DC United 2026 Season Preview

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Major League Soccer

·16 February 2026

DC United 2026 Season Preview

By MLSsoccer staff

2026 Schedule

First game/Home opener: Feb. 21 - 7:30 pm ET vs. Philadelphia Union
Full schedule
Watch on Apple TV

Team Snapshot

D.C. United have undergone a roster overhaul for 2026, their first full season under new managing director of soccer operations Dr. Erkut Sogut and head coach René Weiler.

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This winter, they spent a club-record transfer fee for Romanian international striker Louis Munteanu, while sending up to $4.6 million to the Philadelphia Union for striker Tai Baribo.

The Black-and-Red are chasing their first Audi MLS Cup Playoffs appearance since 2019.

Key Signings

Tai Baribo: The Israeli international striker joins as a Designated Player after producing 35g/6a in 67 games for the Union.
Silvan Hefti: The former Swiss youth international defender has made 329 senior appearances across several top European leagues.
Sean Johnson: Johnson gives D.C. a veteran goalkeeper with over 400 MLS matches. The former US international spent the last three seasons with Toronto FC.
Keisuke Kurokawa: Kurokawa gives D.C. a new left back, arriving from Gamba Osaka in his native Japan.
Louis Munteanu: The 23-year-old arrives from Romania’s CFR Cluj for a reported $10 million transfer fee. Munteanu has 53 goals in 149 club matches, with an additional two tallies in four caps for Romania.
Sean Nealis: Acquired from Red Bull New York, Nealis bolsters a D.C. defense that allowed an Eastern Conference-high 66 goals last season.

Full roster

No introduction needed. Munteanu mode. 🇷🇴
– Monday, 5 January 2026

Key Departures

Luis Barraza: Barraza, who was D.C.’s first-choice goalkeeper in 2025, joined Inter Miami via free agency.
Christian Benteke: The 2024 MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi winner departed with 47g/10a in 93 league matches. He’s since joined UAE Pro League side Al Wahda.
Boris Enow: The Cameroonian international midfielder was transferred to Israeli Premier League side Beitar Jerusalem.
Kristian Fletcher: The 20-year-old homegrown forward signed with FC Cincinnati this winter.
David Schnegg: The Austrian defender now plays for Charlotte FC after being waived by the Black-and-Red.