St. Louis City SC starts its season Saturday as a team in transition, with new faces and low expectations from Major League Soccer analysts.
The team's fourth campaign since becoming an MLS expansion team in 2023 will be the first for head coach Yoann Damet and sporting director Corey Wray. For the first time in the club's history, it will be without striker and leading goal scorer Joao Klauss, who was sold to the LA Galaxy.
Damet said that while the goal is to win every match, Saturday's game against Charlotte FC is not a "must-win."
"If we don't (win), there is no panic button. It's the start of the season. It's a group that is building, that is learning," Damet said.
After winning the Western Conference in the team's first year, City SC had disappointing seasons in 2024 and 2025 and fired two head coaches. Two interim leaders also did not remain in the role.
Soccer commentators overwhelmingly have the team finishing near the bottom of the conference and missing the playoffs in preseason predictions.
Damet is promising an exciting style of soccer, taking more control of the ball and being more direct in their attack. While fans are clamoring for a quick turnaround, Damet tempered expectations and is focused on long-term growth.
"There is no better way to start the season than with a win. Now the reality is, I want to focus on the performance," Damet said. "If we can perform up to the level of our standards and our expectation in terms of how we want to play, that's what we can control."
While City SC is without fan-favorite Klauss, the team is reported to be close to acquiring Venezuelan striker Sergio Cordova on a loan from a Swiss team, but it will have to start the season without him. The same is true for defender Mamadou Mbacke Fall, who is under contract but awaiting a visa before joining the team.
There are also injuries to other potential starting players.
Wingback Conrad Wallem said that most players are returning from last year, and that there has been good chemistry during the preseason.
"It's already a group and there is a group dynamic that's there already," Wallem said. "The new additions just add on to the group. We're not waiting to get started or waiting for some people."
Wallem was with City SC last season on a loan but made the move permanent with a new contract over the offseason. He said he feels comfortable in St. Louis and has unfinished business.
"For me all along it was about giving back to the people of St. Louis and the fans in the next couple of years," he said.
Wallem also said the style of play Damet has been instilling in the club will be fun to watch.
"It's a very exciting style. I think people will like how we are going to look this year," Wallem said.
City SC kicks off its season at 1:30 p.m. Saturday against Charlotte FC at Energizer Park.
Copyright 2026 St. Louis Public Radio