MLS · Eastern Conference · Est. 2015 · TQL Stadium
Updated March 16, 2026
Luciano Acosta won the 2023 MVP award and has remained one of the most creative forces in MLS ever since. Now 31, the Argentine playmaker is the engine of everything FC Cincinnati do in the final third. His partnership with the club's forwards is as telepathic as any combination in the league, and keeping him healthy for the full season is Cincinnati's top priority.
FC Cincinnati's supporter culture has matured into one of MLS's most intimidating environments. TQL Stadium regularly sells out and the noise level during night games is genuinely disorienting for opponents. The club's home form has been elite since the stadium opened and there is no sign of that slipping.
Injuries at center-back during preseason have forced Pat Noonan to experiment with different pairings. Cincinnati's defensive record was a key part of their 2023 Supporters' Shield run, and replicating that solidity with a reshuffled back line is an early-season challenge that could define the first quarter of the campaign.