D.C. United kicks off the 2022 MLS season with a seemingly straightforward assignment against expansion side Charlotte FC. The newcomers have convinced few observers, and the quote of the preseason throughout the league was manager Miguel Ángel Ramírez saying “right now, we’re screwed.” They scored just once in three games in their final preseason tournament, losing to USL Championship opposition in the process. It hasn’t been great.
As such, United — who were one of MLS’s better home teams in 2021 — should be heavily favored. However, with two new acquisitions projected to start and a couple of pieces missing, it remains to be seen whether the Black-and-Red can put teams away, or if they’ll let Charlotte stay in the game long enough to start to dream of a point or three in their competitive debut.