Minnesota United FC 2024 Season Preview

2024 Schedule

• First game: Feb. 24 - 8:30 pm ET at Austin FC
• Home opener: March 2 - 2 pm ET vs. Columbus Crew
• Full schedule
• Watch on MLS Season Pass
• Buy the 2024 jersey

Armchair Analyst's Breakdown

• Strength: Reynoso as the 10, Pukki as the 9 and Bongi and Lod on the wings? Hell yes.
• Weakness: I’m still not in love with the fullback situation and, in goal, Dayne St. Clair really needs a bounce-back year. And, oh yeah, they don’t have a permanent head coach. Seems not great.

Key Departures

• Bakaye Dibassy: With Dibassy and Brent Kallman leaving, there's turnover in central defense for Minnesota. The veterans combined to play in 185 matches for the Loons.
• Ménder García: García scored just four goals in 39 appearances for Minnesota. For now, the Colombian striker's Designated Player spot remains unfilled.
• Jan Gregus: The Slovakian midfielder's second stint in Minnesota is over. He ultimately signed with Houston Dynamo FC in free agency.

Key Signings

• Alejandro Bran: It's been a quiet offseason transfer-wise (at least by profile) for Minnesota. Yet Bran, a Costa Rican international who's on loan from Herediano, carries notable upside.
• Victor Eriksson: Eriksson, who previously played his entire professional career at Swedish top-flight side IFK Värnamo, has the profile of a starting CB for Minnesota – likely alongside Miguel Tapias or Michael Boxall.
• Full roster

Projected Starting XI

Predictions

• Marcelo Balboa: 14th in Western Conference
• Kyndra de St. Aubin: 10th in Western Conference
• Matt Doyle: 4th in Western Conference
• Brian Dunseth: 14th in Western Conference
• Miguel Gallardo: 7th in Western Conference
• Antonella Gonzalez: 14th in Western Conference
• J. Sam Jones: 10th in Western Conference
• Sacha Kljestan: 14th in Western Conference
• Kaylyn Kyle: 13th in Western Conference
• Lori Lindsey: 13th in Western Conference
• Frédéric Lord: 14th in Western Conference
• Joseph Lowery: 7th in Western Conference
• Sammy Sadovnik: 12th in Western Conference
• Andrew Wiebe: 8th in Western Conference
• Bradley Wright-Phillips: 12th in Western Conference
• Diego Valeri: 13th in Western Conference
• Jake Zivin: 14th in Western Conference

Odds & Ends

• Head coach: Cameron Knowles (interim)
• Stadium: Allianz Field
• Last year: 10W-13L-11T, 41 points, 11th in Western Conference
• Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs: Did not qualify

All 2024 season previews

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