It’s time for Fútbol Friday, The Charlotte Ledger’s weekly newsletter getting you up to speed on Charlotte FC.
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Taking stock of what’s working for Charlotte FC and what’s not, as the club turns from a season-ending series loss to New York City FC toward a wintertime roster rebuild
Looking over our proverbial shoulder at the 2025 season, which featured Wilfried Zaha making a big impact with 10 goals and 10 assists. (Photo by Kevin Young of The 5 and 2 Project.)
When Charlotte FC general manager Zoran Krneta met with select local media at the end of the regular season in October, he presented a chart with statistics showing the club’s year-by-year performance. The numbers reveal steady progression, and club records this year in metrics like Supporter’s Shield standings (7th), Eastern Conference Standings (4th), points (59), goals scored (55), home wins (13) and road wins (6).
Then Charlotte took its second consecutive loss in the first round of the MLS playoffs, this time losing in three games to New York City FC and taking both losses at home. Afterward, captain Ashley Westwood summarized the big picture well.
“Over the three games to score one goal, you’re not going to go through,” he said. “But it’s been a great season. We finished in the top four. We’ve come a little bit short. But this club’s moving in the right direction, and hopefully the fans can see that. They can see what we’re doing, the players we’re bringing in. Now it’s time to rest, recover and come back. And I said it last year, we want top four. Now we’re going for the top. Now we want first place.”
Statistical chart shared by Charlotte FC general manager Zoran Krneta. (Photo by Carroll Walton)
Taking a closer look behind the numbers, we examine 5 things we’ve learned this season that will shape what Charlotte FC does in 2026:
Wilfried Zaha is the DP Charlotte wanted and needed: Charlotte FC has had some swings and misses with designated players. The best of the previous bunch, Karol Swiderski, almost seemed like a short-term lease. But in Zaha, Charlotte has gotten its dynamic, game-changing, opponent-annoying star and the 10-goal, 10-assist contribution as proof. Zaha’s absence in the Game 1 loss confirmed his value. Zaha’s loan was extended through June of 2026, and he says he’s happy here, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Charlotte looks to lock him up before that loan expires at the World Cup break.
Liel Abada is not cutting it as a second DP: On the other end of the productivity spectrum is Abada, who seemed to lose his way and perhaps his confidence this season. He had a huge opportunity in Game 1 of the playoff series and failed to take advantage. He’s signed through 2026 with an option for 2027, so either Krneta has work to do on the sellers’ market or Coach Dean Smith has a major reclamation on his hands. Abada’s speed is undeniable, but the investment in his $2.4 million base salary was not returned.
Charlotte needs more depth: Midfielder Eryk Williamson, who is poised to part in free agency, lacked the defensive chops to shine in Smith’s system. Fullback Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, who returns to Montreal as his loan here expires, is more of a natural wingback and played out of position. Two late-season additions who figure to improve the bench and push starters next season are Australian striker Archie Goodwin, who assisted Charlotte’s only goal in Game 3, and goalkeeper Drake Callender, whose presence added fuel to Kristijan Kahlina’s return to form for the stretch run.
Pep Biel is important: Charlotte managed to continue an MLS record-matching nine-game win streak without its playmaking midfielder when a knee issue compounded his comeback from a hamstring strain. But having Biel’s technical touch to help in and around the box was sorely lacking in the playoffs, when Charlotte scored just one goal in open play. Zrneta did not divulge whether Biel’s extended contract included DP status but it’s clear Biel is deserving of a more prominent place on this roster. He underwent a non-surgical procedure called TenJet to treat his knee tendinitis and is expected back 100 percent for preseason.
Charlotte’s defense is fallible: Two sections on the right column of Krneta’s chart not boxed in blue were goals allowed, up from 37 last year to 46, and expected goals against, an all-time high of 56.2. Some were due to injuries at fullback, some to Charlotte’s nine penalties allowed compared with one last season. Some were a concession toward taking a more offensive-minded approach this season. Watching New York score three goals in counter attacks off failed set pieces in Game 3 was an eye opener. Finding a replacement for center back Adilson Malanda is the biggest priority of the offseason.
MLS schedule will flip in ‘27: owners voted to align with international soccer schedule beginning in July and ending with playoffs in May
MLS is flipping to a winter schedule starting in 2027. (Graphic courtesy of MLS and Charlotte FC.)
Big change is coming to MLS. In a move Krneta has been lobbying for for years, the MLS Board of Governors voted Thursday to align the league’s schedule with the global soccer schedule beginning in 2027.
What this means, in simplest terms, is instead of starting in February and ending with the MLS Cup in early December, MLS will start its season in mid-July and finish with playoffs in May. Its flip-flopping to a colder weather calendar, on the surface, puts MLS up against some of the major U.S. sports like NFL and college football and Major League Baseball’s playoffs. But proponents point out that having playoffs end in May will give MLS more exposure on the sports calendar.
After listening to MLS commissioner Don Garber and Executive Vice President of Sporting and Competition Nelson Rodriguez explain it in a presser Thursday afternoon, the change comes down to exactly what Krneta has been asking for: giving MLS better access to talent. Here’s Rodriguez’s take:
We think aligning with the massive global window that occurs during our summer will help improve the quality of play in MLS. First, it allows us to consider a wider berth of players.
Second, it allows our teams to roster build in a way where they don’t have to compromise between considering transferring a player and perhaps jeopardizing the playoff run.
The players who enter our league now in that window will be available for more regular season games, and those teams that are competing in Concacaf Champions Cup will have those players fully acclimated for that tournament. So we expect to have our activity, both in the transfer player services out, and then incoming transfer services of players in to be much more active. This will make us a more vibrant league and improve our player quality overall.
Other perks for Charlotte will be avoiding games in the heat of early summer, while likely hosting more games before and after MLS takes a midseason winter break. MLS will also align with the FIFA schedule, meaning fewer interruptions for international breaks.
To bridge the gap to the new format, MLS will hold a 14-game regular season, playoffs and MLS Cup in 2027, with results affecting qualification for tournaments like the U.S. Open Cup, Leagues Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup.
So the next few seasons will look something like:
February 2026 to November 2026
February 2027 to May 2027
July 2027 to May 2028
With the schedule change, there’s also expected to be a new regular season format, eliminating the two conferences, and also a change in the playoff format. Stay tuned for much more on those and all the implications going forward.
New term for Charlotte FC’s ‘Mayor,’ Bronico re-upped through ‘27 with option for ‘28
Midfielder Brandt Bronico was awarded a new two-year contract with an option for a third year. (Photo by Kevin Young of The 5 and 2 Project.)
Of the 78 players who have come, and mostly gone, in the first four seasons with Charlotte FC, nobody has been here longer than North Carolina native Brandt Bronico. The club is making sure that continues, announcing Wednesday that it has signed the 30-year-old to a two-year contract extension through 2027 with an option for 2028.
“I’m super grateful to be able to extend here,” said Bronico, who was traded from the Chicago Fire on Dec. 19, 2020, the day after he married his college sweetheart, Rebecca. “My family is happy that we get to continue to share these moments together. It’s an honor and a privilege to represent this club.”
Many have taken to calling the High Point native and former UNC Charlotte standout “The Mayor.” His ties to the area, his charitable work in the community, his rapport with the fans, not to mention his Cam Newton-homage Superman goal celebration all back it up.
“Brandt has embodied what it means to be a player here within our organization, both on and off the field,” Krneta said in the press release.
On the field, Bronico is Charlotte FC’s engine, known for pushing his teammates in sprints, the weight room and on the field. His reputation is built on hustle, defending, pressing, and the dirty work, not necessarily being the ooh and ahh tactician. His critics insist Charlotte can and should do better with creativity in the midfield. But his coaches can’t resist sending him out there. Why?
“Giant heart,” Smith said recently. “Big heart, big lungs, because he can run all day. … And I think sometimes he gets overlooked for his technical ability, but he’s turned into a really good part of our team.”
Bronico knows. He had a huge scoring opportunity in Game 3 that he missed, which would have given Charlotte 1-0 command and changed the complexion of the game.
“I definitely lost some sleep over it the past couple of days,” Bronico said shortly after Wednesday’s announcement. “But at the same time, you can’t change the past. Some people use those moments and it makes them fold. Some people use those moments and it gives them fuel. I always have chosen the latter, and I will continue to choose the latter. I will use it as fuel and get better this offseason and make it right next season.”
Bronico said in addition to his usual hard core conditioning this winter, and enjoying his 9-month-old son, he will work on his finishing.
“Ball carrying up the field and when I do get those chances in the final third to be more clinical,” Bronico said. “Those are two areas that I’ve set my focus on, and that I’ll deliberately train for.”
Au Revoir, Adil
Malanda wearing his heart on his cardigan sleeve after Friday night’s loss. (Photo by Carroll Walton.)
Charlotte FC player departures usually come in a picture: an image posted to social media and an official goodbye from the club, transaction duly noted. So it was refreshing and humanizing to see Adilson Malanda’s goodbye in real time.
The French center back was in tears within seconds of the final whistle at Bank of America Stadium last Friday, as he circled the field to clap his goodbyes to fans, while his teammates applauded him in the locker room and again in the postgame scrum, when he was asked for his parting message to the fans. He had to pause for a moment, after saying, “The three years has been incredible.”
Malanda, the backline anchor since arriving in August of 2022, will join Middlesbrough FC of the English Championship in early December to start training. He won’t be eligible to play until Jan. 1. That’s the day, it just so happens, that Middlesbrough plays Derby County and his former Charlotte FC teammate Patrick Agyemang.
“Be ready, I’m coming,” Malanda said with a smile, when asked Friday night for his message to “Big Pat.”
By Wednesday, when the club arranged for multiple players to meet with the media in a year-end roll call, Malanda was loose and relaxed. When asked what he’ll miss most about living in Charlotte, he said “turning right on red.”
The things we didn’t know to appreciate! Meanwhile, Malanda will join an English team that just lost its head coach to a job in the Premier League and hopes to follow him to that level with a promotion next season. Middlesbrough is ranked No. 2 in the EFL. The top three teams go to the Premier League.
“Middlesbrough have got a top, top defender,” said Westwood, who played 10 seasons in the Premier League with Aston Villa and Burnley. “Sky’s the limit for Adi. If Middlesbrough doesn’t go in there in another few years, Adilson will be playing in the Premier League [on his own]. That’s how good he is.”
Up Next: Roster restructure — and thank you for reading!
Dean Smith and Zoran Krneta are expected to provide some updates next week about roster changes and opinions on the MLS schedule implications. Look for one more Fútbol Friday before we close up shop for the holiday season. We do plan to offer occasional hits as news unfolds this winter and as our country prepares to host the 2026 World Cup.
It’s been another fun and exciting year, of four now, chronicling this team. I’d like to personally thank our readers for following along, whether the last couple of weeks, last season, or last four years. Your engagement and passion is what makes this possible!
—Carroll Walton
Carroll Walton is a longtime baseball writer with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution now in her fourth season covering Charlotte FC. She would love to hear from you. E-mail her with questions, suggestions, story ideas and comments!
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