As we head into the 2026 MLS season this weekend, it’s time to once again get a feel for the hopes and expectations for the campaign that awaits. Orlando City enters the season with big questions about the team’s depth, especially on the back line with captain Robin Jansson out recovering from foot surgery. There’s also a big hole in the attack with an open Designated Player spot. The only group that feels more than sufficient is the central midfield.

I reached out to The Mane Land staff to find out what everyone is thinking ahead of the Lions’ 12th season in Major League Soccer. Big thanks to the entire staff for submitting their thoughts.

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Orlando City had a quick exit to the 2025 playoffs. A team that was seemingly close to a title in 2024 went the wrong direction and changes were made. Aside from Alex Freeman, which was the biggest off-season loss for the Lions?

Don VanDemark: There’s no specific player leaving that is concerning. However, looking at the bench for the last preseason game, it was full of new or young names. A youth movement is afoot, for good or for ill.

David Rohe: Prior to the addition of Griffin Dorsey earlier this week, I would have said Dagur Dan Thorhallsson. After the Dorsey signing, I’m still going with Thorhallsson. Dorsey will start at right back with Zakaria Taifi as the backup. That’s all well and good, but I’d still like to have Thorhallsson’s versatility. The guy could start at right back or in the midfield and be a solid contributor. 

Ben Miller: Depth in defense. Rodrigo Schlegel, Kyle Smith, and Thorhallsson are all out the door, and while the team loaded up on defenders in the SuperDraft, there is very little depth in defense with tangible minutes at the professional level. The acquisition of Dorsey helps the right back position a lot, but things are still perilously thin at center back.

Joshua Taylor: The biggest off-season loss for the Lions is Pedro Gallese, who was the club’s primary goalkeeper for the previous six seasons. Gallese’s form had been in decline as of late, but replacing a top goalkeeper who was part of the Lions’ success and played a key role in helping Orlando make six straight playoff appearances won’t be easy. Maxime Crepeau has a tough task, but he is motivated to prove he is a top-quality goalkeeper. He will need to adapt quickly and perform well early in the season while also striving to make Canada’s World Cup squad this summer.

Marcus Mitchell: I’ll go with Cesar Araujo. While I think Braian Ojeda will do well to fill the void left, Araujo and Wilder Cartagena were a winning pair in this league back in 2024 and it’s a shame we’ll never see them together again in Orlando.

Sean Rollins: The biggest off-season loss to me is Gallese. Had the club made an upgrade by signing Carlos Coronel, that might not be the case. However, I don’t see Crepeau as that much of an upgrade. It’s especially troubling since the back line is weaker than last season. Araujo is also a big loss, but I think the return of Cartagena makes his loss less concerning than Gallese.

Matthew David: I’d have to say Thorhallsson. He was a very good right back/right wingback and brought a lot of energy and enterprise. He was only displaced by a truly exceptional athelete in Freeman and there is no shame in that.

Andrew DeSalvo: Thomas Williams was the tallest of the off-season losses, but in the spirit of the question, the biggest off-season loss was Araújo, because he was the kind of player who could have still been penciled into the lineup for easily the next five years and is only just now moving into the prime age for a central midfielder. The Uruguayan was an engine in the midfield and a pest who other teams hated to play against, and while Orlando City’s depth chart in the central midfield may be the deepest among all positions, I wish that the team had been able to get him to stay and could have looked to acquire players elsewhere on the field.

My Take: Because of the way it worked out, I think it’s Gallese. Coronel would have been a slight upgrade at this stage of Gallese’s career, but I’m not sure Crepeau is better or even if he’s as good as El Pulpo. A healthy Cartagena is a high-quality replacement for Araujo. I understand the picks for Thorhallsson the way the right back position was decimated in the off-season, but Dorsey is a good pickup at the cusp of the season.

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With the season just a day away, how would you grade the Orlando City off-season?

Dave: It gets a D from me. There were certainly things that can be chalked up to bad luck or bad timing (Coronel ghosting the Lions, Freeman being sold), but that doesn’t change the fact that at least in the short term this team is worse off than the end of last season. Ricardo Moreira has a lot of make-up work to do to get a passing grade.

Ben: B. The MLS U22 Initiative signings are all promising players, and we’re probably going to find out how promising Iago is much sooner rather than later. But thus far, aside from the signings of Braian Ojeda and Dorsey, the strategy has been to go with promising players over proven ones. That’s not to say the three young Brazilians won’t turn out to be great signings, but it’s hard to grade unknown quantities highly. This grade would be lower if not for the Dorsey signing, but his arrival helps shore up a defense that’s very shaky on paper without Jansson. No experienced striker signing hurts a lot, but that’s the way it goes.

Joshua: I went with a B-. With the club reshaping the roster after a disappointing end to last season, it was tough to see Gallese, Thorhallsson, Schlegel, and Freeman leave. Still, we get some new additions like Braian Ojeda, Luis Otavio, and Iago, who should get fans excited, plus the return of veterans Martin Ojeda and captain Jansson under new contracts. My concern remains depth and experience, especially on the back line, with Jansson being sidelined due to a foot injury to start the season. The Lions conceded 51 goals in the league last season.

Marcus: I’d give it a C. The center back and striker positions remain far too shallow for my liking and the club lost versatile players like Smith and Thorhallsson, who can help solve roster problems as they pop up. The front office still made some good business decisions though, selling Luis Muriel and Schlegel while investing in young players with upside.

Sean: It’s been a disappointing off-season for Orlando City. It lost key defensive players in Freeman and Araujo on a team that was already eighth in goals conceded with 51. They also didn’t improve in the attack by bringing in a proven striker. There are now more questions than there were last year.

Matt: I’d give it a capital D!  Far too many decent quality outgoings, some young incoming question marks, and no replacement for an attacking DP they should have been planning to replace, in my opinion. Oscar Pareja has made a lot out of what he’s been given, and Orlando does have some quality guys, but the team has been punching above its budget and that’s not usually sustainable. Look to the immediate north and south; that’s what ambition looks like. I really hated saying that.

Andrew: Hopefully the grades that I issue for the season opener on Saturday night will be better than this, but I am giving the Orlando City off-season a B-. In the short term, I think the team is going to struggle, especially with preventing goals, but the Lions signed three new MLS U22 Initiative players who have potential to be solid starters, and they picked up an MLS quality defensive midfielder and right back as well, so it was not all bad. The big issue is that there was no signing who will clearly be better at his position than the player who started there in 2025, and that is not ideal considering the 2025 team finished in ninth place in the Eastern Conference and went out with a whimper in the playoffs.

Don: C+ with ability to go up — There’s a DP spot to fill, but the biggest disappointment is the lack of experienced depth. The last minute addition of Dorsey saves this off-season from being a complete question mark.

My Take: I’m going to say a C- and that’s not necessarily all Moreira’s fault. He couldn’t have predicted Coronel sneaking off to Brazil and had to spend more time finding a goalkeeper than he’d planned. The Muriel move came late in the off-season, so it was going to be tough to replace that DP slot in the time left. I also feel (though I have no proof) that probably too much time was spent trying to convince Freeman to stay, because I don’t think Smith and Thorhallsson both would have departed otherwise. Moreira also had to reload the MLS U22 Initiative slots. He had a ton to do. But what I keep coming back to is that this team seems to have less depth than last year, will rely more heavily on unproven players, and doesn’t appear to have improved at any starting position.

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Which of the three Brazilian MLS U22 Initiative players will have the biggest impact on the 2026 season?

Ben: Iago. Despite a shaky outing in the final preseason game, I think he’s the one that is most ready to contribute, and with Jansson possibly on the shelf until May-ish, he’s going to have the most opportunities to contribute immediately. I think he’ll do admirably, and I see him and David Brekalo duking it out for the right to start next to the captain once he makes his return from injury.

Joshua: Tiago will have the biggest impact on Orlando this season. He is versatile and could play a key role in bolstering the attack, either on the wing or up top. He did well at Bahia last season, will be behind McGuire, and will need time to adapt his game. Still, Tiago can be a threat 1-v-1 on the attack and certainly has the potential to make an immediate impact for the Lions off the bench or step up if McGuire or Tyrese Spicer miss any time due to injuries.

Marcus: Tiago intrigues me the most. Orlando spent big to bring him in and the opportunity is there for him to get some action in this offense. Ivan Angulo struggled to score last year, there’s not much depth up top, and the offense itself can generate some great chances for a guy with his speed.

Sean: I think Tiago has the best opportunity to have the biggest impact of the three Brazilians. Iago will start until Jansson returns, but he’ll then be back on the bench. Meanwhile, the club doesn’t have a forward who has been productive recently. That’s where Tiago can make his impact.

Matt: Tough question, of course, but overall I’d have to say Tiago just based on position. The defense is likely to be leaky at least to start, so the attack may make or break Orlando until it gets more reinforcements and/or the back line gells and gets the captain back. If Tiago can blend with the rest of the attacking unit quickly, he stands to make a big difference.

Andrew: I choose the player with a name ending in iago. All right, fine, if forced to choose between Iago and Tiago, I will take Tiago, who I think is going to slot right into the minutes that used to go to Ramiro Enrique and be similarly productive. Iago is going to play a lot this year, and if he plays well, he may even push Brekalo back out to compete for the starting left back role, but I believe Tiago is going to contribute a lot to the Orlando City offense and have a slightly bigger impact on the season than Iago, and a much bigger impact than Otávio, who plays at a position that is much deeper with experienced MLS players. I am high on all three players though, and think that they will all contribute at the MLS level this season. 

Don: Iago has the most international experience and I think will come into his own once he has time with the team.

Dave: Pareja has stated that Otavio will be brought along slowly. Tiago will get minutes but will be competing against McGuire. That leaves Iago as my pick. With Jansson out, the center back will be forced to adapt quickly, and I think he will.

My Take: I’m going to say Iago, simply because I feel like the defense is razor thin. He’ll start until at least Jansson’s return, and Brekalo has sustained some knocks in his two years with the club. He’ll get the minutes to make an impact. I don’t think Otavio will. Tiago will get minutes, but I think he may need a season to get his bearings, like Enrique did (four goals in 30 games his first season in MLS).

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How should Ricardo Moreira use the club’s open Designated Player slot?

Joshua: With the 2026 FIFA World Cup quickly approaching this summer, Moreira should use that third Designated Player spot on a forward. Orlando’s top goal scorer from last season was midfielder Martin Ojeda, with 16 goals, but finding an attacking player to help the Lions make a late push to make the MLS playoffs this season will be crucial.

Marcus: It’s a tough question. Finding a Designated Player to be a center forward is difficult and Duncan McGuire’s presence can make playing time awkward. I think you still have to roll the dice there though. The potential impact of adding a player like Kevin Denkey to the mix is just too valuable to ignore.

Sean: Designated Player spots should be in positions where they can make a big impact. I think that means Moreira should be looking for a striker. Martin Ojeda is still the team’s number 10, and there isn’t a striker who puts fear into the opponent. Someone who can score 15-20 goals would be a big addition.

Matt: Striker is the role of greatest need, in my opinion. Ideally, someone who can also act as a false 9 and No. 10 if needed. I like McGuire and hope he can stay healthy and reproduce his best days, but it’s too important to leave it at that. The other attacking roles are covered with left wing being the biggest question mark. I think Spicer has looked pretty good though, and Angulo’s speed is useful, if not his touch.

Andrew: Moreira should target an elite left wing with the third DP spot, preferably a right-footed player who can cut back inside and unleash thunder à la Marco Pašalić, but who is also comfortable as a creator and could occasionally switch with Martín Ojeda and play in a more central role. Not a major ask, just find a player who can do all of that at a high level for at least 80 minutes per game and who wants to play in MLS at this point in their career.

Don: It’s usually not efficient to use a DP slot on defense, even if that is the biggest hole on the roster. I’m going to say we need to see more of Spicer before calling left wing a weakness, so let’s go with striker.

Dave: Without question, Orlando City needs to bring in a top quality striker. This is nothing against McGuire or Thiago, but the Lions need more firepower. Designated Player slots are best used on attacking midfielders and strikers. Orlando is set at the former.

Ben: Striker. Let’s not overcomplicate things here. I like McGuire quite a lot, but he struggled with some injury issues last year, and while I think he can absolutely be a double-digit goal scorer in this league, why not have two double-digit goal scorers? High powered attackers are what help teams be successful in this league, and with Orlando competing in the U.S. Open Cup and Leagues Cup this year, the team is going to need more than just McGuire if it wants to rebound from last year, even if he gets back to scoring 10+ goals.

My Take: This team needs to take a home run swing. I could have gotten behind the Richarlison rumor, and I don’t dare dream that Robert Lewandowski was ever seriously on the table, but what Orlando really lacks is a man up top who not only scores goals in every way imaginable, but also creates them for others. It’s not easy to find the next Hany Mukhtar, Anders Dreyer, Evander, or Denis Bouanga, but that’s the job in today’s MLS. Or find the next Son Heung-min or Thomas Muller — a European star with more tread on the tires who is looking for a new challenge. This team got it done with Kaká and Nani, so there’s no reason it can’t do it again.

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What is your boldest prediction for the 2026 Lions? Make it spicy!

Marcus: Martin Ojeda will win MVP. This mostly hinges on his teammates being able to take some of the heat off of him while converting chances he creates for them, but I think it will happen so long as the Lions get more out of the left wing and bring in a quality attacker this summer. Good service by Dorsey, who had six assists with an anemic Houston offense last year, could be the key to Ojeda scoring more in 2026.

Sean: Last year, I predicted Ivan Angulo would score on a breakaway. That obviously never materialized, but I’m going to stick with him and say Angulo will become one of the top right backs in the league this year. There’s nothing to indicate that’s the case, and Pareja even said his current role is temporary. But I think the club won’t find a replacement, keep Angulo in the position, and he’ll flourish. [Editor’s note: This was turned in prior to the Dorsey signing, but we’re sticking with it because it would be tough to be bolder or spicier than this!]

Matt: Pareja has his hands full this season, but he’s a pragmatist and tends to deal with bad situations pretty well. I suspect we may see some version of ugly defensive and counterattacking football this season. Not that that’s new for this team, but I dont think it will work as well as it has in the past, given the roster turnover. Now the spicy bold part! The summer transfer sees a DP that rides into town and saves the day! I hated saying that too.

Andrew: I predict that Javier Otero will supplant Crépeau as Orlando City’s starting goalkeeper, and he will take over as the starter by the midway point of the MLS season. This may not be as spicy as any prediction involving Tyrese (Spicer, or, for that matter, Gibson), but I think it is a move that the coaching staff should make, as Otero has the ability to follow in Gallese’s gloves and be the starting goalkeeper for years to come. 

Don: Spiciest would be that Lionel Messi steps foot on the Inter&Co Stadium field this season, but I’ll go with the Orlando City player with the most goals at the end of the season is currently not on the roster.

Dave: Orlando City shocks everyone by taking both regular-season matches from Inter Miami again. Doing so makes Don Garber quit and Messi decides to retire. World peace is achieved.

Ben: Iago scores five goals as a center back, giving Orlando a true consistent aerial threat from set pieces that the club has lacked for much of its MLS existence. 

Joshua: My bold prediction is Martin Ojeda will be Orlando City’s top goal scorer again this season with 22 goals and break former Lion Cyle Larin’s single-season club scoring record in the regular season.

My Take: Moreira makes good on his “promise” to The Mane Land PawedCast and signs Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid as a Designated Player in the summer window. It’s time.

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Where will Orlando City finish in the Eastern Conference based on starting the season with the current roster?

Don: The Eastern Conference is tough. The Jansson injury will cause too many defensive lapses to let the offense carry the team alone. It will all hinge on how quickly Iago rounds into form. Playoff bound but it could be a play-in spot.

Dave: I’m going to say this roster finishes 10th, just outside of making the playoffs as it is currently constructed. Pareja will be able to have this team play better than the stats show, but unless there are changes, it’s going to be a long and difficult season.

Ben: Sixth. The acquisition of Dorsey makes me feel better about the defense, but not having Jansson for the first few months of the season, combined with very thin CB depth, hurts, as does not having any proven striker outside of McGuire. Tiago has played there during preseason, but he’s nominally a winger. Plus, plenty of other teams in the Eastern Conference got better on paper. That said, I think the roster has talent, as well as some promising pieces that could push the club higher if they hit the ground running and contribute well. At the end of the day, get another experienced center back in the door, sign a DP striker, and I think the team will climb a few additional places.  

Joshua: Orlando City will finish seventh in the Eastern Conference and make the MLS playoffs.

Marcus: I’ll be an optimist and say fourth. There are some loaded offenses and teams on the rise in the Eastern Conference but I think the Lions are flying a bit under the radar. Last year was disappointing, but Orlando was one of the best teams in the league over some stretches. Consistency will be key.

Sean: I think Orlando City will once again finish ninth. The problems the Lions had last year still exist, and they haven’t improved anywhere else. However, I don’t think any other teams have improved enough to knock them out of a wild card spot.

Matt: I’m going to go roughly middle of the table, say in the 7-10 range. You guessed it! I hated saying that three…

Andrew: Last season I was a little overzealous with my positivity, so I am going to go ahead and rein that in a little bit this year and predict that this year’s team continues its streak of making the playoffs, but finishes in sixth place and will likely not have home-field advantage at any point in the playoffs. Speaking of reins, I hope they throw them out the window when they start negotiating to sign that third DP, because if they do that, I am willing to go back to the well again and say they can compete to win the Eastern Conference. But with the current roster as is I think at best they can finish fourth and more likely will be toward the bottom of the playoff spots.

My Take: I love the optimism of my colleagues, but I don’t share it. While I’d never bet against Pareja, I don’t like the roster as it stands. Two center backs going down would be catastrophic. I’m not sure Tahir Reid-Brown is ready to step into MLS yet, so Adrian Marin seems to be the left back position group. I love the central midfield, but the attack has depth issues, it remains to be seen if Spicer can steal the left wing spot from Angulo and produce consistently, and I’m not really sure who is backing up Pasalic. McGuire must return to form, and Tiago…is he ready for this level? I think the roster as it stands looks like a ninth-place or 10th-place team in the Eastern Conference. I expect the roster to evolve though, and I’ll predict a seventh-place finish, with a ceiling of fifth.

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If you made it to the end of this roundtable discussion, wow. Good job! It was a long one. But, hopefully there is a lot here to discuss.

Let us know in the comments where you agree and disagree with us, and give us your own bold predictions.