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Issa's Gamble: Why Hugo Picard and Wessam Abou Ali Must Deliver Now

With rivals FC Cincinnati stacking talent, the Crew are betting big on Hugo Picard & Wessam Abou Ali to deliver now. If they don’t hit the ground running, 2025 could be a wasted season of untapped potential.

Columbus Crew general manager Issa Tall introduces forward Wessam Abou Ali as the club’s new designated player during a press conference at Lower.com Field on Aug. 19, 2025. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

As the 2025 MLS season barrels toward its climax, the Columbus Crew find themselves in a precarious position: sixth in the Eastern Conference and ninth overall.