5 Things We Learned from MLS Game Week 2

The Best Stories from Saturday Night’s Action

The San Jose Earthquakes and New York Red Bulls recording perfect starts to the season. Atlanta United looking woeful once again, despite a managerial switch-up. CF Montreal losing their opening two fixtures by an aggregate scoreline of 8-0. These are just some of the shocks, surprises, and quite frankly bizarre storylines of the 2026 MLS season so far.

A frantic start to the 31st edition of MLS presents us with plenty of golden moments to sift through, as the league with a competitive balance like no other continues to leave us questioning who the real favourites are, and who are simply frauds waiting to be caught…

1. Michael Bradley has Faith in the Future

Before a ball was kicked this year, the New York Red Bulls were an unknown quantity. Missing out on the play-offs for just a second time since 2002, the three-time Supporters’ Shield champions thrust themselves into a new era by handing academy coach, Michael Bradley, his first senior managerial role.

The former USMNT captain has continued to work closely with several teenagers involved in the first team picture. RBNY fielded an unchanged starting eleven in the first two fixtures of the 2026 schedule, a team with an average player age of 22.8, and that’s factoring in a 34-year-old Emil Forsberg, and 30-year-old Ethan Horvath in goal.

What’s simply unfathomable, is that this isn’t a team of U21 talents running the show, no no, we’re talking about 16 and 17-year-olds tearing up the senior game. Adri Mehmeti (16), Matthew Dos Santos (17), and Julian Hall (17) could hardly even be considered Gen-Z they’re that young, and yet Hall has scored three goals in his opening two MLS games, keeping Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting out of the line-up, and Mehmeti has provided two assists, quickly becoming the league’s next big thing.

After beating Orlando on the road last weekend, the Red Bulls struck again last night, edging past the New England Revolution at the Sports Illustrated Stadium.

What makes this squad even more special - or even humorous - is that the theme of wonderkids continuously arises throughout. The Red Bulls are coached by a former wunderkind, and have generations of former top prospects starting for the team, including Justin Che, Cade Cowell, and Horvath. Who all moved abroad at a young age, just to return to where it all began in recent months.

Not old enough to rent a car, but old enough to make @MLS history. #RBNY | @Wawa pic.twitter.com/wcKQYzN7sJ

— Red Bull New York (@NewYorkRedBulls) March 1, 2026

2. Timo Werner WILL Have an Impact on the ‘Quakes

The 57-time capped German international made his debut for the Californian outfit last night, in San Jose’s 2-0 win over Atlanta United. Werner entered the field in the 61st minute, replacing his striking competitions Preston Judd, and within 20 minutes had assisted Ousseni Bouda to round of a comfortable home performance from the Earthquakes.

Wearing his MLS debutant patch on his chest, on top of SJ’s beautiful tie-dye secondary strip, Werner utilised his pace to beat Enea Mihaj to a through ball, before serving a tasty cross into the box for Bouda to finish.

His half-an-hour cameo is a sign of what to expect from Werner this year, as the forward looks to be just as much of a provider, as he is a finisher.

Timo Werner INSTANT IMPACT!

The German dishes out an assist on his MLS debut. 😱 pic.twitter.com/DF7QjIUZau

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 1, 2026

3. The Galaxy and Joao Klauss are Back

The disappointment of losing Riqui Puig for a second full season left Galaxy fans hanging their heads, however, the decision to put Puig on the ‘season-ending injury list’ brought some joy, as it meant a replacement ‘Designated Player’ could be drafted in.

Joao Klauss was that man. Yet, his signature came with many doubters. Now in his fourth MLS season, the previous three coming at St. Louis, at times Klauss has looked the most lethal striker in the States, but on other occasions utterly useless and completely dependent on strong service from fellow forwards.

LA Galaxy sorely missed Dejan Joveljic’s goals in 2025, after the Serbian forward departed for Kansas City. Klauss appears to be the striker replacement Greg Vanney needed a year ago, after he scored three goals in his opening two MLS games these past couple weeks, including a brace in the Galaxy’s 3-0 win over Charlotte last night.

Klauss might be reaching his latter footballing years, aged 29 he is hardly the ‘next big thing’, however, he is a temporary solution and dangerous threat in the Galaxy’s forward line, especially alongside Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil.

Joao Klauss should score close to 20 goals this season for the Galaxy
pic.twitter.com/CowCeVsroE

— MLS Moves (@MLSMoves) March 1, 2026

4. It is NOT Fun Being an MLS Fan in Ohio Right Now

Cincinnati and Columbus boast one of the most competitive, spirited, and closest rivalries in MLS, two of the greatest soccer-specific stadiums, and typically compete for the MLS Cup each year. However, it has not been an ideal start for teams either side of the Interstate 71 highway.

Both teams finished in the top two of the Eastern Conference in 2023 and 2024. Cincinnati did it yet again in 2025, making it three top three finishes on the bounce under Pat Noonan for the 2019 expansion franchise.

Last night, both teams left their homestate of Ohio, only to return frustrated. Cinci lost 1-0 in icy Minnesota (officially record as Cincinnati’s ‘coldest ever kick-off’ at -6 degrees celsius or 20 fahrenheit), and the Crew drew with a Sporting Kansas City side which can hardly field a starting eleven of senior players due to their quiet winter window.

Kickoff for FC Cincinnati at Minnesota United FC in St. Paul marked at 20°F – a new club record for the coldest kickoff in FC Cincinnati’s MLS era (Previous: 22°F – March 18, 2023 at Chicago Fire FC). pic.twitter.com/ak7PKeU0IA

— FC Cincinnati Communications (@FCCincinnatiPR) February 28, 2026

Fortunately, Cincinnati won their home opener last week against Atlanta, so panic alarms are not blaring as of yet, but with the Eastern Conference set to be extremely close once again a strong start is nothing but a necessity.

Columbus on the other hand have collected one point from their opening two fixtures, both away from home, conceding five goals against Portland and SKC, two teams who finished at least 10 points below Columbus in 2025. Parting ways with Wilfried Nancy was always going to create a bumpy road, and its clear Henrik Rydstrom is yet to get this Crew team clicking, especially at the back.

5. Montreal and Atlanta are Both Back-to-Back Wooden Spoon Contenders

Despite sharing a subheading, Montreal and Atlanta couldn’t be more dissimilar. Montreal haven’t neared the top of the MLS table for over three years now, and are regularly expected to finish in a lowly position, due to the seemingly lack of interest and investment from long-term owners, the Saputo family.

Last night told us everything we needed to know about how Montreal’s 2026 will pan out. The Chicago Fire were 1-0 up when they conceded a red card in the 56th minute, the Quebecois outfit then had almost 40 minutes to find an equaliser against 10 men, and yet the fixture finished 3-0 at the final whistle. Simply unbelievable from Marco Donadel’s men.

Atlanta on the other hand have invested more than anyone, yet have continued to underachieve this season, losing their opening two games without scoring a goal, just like Montreal. To make matters worse, Atlanta have attempted to force a reaction from the failures of 2025, by resigning legendary Argentinian head coach Tata Martino, who lifted the MLS Cup with the Five Stripes in 2018.

The pairing of Miguel Almiron and Emmanuel Latte Lath consistently fails to take flight, and already looks doomed to never live up to the promise it held 12 months ago.

$20 million striker Emmanuel Latte Lath (7 goals in 2025) says he never thought about leaving Atlanta United in the winter.

He said he has a different mindset, won't run away from the failures of 2025.

— Felipe Cárdenas (@FelipeCar) January 12, 2026

Almiron has managed to muster three shots on targets against Cincinnati and San Jose, but for Latte Lath, his five shots in two games have not tested the keeper once, producing an xG of 0.42.