The 2022 Major League Soccer season is upon us. New York City FC enter the campaign as defending MLS Cup champions with Ronny Deila’s side expected to be competitive once again this year. A number of rival teams will have NYCFC in their sights with plenty on the line across the Eastern and Western Conferences.
A busy off-season should lead to a compelling campaign as MLS expands to 28 teams through the addition of Charlotte FC. Which clubs got their signings right and which have created problems for themselves? Here are five storylines to follow throughout 2022.
Can Bruce Arena’s New England Revolution take the final step?
2021 was an historic year for the New England Revolution as they become record-breaking Supporters’ Shield winners. However, Bruce Arena’s team were unable to convert regular season dominance into a meaningful playoff run as they were beaten by eventual MLS Cup winners New York City FC in the conference semi-finals.
Arena has turned to experience in order to strengthen his squad ahead of the new season with Jozy Altidore, Omar Gonzalez and Sebastian Lletget all arriving at Gillette Stadium. Will this lead to a more pragmatic approach designed to give the Revs a stronger platform in knockout soccer? Can Arena’s team take the final step to become MLS Cup winners in 2022?
Will Lorenzo Insigne live up to his billing at Toronto FC?
Toronto FC caught the eye with their signing of Italian international Lorenzo Insigne during the off-season. The Napoli winger is in the prime of his career and there is widespread belief he will set a new standard in MLS for individual quality. Insigne could make an even greater impact at BMO Field than Sebastian Giovinco.
However, Insigne won’t arrive at TFC until the summer, after his Napoli contract has expired. Will Bob Bradley’s team be in a good position by the time their marquee signing arrives? What sort of pressure will there be on Insigne to hit the ground running in a new team in a new league in a new country?
Does off-season chaos hint at Charlotte FC failure in 2022?
MLS will get bigger once more in 2022 as Charlotte FC enter the league. Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper paid a record $325m fee to secure MLS’s 28th franchise spot, but off-season preparations have been somewhat chaotic with head coach Miguel Angel Ramirez confessing the club is “screwed” as they prepare to kick off their inaugural season.
Karol Swiderski, Alan Franco, and Christian Fuchs give Charlotte FC international quality while a youthful core provides the basis for much of Ramirez’s squad. Expansion seasons are traditionally difficult and nobody is expecting Charlotte FC to be in playoff contention. 2022 might simply be about avoiding last place in the Eastern Conference for the newbies.
What does life after Bob Bradley look like for Los Angeles FC?
Bradley was the perfect head coach to lead Los Angeles FC into MLS. Indeed, the Californian club were competitive from the moment they played their first league match, but last season represented the end of a cycle. Bradley left LAFC and is now at Toronto FC, with Steve Cherundolo taking up the helm at Banc of California Stadium.
Cherundolo has coaching experience from his time with the Las Vegas Lights and has been tasked with retooling LAFC for the 2022 season. Maxime Crepeau has arrived from the Vancouver Whitecaps while Kellyn Acosta was signed from the Colorado Rapids. However, Carlos Vela’s future remains the subject of much speculation – will this be the Mexican’s final year in MLS?
Will rebuild produce better results for crisis-hit Inter Miami?
Expectations were high for Inter Miami ahead of their entry to MLS in 2020, but the South Florida outfit have so far failed to live up to their billing. A scandal that essentially saw Inter Miami sign more Designated Players than is permitted landed the club some serious sanctions for the 2022 and 2023 and it is against this backdrop that a rebuild has taken place over the off-season.
Rodolfo Pizarro has been loaned out while Blaise Matuidi will be leaving the club. Ryan Shawcross retired, and Leandro Gonzalez Pirez and Nico Figal moving to South America. Lewis Morgan was traded to the New York Red Bulls. 17 players have left Inter Miami since the end of last season while a number of replacements, like DeAndre Yedlin and Damion Lowe, have arrived. Will the rebuild produce better results?
