Top 5 FC Dallas storylines of 2025
Coming into Saturday's matinee finale at Toyota Stadium, FC Dallas has lived multiple seasons in one. It's been a roller coaster with three games left, all of which matter to Dallas' second season hopes. That's the focus now, playoffs or bust for a squad that looked left for dead months ago.
So before the playoffs fully swallow all our attention, let's take a look back at the biggest storylines in Frisco this season.
#1. The Lucho Acosta Saga
I didn't want this to be first. I spent all week trying to talk myself into justifying what ended up as #2 as first. The mental dialogues were voracious and frequent to the point of borderline ridiculousness.
Alas, there's no other story that reasonably deserves the top. No Dallas player or situation has generated more headlines than Lucho Acosta. From his somewhat shock arrival in February to the 0n-field turmoil his selections caused to his eventual departure in August, Acosta's six month Texas tenure was eventful if not successful.
The tendrils of his tenure extend past his departure. Acosta leaving opened up Dallas to the 5-2-3, which is powering them to the aforementioned postseason. It's also raised questions about how Dallas' front office should go about scouting and making deals for top end talent. This single move touched every part of the organization in some way.
As such, Acosta's whirlwind foray in Frisco occupies the premier place on our list. Which wasn't unexpected back in February, but the specifics as to how we got there in October sure are.
#2 Petar Musa Chasing The Goal Record
In a just world this would be the top story, but even though Musa stands on the precipice of history at time of writing you wouldn't know it outside of Dallas.
The Moose is on 17 goals, one short of tying Dallas' single season record of 18 two of breaking it. With three games left, two of those against cellar dweller LA Galaxy, it's almost guaranteed Musa will write his name into the record books somewhere. The question at this rate will be how high he sets the bar.
How he's put himself in position deserves acknowledgement: over his last ten games Musa has 10 goals and two assists. He's scored in four straight matches, in which Dallas has points in all of them. In a just world he'd be a front runner for MVP, because without Musa Dallas isn't a playoff contender.
#3 Bernie Kamungo: Wing Back
Easily 2025's most unexpected development, Kamungo's renaissance as a starting caliber wing back has been a revelation. When it first became apparent Quill was making the change, skepticism reigned through Frisco. Kamungo tried this position in 2024 under former manager Nico Estèvez to disastrous results.
Fast forward a year plus and Kamungo looks like he's played the position his entire life. He credits this year's success to an improved attitude on his part and more natural instruction on Quill's part. The results are inarguable: Kamungo's defensive skills have shined while providing width up the field on offense.
Kamungo's emergence has also made Marco Farfan's sale to Tigres even more fortuitous. They haven't missed a beat without Farfan thanks to Kamungo, meaning they can put the transfer fee to another position without fear. Going into 2026, there's a real chance Kamungo could be what his coach claimed a few weeks ago: one of the best wing backs in all of MLS.
#4 Three keepers, one job
Speaking of unexpected, the FC Dallas goalkeeper room has earned its way onto the list. Maarten Paes entered the year as the undisputed #1, with Michael Collodi seizing the backup spot in training camp. That led to Antonio Carrera being sold to Tigres and the eventual acquisition of Jacob Jackson from San Diego.
Collodi filled in admirably when Paes is away on international duty and in the US Open Cup, showing he's got all it takes to be an above average backup. Then Paes gets injured in training, forcing Collodi into the starting job. He excelled again as the club continues on largely without missing a beat.
Then St. Louis happens. Collodi gets tagged with an unfair red card after a Joao Klauss flop, and into the breach steps Jackson. With no expectations, Jackson puts on arguably the greatest goalkeeper performance in FC Dallas history. With just nine men in front of him, Jackson faces over 40 shots without letting in a single goal. Heroic might not be a strong enough word for the performance.
As a result of the red card Jackson gets the start against Austin, shutting out the Verde in a big home win. He's started ever since despite Collodi's return, causing Quill quite the beneficial headache on who to put between the posts. That will only increase with Paes returning to fitness, although he'll be on international duty with Indonesia starting after this weekend's match against the Galaxy.
Should things go well for Dallas, they'll enter the playoffs with three legitimate starters in net when most teams have but one. It'll create even more debate this off-season as Dallas continues to build their roster in Quill's image.
#5 Osaze Urhoghide, Best XI Center Back
This easily could have been higher on the list, but the unlikely nature of the previous two entries pushed it down. Urhoghide came in with some fanfare after playing across Europe and being Dallas' largest ever transfer spend on a defender. There were expectations for him, albeit with skepticism since we at large hadn't seen him play.
31 games in and Urhoghide is easily the top signing of this past transfer period. When he's on the pitch Dallas' defense is stout, with opposing strikers dreading playing against him. His speed and positioning is first class, paired with incredible recovery instincts and a physicality unmatched on the pitch. He's everything you want in a top center back.
He's without a doubt the best center back Dallas has seen since the soon retiring Matt Hedges, arriving not a moment too soon for Quill. Dallas can build upon him going forward into the winter, and if done right can have one of MLS's top defenses with their top defender at its heart.