The 2024 MLS Cup finalists unfortunately missed the playoffs in 2025 enroute to an extremely disappointing season.

This club declined in comparison to their 2024 campaign where they moved from their 11-14-9 (7th in East) finish to their 2025 campaign, where they finished 12-7-15 (10th in East).

The team missed the MLS Cup Playoffs, got eliminated in the Quarterfinals of the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, & failed to exit the group stage in Leagues Cup.

The Red Bulls scored 7 less goals in comparison to 2024 & allowed 3 less goals than in 2024. The team did improve defensively however, it wasn’t good enough to get RBNY back into the playoffs.

With the club parting ways with head coach Sandro Schwarz, they will now look to make improvements to not only their staff but more importantly their roster to get them back into title contention.

The biggest questions for the Red Bulls entering the 2026 season is: Who comes in to take over a squad that is essentially already full? What changes are needed to make this squad competitive? How closely is RBNY tied to the cap? What are their positional needs entering the offseason?

In the offseason guide:

The Positives

The team parted ways with Sandro Schwarz & made a variety of changes in regard to their club leadership positions. The decisions came just 10 days after their season concluded. Schwarz departs RBNY with a 31W-29L-21D record across all competitions. RBNY can now look for a new successor to lead the squad.

On the field this season, RBNY’s Designated Players essentially carried this team's offense. 

Forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting had 22 goal contributions (17 goals & 5 assists) while midfielder Emil Forsberg also tallied 22 goal contributions (11 goals & 11 assists). The DP duo was massively impactful in RBNY’s attacking sector and ran the offense overall.

The Negatives

U22 initiative players Wiktor Bogacz & Dennis Gjengaar struggled. Both of the forwards combined for just 5 goal contributions (3 goals & 2 assists). For context: U22 initiative defender Noah Eile had 2 goal contributions of his own (1 goal & 1 assist). The club needs more out of their U22 initiatives.

This team missed the playoffs. It’s just that simple. RBNY, a team that fell in the MLS Cup Finals last season was expected to make the playoffs and they just failed to do so.

RBNY was another team that failed to make it out of the group stage in the Leagues Cup this season. The club had 2 wins & 1 loss in the Leagues Cup. They had a 1-0 victory over Guadalajara, they fell 1-1 (5-3 in penalties) to Monterrey, & were victorious 1-1 (5-3 in penalties) over Juarez. 

Also, the New York Red Bulls managed to make the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals this season. Their road to the Quarterfinals was victories over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (4-1) & FC Dallas (2-2, 4-3 in penalties). As mentioned before, their run came to an end in the Quarterfinals when they fell 3-2 to Philadelphia Union.

Roster Flexibility

New York enters this offseason with a good amount of flexibility. At the moment, the club has two designated players (Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting & Emil Forsberg ) and 3 rostered U-22 initiative signings (Wiktor Bogacz, Noah Eile, & Dennis Gjengaar). 

This club will enter the offseason with the choice on whether it wants to enter the 3DP, 3U22 or 2DP, 4U22 model. The New York Red Bulls have $159,900 in GAM (as of Sept. 18, 2025).

The club announced their year-end roster update, where they announced most contract option decisions.

New York is entering the 2026 season with 28 total players rostered.

Offseason Priorities

Hire a new head coach that is willing to take on a project and can look to re-structure this team back into being a threat in the Eastern Conference.

How can this club be built around Choupo-Moting & Forsberg? They need more goal scorers & need more offensive output.

Sign midfielder & defensive depth

Determine whether they are comfortable with John McCarthy as their starting goalkeeper after the departure of long-time goalkeeper Carlos Coronel.