. Croatian defender Dario Zuparic can be gone.
Carry the work into the brand new season ???? pic.twitter.com/6WuEaKlGNS
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) February 15, 2026
By way of arrivals, the dependable Cole Bassett joined from Colorado and he usually places up good numbers. Fullback Brandon Bye additionally joined from New England.
However it looks as if quite a bit must go proper for Porland to be a risk within the West, however they’ve sufficient to scrape into the playoffs. Ahead Kevin Kelsy must put up huge numbers.
10) Actual Salt Lake
Below head coach Pablo Mastroeni, Actual Salt Lake has usually been a group that’s predicted to be a bubble group for the playoffs in the beginning of the season. That’s usually the way it performs out and the ultimate video games yearly see the group in a race for a ultimate playoff spot. The massive exception was a third-place end in 2024.
This season is once more most likely going to be one other shut name. U.S worldwide Diego Luna has a variety of stress to carry out to start the season as he’s attempting to make the World Cup roster. The membership additionally introduced in wingback Juan Manuel Sanabria and he may also be trying to earn a spot for Uruguay’s World Cup roster.
There is a new no.10 in Salt Lake. ???????? pic.twitter.com/PTqFJdHEot
— Main League Soccer (@MLS) February 12, 2026
French-born Guinea worldwide Morgan Guilavogui arrived on a DP deal from Lens however his numbers there have been lackluster. In 2024/25, he was on mortgage at St. Pauli the place he helped hold the membership within the Bundesliga. His greatest years had been in France’s Ligue 2 with Paris FC. He’s a little bit of a chance by RSL.
11) Minnesota United
Minnesota United is often a really tough group to foretell. Final season they overachieved with a fourth-place end within the West. However since then, head coach Eric Ramsey left to take the job at West Bromwich Albion in England. However the group changed Ramsey by selling from inside as assistant Cameron Knowles received the job.
Minnesota received a variety of consideration by signing James Rodriguez because the Colombian legend seeks minutes forward of the World Cup. It is going to be the thirteenth membership of his profession and his final two strikes had been unsuccessful. His contract with Rayo Vallecano was terminated by mutual consent in January 2025 after solely 4 months. Rodriguez made simply seven appearances for Rayo. Then he moved to Leon in Mexico solely to see his contract not renewed in 2026. Minnesota is betting towards latest historical past for Rodriguez to be a contributor.
— James Rodríguez (@jamesdrodriguez) February 6, 2026
Minnesota misplaced a variety of reliable items in Hassani Dotson and Robin Lod, who know the league very effectively. The membership can be hoping that Drake Calendar can substitute Dayne St. Clair, who was the MLS goalkeeper of the yr in 2025.
Perhaps Minnesota will get all of it proper for 2026 and repeats the success of 2025. However it’s straightforward to see it going south too.
12) San Jose Earthquakes
The addition of Timo Werner is thrilling for San Jose, however after that, it’s extremely questionable whether or not the group made sufficient enhancements to enhance upon its tenth place end in 2025.
The membership misplaced midfielder Cristian Espinoza to free company. Josef Martinez left for Membership Tijuana after scoring 14 objectives for the Quakes final season. Cristian Arango is again in Colombia after a 2025 season the place he was one of many group’s greatest offensive weapons.
Assertion signing. ?????
Timo Werner is able to “create new history” in San Jose: https://t.co/GH1Ov0bLwO pic.twitter.com/tJLrTriYfd
— Main League Soccer (@MLS) January 31, 2026
Bruce Enviornment is an effective supervisor with a variety of success, however this group isn’t as proficient as final yr – even with Werner. It’s by no means sensible to wager towards Enviornment, however he most likely wants some huge midseason upgrades.
13) FC Dallas
FC Dallas overachieved in 2025 by making the playoffs. That’s as a result of the membership has one of many league’s prime middle forwards in Petar Musa, who may make Croatia’s World Cup group this summer time.
This membership will likely be principally the identical as final yr with goalkeeper Maarten Paes being probably the most vital departure as he was offered to Ajax. However not one of the incomers are lock starters initially of the season. Herman Johansson simply gained the Swedish Allsvenskan title with Mjallby. Attacking midfielder Joaquin Valiente not too long ago performed for Defensor SC in Uruguay.
A distinct power. Similar mentality.
A transparent assertion of what to anticipate beginning this Saturday. pic.twitter.com/tmTvvdljAB
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) February 18, 2026
FC Dallas can solely replicate final season’s success if Musa surpasses his 2025 output ranges.
14) St. Louis CITY SC
St. Louis Metropolis cleaned home within the offseason after a second straight unhealthy yr in 2025. Now they’ve a brand new head coach in Yoann Damet and sporting director in Corey Wray. Additionally they traded away the membership’s main scorer in Joao Klauss.
See you in two days! pic.twitter.com/wGfRwamW0A
— St Louis CITY SC (@stlCITYsc) February 19, 2026
The primary incomers all have MLS expertise. Daniel Edelman joins from the New York Purple Bulls the place he was a reliable defensive midfielder. Mamadou Mbacke Fall returns to the league from Barcelona, which he joined from NYCFC. Rafael Santos was a free agent signing and he’ll take over the left again job. The one arrival with no MLS expertise is Dante Polvara as the previous Georgetown Hoya not too long ago performed for Aberdeen in Scotland.
St. Louis made some sensible strikes within the offseason, however quite a bit must go proper so as to return to the playoffs.
15) Sporting Kansas Metropolis
Final season, Sporting Kansas Metropolis completed final within the West. However the group’s issues had been deep and plentiful. Now it’s about climbing out of the opening. Sadly, there are not any fast fixes.
The membership introduced in Rapha Wicky as the brand new head coach and unloaded a variety of gamers to wash out the roster. Whereas a couple of MLS veterans had been introduced in to assist stabilize issues a bit, it appears as if the membership remains to be attempting to wash home earlier than taking vital steps to construct.
Sporting Kansas Metropolis welcomes Rapha Wicky as Head Coach.
????: https://t.co/P6uDBj360V pic.twitter.com/5maxIfb5tF
— Sporting Kansas Metropolis (@SportingKC) January 5, 2026
It may very well be one other powerful season for SKC however one which in the end offers them a clear slate for the long run. In the event that they try this, it may very well be a optimistic step ahead within the huge image. Rebuilds are by no means enjoyable.
