In just a few days, Red Bull New York will commence their 2026 Major League Soccer (MLS) campaign in Orlando. It is now time to do the impossible which is to predict certain things that will occur in New York’s newest season.
Now, MLS is notorious for being hard to predict. With the influx of players coming and going, tactical changes and overall a lot of parity, this league seems impossible to predict.
Looking at New York, I have piled a few projections that will totally be 100 percent correct by season’s end. Bear with me as I am not a hot take type of journalist. I read incredible and insightful prediction pieces growing up, not whatever happens on shows like First Take.
Let us start the predicting.
Red Bull Will Have a Good Five Match Start to the Season
To open the 2026 season, Red Bull will start with these five matches:
2/21 – @ Orlando City SC
2/28 – New England Revolution
3/8 – CF Montréal
3/14 – @ Toronto FC
3/21 – @ Charlotte FC
All things considered, it’s a workable start to the season. By the time Red Bull gets to late March, the club should be a good 3-1-1.
Orlando is most likely a draw in my eyes. Not a bad result considering the changes Red Bull have made this offseason and with the match being played on the road.
I do see New York then creating a three match win streak against the likes of New England, Montreal and Toronto. Factoring the home aspect of things and that these clubs were all below New York in the final 2025 Eastern Conference Standings, it’s possible.
However, Charlotte on the road is a different story. Between Charlotte’s talented roster and home atmosphere, no shot New York gets the win. Nonetheless, I am projecting a decent start for New York.
Red Bull Will Return to the Playoffs in 2026
The 2025 season was known for one thing for Red Bull and that was their long postseason streak ending. That changes this year and the club returns to their status quo.
Red Bull will need a strong first half of the season for this to occur. If New York can put together quality wins, and also beat the teams they’re supposed to beat on paper, this will come true.
Besides making the playoffs, I didn’t say where they could finish. With the likes of FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami CF, Charlotte, Nashville SC, Orlando and the Philadelphia Union, the East will be competitive again. Finishing between sixth and ninth place is more realistic, if everything goes to plan.
It would be a step in the right direction as head coach Michael Bradley now takes charge of the club.
The Return of an Incredible Attack
Last year, New York was a middle of the pack team in terms of goals scored with 48. That was good for 17th in the league.
For a club with a history of incredible goal scorers and squads that have produced great scoring outputs, Bradley is tasked with reinventing their philosophy. Whatever you want to call their brand of soccer, Red Bull should be exciting to watch offensively this season.
Forward Eric Choupo-Moting should have another top 10 goal scoring season in 2026. After 17 goals last season for the former Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward, his second season in Harrison should be spectacular.
But, the reason why I think the squad is poised to be deadly in the attacking-third is because of their two newest pieces from Liga MX. Designated player Jorge Ruvalcaba and forward Cade Cowell are immensely talented and have the ability to propel New York to greater heights.
From a passing standpoint, Cowell demonstrated time and time again in the preseason how well his playmaking skills are. Let’s not forget captain Emil Forsberg, who was second in goals for the club last season and has a great sense for those around him.
For a club that wants to press, play with intensity and play fast, they have the talent to do so. Remember what Bradley said at his introductory press conference back in January?
“I think the better and more aggressively you press, the more you have the ball and the better that you can be with the ball, the more passes you can connect, the more ideas, the more ways you have to create chances, the better you’ll counter press and the more aggressive you can be against the ball.”
Red Bull needs the goals to come early, especially with a thin backline entering the season.
Defense Will Be Nonexistent Early On
Speaking of the backline, that has been an issue for everyone who follows the club. Say what you want about great offense, defense is necessary. Red Bull should not put goalkeepers like Ethan Horvath or John McCarthy in danger.
Everywhere you go on social media, you see the great attacking stats, then the porous defensive stats. In the preseason, New York gave up 13 goals. In four different matches, they gave up three goals to Sarasota Paradise, FC Dallas, Atlanta United FC and Houston Dynamo FC.
Reminder, their opponent for their season opener, Orlando, was a top 10 goal scoring team last season. Last time I checked, Orlando midfielder Martín Ojeda is still there and was in the top 15 in MLS last season in goals with 16. I expect a busy scoreboard on Saturday as a result.
The lack of depth among defenders will hurt them early on. I do, like other people, expect this to be addressed. Once it’s addressed and there is improvement, the club will be fine.
Don’t be shocked when some of these scorelines are bonkers to start.
