MLS Preview: FC Cincinnati

In partnership with

Hooligan Soccer

·11 Februari 2025

MLS Preview: FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati has rapidly established itself as a formidable presence in Major League Soccer (MLS) since its inception. With a blend of seasoned veterans and promising new talent, FC Cincinnati aims to build upon its recent successes and contend for top honors in the 2025 MLS season.

Club History

Founded in the summer 2015, FC Cincinnati began competing in the second-tier United Soccer League (USL) in 2016. The club quickly garnered attention by setting numerous attendance records and making a notable run in the 2017 U.S. Open Cup, defeating the Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire from the MLS before falling to the New York Red Bulls in the semifinals.

Video OneFootball

Their impressive performance, state-of-the-art facilities and robust fan support led to their MLS expansion announcement on May 29, 2018, with the team joining the league in 2019. Despite finishing towards the bottom of the table in their initial two seasons, they turned it around in 2022 to qualify for the playoffs. In 2023 FC Cincinnati clinched the Supporters’ Shield behind the energetic play of DP Luciano Acosta, though they lost the Conference final.

Ownership

The majority owner is Carl Lindner III, CEO of Cincinnati-based American Financial Group. In November 2019, business executive and politician Meg Whitman purchased a minority stake in the club and serves as the team’s Alternate Governor on the MLS Board of Governors.

Notable Players

Mitch Hildebrandt (United States) – Goalkeeper Played two seasons for the USL club, where he won USL Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 2016 Blocked three of four PKs during the Open Cup Round of 16 to defeat Chicago Fire.
Yuya Kobo (Japan) – Forward/Midfielder An all-round utility player, Kobo was a Designated Player from 2020 through 2022. He holds the club record for most appearances (159)
Brandon Vásquez (United States) – Forward Spent three years with the club (2020-2023). Scored 20 goals in their 2022 season & 17 in the 2023 (nine of them in cup ties).

Other Facts

In their inaugural USL season, FC Cincinnati set a playoff and single-game attendance record with 30,187 fans during a match against Charleston Battery.
They are the seventh club to make the jump from USL to MLS.
The orange & blue colors and winged lion on the team crest were originally associated with a club called the Dayton Dutch Lions, an early partner of the club that currently plays in the USL League Two.
The nickname “The Garys” derives from the pattern of the crests lion resembling a G-A-R-Y.
Despite its young age, it already has two fierce derby rivalries: The “Dirty River Derby” with Louisville City FC (currently a USL Championship team) is the oldest. It was last played in the 2023 Open Cup. The “Hell Is Real Derby” with Columbus Crew started with the team’s elevation to the MLS. It is named after a notorious billboard on the I-71 highway that connects the two cities.

2024 Season Recap

Record: 19W – 6D – 12L. 3rd in the Eastern Conference; 5th overall The team made it to the Eastern Conference Finals but lost to NYCFC in three games. The final game went 0-0 and into penalties, where it took NINE rounds to determine a winner. SUMMARY

Who to Watch in 2025

Luciano Acosta (Argentina) – Midfielder (DP) Will he stay, or will he go? The MLS MVP in 2023 and club goal scoring record holder (54) has said he wants out. Rumors have talks happening with Boca Juniors or Estudiantes, but nothing concrete as of publication.
Pavel Bucha (Czechia) – Midfielder Versatile box-to-box player, vital to their attacking strategy.
Luca Orellano (Argentina) – Forward Played 2024 on loan from Vasco da Gama. Won the MLS Goal of the Year award, and was a finalist for the MLS Newcomer of the Year. Officially joined the club last December.
Kévin Denkey (Togo) – Forward (DP) At $16.2M, Denkey is the most expensive MLS transfer in history. Since 2023, he scored 43 goals in 67 games for Cercle Brugge in the Belgian top flight.