After 15 matches, your Loons are resting their wings. Major League Soccer is taking a break from action for some small tournament (ever heard of the FIFA World Cup?), and that means we’ve got an opportunity to step back, take a breath, and look at this first part of the season with fresh eyes. What’s gone well? What’s still developing? And, most importantly, where do we go from here? We’ll cover a little bit of everything in today’s little look-back, so strap in and put on your reading glasses; it’s about to get Black and Blue.
New and Familiar
After an offseason full of changes, your Loons came into 2026 looking much different than they did at the end of 2025. Head Coach Cameron Knowles officially took over when Eric Ramsay left for West Brom, marking a well-earned culmination of his coaching journey here at MNUFC. In his first 15 games, Knowles has led the team to a 6-5-4 record, racking up 22 points and securing eighth position at the break. That’s more impressive than it sounds, as the Loons sit just four points back from RSL in third place, keeping them competitive in what has turned out to be an extremely tight Western Conference this year.
Under Knowles’ leadership, the Black and Blue have noticeably changed their approach to the game, taking a step forward from last season’s extremely pragmatic, defensive approach. Elements of creative attacking play from the likes of Joaquín Pereyra and Tomás Chancalay have opened up new methods of scoring for the Loons, and the use of multiple attacking midfielders with the freedom to dictate the game has shifted the identity of the club drastically.
This transformation has been made possible not only by the influence of Knowles and his coaching staff but also by the addition of key players in the offseason. The aforementioned Chancalay has already played more than 1,000 minutes for his new side, adding a goal and four assists while emerging as one of the Loons’ most effective tone-setters. Goalkeeper Drake Callender hasn’t missed a beat since stepping in net to replace Dayne St. Clair, keeping four clean sheets and making nearly 50 saves already in 2026. On top of those two, right wingback Kyle Duncan has come in and made an immediate impact, playing more than 800 minutes on the right flank and giving the Loons an experienced, versatile presence out wide.
Despite all of the changes — and in many ways, thanks to them — the Loons have remained a competitive side in a Western Conference that continues to improve year over year. This is how the best clubs in the world operate: constantly shifting, changing, and adapting. And, so far, it’s coming together quite well.
The James Experience
If you hadn’t already heard, James Rodríguez became a Loon this season. You know, international superstar James Rodríguez, the one who took the world by storm in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The Colombian midfielder made a real splash when he signed for the team back in February, and while he’s not the spring chicken he was when he won the Golden Boot back in 2014, his skill and presence were undeniably a step above average. Though he’s only logged 194 minutes in league play, his two assists against Austin and his incredible performance against LAFC stand out as a pair of truly special moments in our club’s history.
MNUFC Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Khaled El-Ahmad recently spoke to the media about James’ time in Minnesota, highlighting the player’s professionalism and speaking to the reasoning behind the signing. James’ contract was designed with the World Cup in mind, giving him a chance to train at a high level without taking up too much salary space, as the Loons didn’t even have to use TAM to make the signing. To put that in plain English, we’ve essentially signed a world-class talent on a low-risk, high-reward deal, gotten to see him work his magic in a few games, and prepared him to have another standout performance at the World Cup before we have to worry about whether or not we’ll pick up the club option in his contract.
Not Done Yet
Obviously, there’s plenty of season left to be played, and there have been plenty of difference makers who were with the team last season. Anthony Markanich has continued to show that his goal-scoring form in 2025 was no accident, hitting the back of the net four times already to make him the second-leading scorer on the team. Center back Morris Duggan has stepped up to become a consistent leader in the back line, playing every single available minute of action for the Loons in 2026 and demonstrating tremendous leadership and endurance. Owen Gene has emerged as a viable starting option in the midfield, adding another quality option alongside Nectarios Triantis and Wil Trapp. Kelvin Yeboah has stepped up as the main man in the attack, notching eight goals in just 15 games to put himself well on pace to break his single-season high for the Loons (9) before the year’s up.
Across the board, your Loons have stepped up as needed. It’s been all hands on deck this season, giving us a little bit of everything to enjoy, but there’s still work to be done. The Loons have scored the second-fewest goals of any team in a playoff position in the west (18), ahead of just Seattle (17). The goal difference sits at -4, showing room for overall improvement if the Black and Blue want to take this season from good to great.
Right now, the goal scoring is concentrated to just Yeboah and Markanich on a consistent basis, and while it’s good to have reliable sources like that, it’s even better to have a handful of guys who pose constant threats for the opposition to deal with. Maybe that means adding a few players in the summer transfer window, or maybe it means seeing a few more guys taking on even bigger roles in the remainder of the season. The likes of Mamadou Dieng and Mauricio González have begun to show their potential, and could become true threats off the bench. For as creative as they’ve been, if one or both of Chancalay or Pereyra could add a few more goals to their game, the Loons could very well take that step forward they’re looking for.
With three players off at the World Cup (Michael Boxall, Carlos Harvey, James Rodríguez), the rest of the squad can rest, recharge, and enjoy a summer of soccer from a comfortable couch while they cheer for their teammates. We’ll see you all back here on July 22, when the Loons travel to Kansas City to take on SKC in their first match back. Until then, I suggest you follow the players’ lead; rest up, recharge, and have yourself a superb summer of soccer.
