New stars in spotlight as Minnesota United visit Austin FC

Austin FC and Minnesota United open their 2026 MLS campaigns under Saturday-night lights at Q2 Stadium, each hoping fresh faces can accelerate the chemistry that preseason disruptions rarely allow.

Austin’s optimism rests on a sixth-place Western Conference finish in 2025, a first-ever U.S. Open Cup final appearance, and the arrival of 22-year-old Uruguayan winger Facundo Torres as the club’s new designated player. Torres, signed from Palmeiras, headlines a roster remake designed to correct the West’s least-potent attack—only 37 goals last season. Coach Nico Estévez concedes the rebuild is still in its infancy: “We are still developing how we are going to play. We have some new players that are fitting, and you can see glimpses of what we want to see in the team, but also the inconsistency in doing that.”

The Verde’s progress will be tempered early by injuries. Star homegrown midfielder Owen Wolff continues recovery from a sports hernia, and U.S. international striker Brandon Vázquez is regaining fitness after knee surgery. Austin won just one of six preseason matches, underscoring the urgency to integrate Torres and others before the playoff race tightens.

Across the touchline, Minnesota United arrive with their own headline addition: Colombian playmaker James Rodríguez. The 34-year-old, whose résumé spans Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Everton, could make his MLS debut after joining from Club León. “I’ve been in top leagues, but I wanted to play in this league,” Rodríguez said. “When the chance arose with this great club…both sides made an effort and when a club trusts you, you have to give it your all.”

General manager Khaled El-Ahmad overhauled roughly one-third of the Loons’ squad after a 2025 run that ended in the conference semifinals against eventual expansion darlings San Diego FC. Between the posts, Drake Callender—acquired from Charlotte FC—offers a new starting option, while Cameron Knowles steps into the head-coach role after Eric Ramsay’s departure. Knowles, who previously served as interim boss in March 2024, is joined on the bench by former Austin head coach Josh Wolff, adding local subplot to the season opener.

Both clubs view Saturday as more than three points; it is a litmus test for revamped lineups still discovering identity. Austin must prove Torres can spark a dormant attack without Wolff and Vázquez, while Minnesota hopes Rodríguez’s creativity accelerates a retooled roster under new leadership. The Texas capital’s humid evening air will carry the weight of expectation—and the promise of new stars stepping into the spotlight.