St. Louis CITY SC 2026 Season Preview

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Major League Soccer

·16 February 2026

St. Louis CITY SC 2026 Season Preview

By MLSsoccer staff

2026 Schedule

First game/Home opener: Feb. 21 - 2:30 pm ET vs. Charlotte FC
Full schedule
Watch on Apple TV

Team Snapshot

After taking MLS by storm as an expansion side in 2023, St. Louis CITY SC have missed the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs the last two years.

OneFootball Videos

This prompted major changes at the club, beginning with a new sporting director (Corey Wray) and head coach (Yoann Damet) in charge for the 2026 season.

St. Louis are also refreshing their roster, most notably trading all-time leading scorer João Klauss to the LA Galaxy.

Key Signings

Daniel Edelman: The midfielder, who joins from Red Bull New York, captained the United States at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Mamadou Mbacke Fall: The Senegalese defender, who shot to prominence with LAFC, is back in MLS via transfer from Spanish titans FC Barcelona.
Rafael Santos: The Brazilian left back joined St. Louis in free agency after splitting the 2025 season between the Colorado Rapids and Orlando City.
Dante Polvara: The New York City FC academy prospect arrives from Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen FC.

Full roster

Clean on the ball, strong on defense 😤
– Friday, 30 January 2026

Key Departures

João Klauss: The club’s first-ever Designated Player signing and all-time leading scorer was traded to the LA Galaxy for $2.375 million.
Henry Kessler: The veteran center back spent the last season and a half with St. Louis. He's joined Charlotte FC in free agency.
Rasmus Alm: Signed ahead of the club’s inaugural 2023 MLS season, the Swedish midfielder made just one appearance in 2025 due to injury.

Projected Starting XI

Predictions

Apple TV talent predict the 2026 regular season for St. Louis CITY SC.

Andrés Agulla: 15th in Western Conference
Marcelo Balboa: 13th in Western Conference
Max Bretos: 11th in Western Conference
Steve Cangialosi: 13th in Western Conference
Daniel Chapela: 15th in Western Conference
Miguel Gallardo: 8th in Western Conference
Michele Giannone: 13th in Western Conference
Tony Husband: 10th in Western Conference
Sacha Kljestan: 10th in Western Conference
Kaylyn Kyle: 13th in Western Conference
Lori Lindsey: 13th in Western Conference
Dax McCarty: 14th in Western Conference
Sammy Sadovnik: 15th in Western Conference
Bruno Vain: 12th in Western Conference
Bradley Wright-Phillips: 9th in Western Conference

New Kit

BUY NOW: St. Louis CITY SC’s Tina Turner Kit

A beacon of power. A legend of STL. An inspiration for us all to be simply our best. Get The Tina Kit now at City Foundry, CITY Pavilion or https://t.co/CUolKxBdLW
– Wednesday, 11 February 2026