FC Dallas Roster Tiers: Early September 2026
All the way back in June (remember June?) as the 2026 World Cup kicked off, I compiled a FC Dallas roster tiers list . It's been a couple months since that post, so let's check in on those tiers and update accordingly.
Sam Hale
A reminder: This isn't about which player has good or bad contracts, what was paid for them, anything like that. This is all about performance as it stands here as of writing date (September 10th). As well there's no order on each tier. If one player is listed before or after another, it's arbitrary. Everyone in each tier is on the same level.
Note: Last time I had a tier six, which was players who didn't have enough time with the first team to be ranked. After consideration that tier will not exist going forward, and instead players who aren't seeing first team action will remain unranked until such a time as they become more frequent contributors.
Tier One
Petar Musa, Osaze Urhoghide, Shaq Moore
Additions: None
Subtractions: Kaick
The elite tier loses a member, but they won't fall far. This trio of players has separated themselves above not just their own team, but their fellow MLS players also.
Musa isn't just the best player in Dallas, he's threatening to win both Golden Boot and MLS MVP this year. With another goal he'll break the single season FC Dallas scoring record, of which he's currently tied with three other club legends. If he wins both, Musa's a bona fide statue player and new front runner for greatest player in Dallas history.
Urhoghide remains one of the league's best yet least talked about center backs. Looking at some numbers from FotMob, Urhoghide has the following ranks among fellow MLS central defenders:
-10th in Defensive contributions per 90 with 10.3
-21st in Tackles per 90 at 1.8
-13th in interceptions per 90 at 1.6
-10th in clearances per 90 at 6.5
-32nd in clearances per 90 at 4.2
-T4th in possession won in final 3rd per 90 at 0.2(tied with like a billion other players)
For the second straight season Urhoghide remains at a high level, someone you can build a defensive line around. There are things he could improve upon, everyone not named Messi in MLS has those however. Between the stats, his elite mentality, and high level soccer IQ Urhoghide once again deserves best XI and best CB consideration.
Meanwhile Moore, Dallas' vice captain, has become for my money the most consistent and versatile player in MLS. Just this year alone Moore has played the following positions during matches:
-Right back
-Right wing back
-Right center back
-Regular center back
-Left center back
-Left back
-Left wing back
If there's a position in defense available Moore has played it this season. His adaptability and quality on the pitch are remarkable, allowing Eric Quill to craft his rosters around that consistency. Dallas' play by play voice Ryan Figert said it best: Quill can write every other name on the team sheet first knowing that Moore can play anywhere.
He also passes the eye test with flying colors. When he's out wide against an attacker he knows how to handle them. When he's helping organize in box defending he's rarely out of place. He's unafraid of just taking off with the ball when Dallas needs an offensive spark from someone. Whatever the Burn need, Moore is there to provide. That's the mark of a foundational piece.
Tier Two
Kaick, Logan Farrington, Nolan Norris, Joaquin Valiente
Additions: Kaick, Joaquin Valiente
Subtractions: Ramiro,. Herman Johansson, Santi Moreno
The first tier with a lot of movement, this one shrinks from five players to four despite five players being changed out overall.
Kaick moves down from Tier One for multiple reasons. Some of it is the three players in One have all taken steps forward, elevating them to new levels. That's more about their successes than Kaick's actions.
However the Brazilian hasn't been as consistent post World Cup as he was leading in. He's popped up with some goals lately, which is a nice development. He still has some work to do in finding performance consistency while also needing refinement of a couple specific skills: pitch awareness and pass placement. At times Kaick doesn't always seem to know where to put the ball, although to his credit he's showing more aptitude for that as of late. He'd also be better suited to find good positioning initially so he doesn't need his elite recovery speed and stamina to compensate. If he puts that together, he won't be in Dallas much longer because bigger leagues will come calling.
What can I say about Farrington that hasn't been said already? Eight goals and five assists in MLS play, another goal in Leagues Cup brings him to nine total on the year. He's already set a new career high goal mark, and needs just three more helpers to tie his rookie season assist number. For plenty of teams Farrington would be a high end starter. Dallas having that off the bench most nights is luxurious.
Don't take my word for it though. Here's the emperor of the Tactics Free Zone Matt Doyle making the case for Farrington's involvement with the US Men's National Team:
Matthew Doyle
Not much more needs be said. Dallas has the best 1-2 striker duo in the league, and it's not even close.
Norris meanwhile was the one in this group that had the closest chance of moving up a tier. Not unlike Urhoghide, his metrics are phenomenal. Again per FotMob for Norris:
-4th in defensive contributions per 90
-T10th in tackles per 90
-T4th in interceptions per 90
-T11th in clearances per 90 (tied with three other players)
-T7th in blocks per 90 (tied with 14th other players)
This all coming in his first full year as a starter, exceeding his top minutes played with the first team by a country mile. Norris' continue development remains a revelation and a glowing endorsement for both the FC Dallas academy and Quill's ability to bring along young players.
Valiente jumps up a tier from Three, and it's well earned. Only the second player in FC Dallas history to have ten or more assists in his debut season, Valiente has a chance to crack the franchise record of 15 set by Michael Barrios and Jason Kreis. His emergence post World Cup is nothing short of stunning.
It's not just the assists however. Valiente has always been a pressing monster who has an infinite energy reserve, making him a dominant two way player. Now that he's figured out chemistry with his fellow forwards while balancing offense and defense, this could be just the beginning for the diminutive Uruguayan.
Tier Three
Jonathan Sirois, Sebastian Ibeagha, Santi Moreno, Sam Sarver
Added: Santi Moreno, Sam Sarver
Subtracted: Michael Collodi, Christian Cappis, Joaquin Valiente, Bernard Kamungo, Ran Binyamin, Patrickson Delgado
A lot of movement in this tier, with most being negative. These four players have been important for Dallas, but all come with a drawback that keeps them out of the higher tiers.
Sarver had his own tier in the June rankings, but has played well enough to move up one. The young man remains box office, the best late game weapon in the league, and helps keep the room vibes at maximum correctness. In that role however he only plays 10-15 minutes at a time. They're important, don't get me wrong, but that's not much.
Even so, Sarver's impact on this team shouldn't be minimized. I'd be less than surprised if Dallas gets to the playoffs and Sarver wins them a crucial game. Calling that shot now.
It's a similar story with Ibeagha regarding playing time. I was skeptical about bringing him back in the off-season, and I am thrilled to say I was wrong about that decision. His age 34 season has been his best with Dallas with cross prevention, communication, and general defensive acumen have been clutch when called upon as the first center back off the bench.
His quality has given Dallas four center backs that can start at any given time. Considering the frequency in which Norris and Urhoghide pick up yellow cards, that depth is invaluable. Having him fresh, ready, and able to give any of the back three a night off is a huge arrow in Quill's quiver.
Sirois has been on a journey this season. Starting in Montreal during pre-season before Dallas acquires him to back up Michael Collodi, then becoming the starter after Collodi's performance drops, only to lose the job to new acquisition Daniel, but regain it almost immediately when Daniel gets injured is a roller coaster ride.
In that time however Sirois has been critical for Dallas' success. There have been games where he gives up goals, but watch back the tape and often his fingerprints aren't on the concessions. His aggression on coming for balls alongside his commanding presence in his area have been critical for Dallas' defense. While it seems Daniel will return to the starting job when healthy, Sirois has done nothing but give Dallas every reason to keep him around as long as possible.
Moreno drops down from Two not because of ability but availability. When on the field he's a string puller and a pot stirrer, someone who knows how to get the offense moving when it's in gridlock. That happened just last night as of this writing, as Moreno scored the winner against Minnesota shortly after coming off the bench.
It's been reported he's carrying some sort of lower body issue limiting his minutes, which is a shame because he's been of strong quality. Hopefully Moreno can manage the issue as Dallas will need him during the stretch run and postseason. That availability issue bumps him down a tier, but Moreno will be one of the biggest discussion topics this winter.
Tier Four
Ramiro, Christian Cappis, Michael Collodi, Bernard Kamungo, Ran Binyamin, Herman Johansson, Lalas Abubakar
Ramiro is such a curious case. I'd contend when it comes to leadership and soccer IQ, he'd be near the top with Musa and company. The issue becomes over the last few months we've seen the physical side start eroding. While never fast, his positioning made up for a lot as did his ability to control the ball before moving it on.
That hasn't been the case as of late, and it's starting to cause problems for Dallas. The second goal against Kansas City in specific was 100% his fault, and it was a startling departure from the norm. Passes in the wrong place, defending from the wrong side, more than ever those mistakes are starting to show up.
When they don't? There's still a good player out there who can provide great leadership, organization, and calmness on ball. It's not all bad, it's just sliding towards more bad than Dallas can handle long term. Hopefully it can be resolved, because there's plenty of reasons to like and want Ramiro on the field.
In theory all this would mean you just swap Ramiro for Cappis in the lineup, but not so fast my friend. Cappis was a warrior last season, a true mid-season impact addition for this club. He elevated the midfield, becoming a crucial player in the stretch run. Fast forward to 2026 and that player has yet to consistently appear.
I can't even tell you why it's not happening. There are still flashes of brilliance, and I don't for a second believe this is an effort issue. When he's out there Cappis always gives 100% and that's important. There's a lacking of the dynamism and higher quality we saw last fall. Maybe he's carrying a small knock, who knows. Athletes are people, they go through human things, and it could be anything.
Regardless of why, Cappis re-finding that 2025 form is crucial to Dallas' midfield improvement. Until he does however, this is the tier he resides for the foreseeable future.
Speaking of, Collodi's trajectory has not been inspiring lately. Winning the starting job out of pre-season, he treaded water fine to begin the year but right before the break it came crashing down. That opened the door for both Sirois to start and the club's acquisition of Daniel, and that means Collodi is the third man in a two man boat right now.
I'm of the belief there is still a starting MLS keeper in Collodi; you don't just forget how to play the position. What feels the case is Collodi rode a wave of good form at the end of the year, benefited from Maarten Paes' return to the Netherlands, and had the backing of his coach. Quill has always been an "Earn your place" coach however, and once things went down Dallas' manager made the call.
Plotting Collodi's future, I think there's a loan on the horizon. If Daniel and Sirois are both healthy Collodi isn't going to get the minutes he needs. Going back to North Texas SC won't help; he's already found huge success at that level. Find a USL Championship team that will start him every game, let him get those reps in, and let's see where we are in a year or so. I'm not done betting on the young man, but it's fair to acknowledge a change of scenery and experience could be for the best.
Kamungo's demotion to four might be the decision on which I'm most conflicted. By metric and stats he's performed well as a wing back, ranking in the top 10 in a couple of them. His injury complicated things, leaving Dallas without a viable left wing back for an extended time. Now that he's back I think there's a real Jekyll/Hyde situation at work.
At his best Kamungo is driving into the defense, making them back peddle and defend low. He can get wide to cross or cut inside to shoot/drop the ball off, and in general cause chaos for the opposing defense. He's got these abilities, we've seen them. The issue is the other side, the Hyde side.
On other days Kamungo can be careless with the ball not knowing when to pass, shoot, or cross meaning that another player can come take the ball away. The defensive effort is never an issue, but the recognition and positioning are more often than not. Those stretches are rough to watch, and are often accompanies with opposing shots and/or goals.
Finding both a higher level of consistency and skill are crucial for Kamungo's long term starting health. If he can't continue growing, Dallas will need to find another LWB who can play the bulk of the game how he wants. Kamungo's ideal role now might be closer to Sarver; an off the bench late impact sub who can change a game but you may not want playing long minutes regularly. Only time will tell.
Let's look at this about Binyamin from back in June:
His [Kamungo] pseudo replacement Binyamin is here for lack of sample size. He's performed well at left midfielder and inexplicably left back, but I'd feel more comfortable seeing more than 448 minutes to make this call. It's encouraging, just not definitive.
After 200+ more minutes from the Israeli U22 signing and I think I do have a better, although not complete grasp on him. Not unlike Valiente and Kaick he's a physical monster. His effort, running, and willingness to go all out for the club are huge positives. He's played a few different positions including midfielder, attacking mid, and wingback this season. For the long term I'd like to see him settle in at one spot and learn it. Apply his excellent skills to whatever role they give him, and let's see what you have. Until then, the jury remains deadlocked on uncertainty.
Abubakar meanwhile moves up a tier because of his recent fill-in performances. He hasn't been starter level, but he's shown more than he had back in June. His goal in Austin was fantastic, as was his play in general helping Dallas secure all three points. This is about as high as it'll get for Abubakar right now, but that's OK. He's a role player who does his job and is a great locker room/training ground influence. Nothing wrong with that one bit.
Which brings us to Johansson. Coming into the year I was high on the big Swede, because of his production overseas and Dallas' need of wing back depth. As the early season went on I was more than willing to allow time for adaptation. MLS is a distinct league with 90% of players needing adaptation time. Pairing that with American referees seemingly being blind to fouls committed against Johansson and I basically chalked the first half of 2026 up to an extended welcoming period.
With 10 games left however, Johansson's status in the squad feels ambiguous. He's not generating goal contributions like he did in Sweden, and his more conservative game approach doesn't fit well Quill's "fail aggressive" model. He does bring positive qualities: he's a good dribbler and his ability to win balls in the air makes him quite useful at all things aerial. His physical metrics from what are told aren't lacking, so this isn't an effort problem.
Maybe Johansson's ascension will take longer than expected, wouldn't be the first or last time. At this moment though it's fair to have concern about the wing back. It'll be worth checking in at season's end to see where 2026 ends up, but right now optimism isn't at its highest point.
Tier Five
Anderson Julio, Clay Holstad, Patrickson Delgado
Added: Clay Holstad, Patrickson Delgado
Subtracted: Louicious Deedson, Lalas Abubakar
Julio's has such a snakebit 2026 that it feels unfair to place him in this tier. Even so, when he's been on the field he hasn't found purchase at any position. Combine that with a proclivity for injuries and it just hasn't worked out for the Ecuadorian. With his deal running out at season's end, it feels best for all involved to shake hands and part friends.
Delgado's another player who at minimum needs a loan to further develop if not a move away from the club entirely. This quote from the last tiers list remains relevant:
Delgado shows flashes of talent, but lacks consistency in the worst way. He's also a man without a defined position, which coupled with that consistency deprivation keeps you lower on the chart. At this moment Delgado is a specific tool for a specific situation. When the situation's right, nobody is better suited. Otherwise it's like using a hammer to weld.
Nothing about that has changed since June, and Delgado hasn't played since the Leagues Cup opener in early August. It's just not working out right now for whatever reason, and with a year still left on his deal Dallas has to figure something out. It doesn't seem like that's going to be more time on pitch with the first team at this rate.
Initially the Holstad loan from USL-C's Rhode Island FC felt like running back the Cappis signing. Quill coached Holstad as a youth, so bringing him in was natural for a team with midfield depth issues. Unlike Cappis however Holstad hasn't shown out much in albeit limited opportunities. One start against Queretaro that didn't go well and a combined 16 minutes in two MLS sub appearances didn't leave much of a mark.
Unless something drastically changes, this loan will expire without much impact. Dallas in my opinion would be better suited finding playing time for players like Caleb Swan, Diego Garcia, and Edouard Nys over Holdstad.
Comments ()