Charlotte FC’s first-ever match is tonight. These are the players new fans need to know
On Saturday, Charlotte FC will take the pitch for a Major League Soccer match for the first time.
It’s been roughly two years since team owner David Tepper was awarded an expansion franchise to bring MLS to the city, and Charlotte FC has been building towards kickoff ever since. A pandemic stalled the team’s debut, which won’t actually be in Charlotte. Instead, the club will face D.C. United in Washington, D.C.
The home opener against the LA Galaxy the following weekend on March 5 is drawing even more hype with 74,000-plus fans expected to attend, which would set a league record. While fans in the stands have proved to be a major storyline for the new team, equally as important are the players on the pitch.
Here are five to watch this weekend.
Alan Franco
Not to be confused with Alan Franco, the Atlanta United defender from Argentina who’s made 26 appearances in the league. This Alan Franco, 23, is expected to hold down the central midfield for Charlotte FC, often working in tandem with fellow Ecuadorian Jordy Alcívar. Franco embodies Charlotte’s distinctive style of soccer in that he controls the ball and his positioning, and rarely recklessly lets it get away from him. He’s one of Charlotte’s most experienced players in understanding the system head coach Miguel Ángel Ramírez wants to build with the new squad. Franco won the 2019 Copa Sudamericana with Ramírez at Independiente Del Valle. He joined the roster in Dec. on a year-long loan deal from Brazil’s Atlético Mineiro that includes an option to purchase.
Kristijan Kahlina
Kahlina won’t take it personally if you don’t like his yelling.
“I had a lot of times in my career that somebody (was) angry because I scream or something,” Kahlina said. “But I want everything (to be) good for my players.”
As Charlotte FC’s likely starting goalkeeper, the 29-year-old Croatian said that he’s expected to play like a midfielder in terms of calling openings and opportunities for the defensive line. He recorded a clean sheet against Columbus during the Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston playing the full 90 minutes, and allowed one goal against Inter Miami in the first half during the tournament.
Kahlina arrived at Charlotte via a permanent transfer from Bulgarian club Ludogorets Razgrad. He’s signed through 2024 with an option for ‘25.
Yordy Reyna
The Peruvian forward has seen a significant number of minutes throughout Charlotte FC’s preseason. He’s scrappy and versatile in attacking positions, and has played further out as a winger. Reyna, 28, was a free agent and former D.C. United player that Charlotte FC picked up in the winter. Charlotte FC’s front line is lacking attacking players due to injury and other circumstances early in the season. Brazilian forward Vinicius Mello remains unavailable while recovering from a foot injury. Polish striker Karol Świderski is questionable for Saturday as his international paperwork is still processing. Although Charlotte FC added former Nashville striker Daniel Ríos this week to beef up its attack, Ríos hasn’t been training with the team, which will likely rely heavily on Reyna in its first match.
Joseph Mora
Like Reyna, Mora is a fomer D.C. United signing who moved to Charlotte. He made nearly 100 appearances for United, and featured in 26 matches last season. Mora’s knowledge of the high-pressure soccer D.C. United coach Hernán Losada likes makes him a obvious choice to feature in the Starting XI this weekend. He’s been a staple at left back in Charlotte FC’s lineup through preseason, so that spot could be his to lose.
Guzmán Corujo
Corujo, 25, wore the captain’s armband during one of Charlotte FC’s pre-season matches, calling it an “honor.” He said that the captain would officially be decided during the week, citing former Premier League player Christian Fuchs as a candidate to earn that title as a leader and team representative. A steady and physical presence at center back, Corujo added that the armband is not very relevant for him to reference, saying that, “You need to lead by example on the pitch to be a true captain.”
Charlotte FC’s match against D.C. United is set for 6 p.m. Saturday at Audi Field.
Charlotte FC roster*
*Listed by position, alphabetically
