Orlando City
Intelligence Report: Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls
Find out everything you need to know about Orlando’s opening opponents, courtesy of someone who knows them best.
Strange as it may seem, it’s once again matchday-eve. Orlando City will open the 2026 Major League Soccer season against the New York Red Bulls just over a day from now, and that means it’s time to get a better feel for the opposition.
To do that, I’ve enlisted the help of Mark Fishkin who hosts The Seeing Red Podcast, which is an independent outlet that consistently provides great coverage of the Red Bulls. As always, he was kind enough to help bring us up to speed on an NYRB side that looks very different from 2025.
Talk me through New York’s off-season transfer business. Who were some of the big departures, and who came in to replace them?
Mark Fishkin: The Red Bulls have completely overhauled the roster after missing the postseason last year for the first time since 2009. Departures include most of the back line (Carlos Coronel, Noah Eile, Alexander Hack, Kyle Duncan, Raheem Edwards) and midfield (Lewis Morgan, Daniel Edelman, Peter Stroud, and Wiki Carmona). Head of Sport Julian de Guzman brought in a third Designated Player (winger Jorge Ruvalcaba), former Youth MLS players (Cade Cowell, Justin Che, Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty) and a few RBNY II promotions (Andy Rojas and Neva Benedetti).
Michael Bradley is in his first year as New York’s coach, after leading New York Red Bulls II to the MLS Next Pro Championship last year. It’s hard to know without having seen him manage a competitive game at this level yet, but how do you expect he’ll want this team to play?
MF: From what we saw with Bradley at the helm of the Baby Bulls, New York will likely play a dynamic attacking game with plenty of possession. The real question is just how much “energy drink soccer” Bradley will play while also holding the ball. Attacking wings Ruvalcaba and Cowell may press in the corners. Building around Emil Forsberg’s holding ability will help the Red Bulls’ cause.
What needs to be different from last season in order to get back into the postseason?
MF: Last season, the team sorely missed a healthy Lewis Morgan, and didn’t have the horses outside of Forsberg and Choupo-Moting (17g/4a). This year, the attacking wings are a lot faster and more skilled, and will make opposing defenses split their focus. Also: in 2025, the Red Bulls won just two of 17 road matches, a dreadful mark. Even two more road wins might be the difference of finishing above or below the line.
Will any players be unavailable due to injuries, suspensions, etc.? What is your projected starting lineup and score prediction?
MF: Forward Mohammed Sofo has an ankle knock. Other than that, all players should be healthy.
My projected XI is RBNY in a 4-3-3 with:
Ethan Horvath; Jakheele Marshall-Rutty, Justin Che, Robert Voloder, Omar Valencia; Ronald Donkor, Emil Forsberg, Gustav Breggren; Cade Cowell, Eric Maxim Choupo-Mouting, Jorge Ruvalcaba.
The Red Bulls’ back line may include only a single natural center back (Voloder). New York is going to win a lot of 4-3 games.
Saturday won’t be one of them. RBNY lost all three of its last preseason games 3-2. Saturday Orlando wins…3-2.
Thank you to Mark for the excellent insight into the Red Bulls. Vamos Orlando!
