The 2026 Columbus Crew season is the club's 31st season of existence and their 31st consecutive season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of soccer in the United States and Canada. It was their first season under head coach Henrik Rydström.
This is Columbus' first season since 2019 without their former captain Darlington Nagbe, who retired at the end of the previous campaign.
Current roster
Technical Staff
Competitions Overview
Friendlies
Major League Soccer (MLS)
Standings
Eastern Conference
Overall table
Results summary
Results by round
Match results
U.S. Open Cup
The Columbus Crew is participating in the 2026 U.S. Open Cup, having missed out on qualifying for the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup. They started in the round of 32, and their opponent was determined in a draw on April 2.
Leagues Cup
By qualifying for the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs, the Columbus Crew also qualified for the 2026 Leagues Cup, which was confirmed on December 16, 2025. The format will remain the same as the 2025 edition, with Columbus playing three matches during the League Phase, all against teams from Liga MX.
Statistics
Transfers
In Pos.PlayerTransferred fromFee/notesDateSources MF Sekou Bangoura Kiryat Shmona Transfer, undisclosed fee; Contract through 2029 with an option for 2030 January 6, 2026 FW Chase Adams Columbus Crew 2 Homegrown player, contract through 2029 with an option for 2030 January 8, 2026 DF Quinton Elliot Columbus Crew 2 Homegrown player, contract through 2026 with options for 2027, 2028, and 2029 January 8, 2026 DF Owen Presthus Columbus Crew 2 Homegrown player, contract through 2027 with an option for 2028 January 8, 2026 GK Luke Pruter Columbus Crew 2 2024 MLS SuperDraft pick; contract through 2026 with options for 2027 and 2028 January 9, 2026 MF Zach Zengue Columbus Crew 2 2024 MLS SuperDraft pick; contract through 2026 with options for 2027, 2028, and 2029 January 9, 2026 FW Jamal Thiaré Atlanta United FC February 2, 2026 MF André Gomes Lille February 19, 2026 DF Brooks Lennon Atlanta United FC June 9, 2026 MF Brais Méndez Real Sociedad July 2, 2026 DF Eric Bailly Real Oviedo July 7, 2026 MF Santiago Rodriguez Botafogo July 7, 2026
Loan in
Pos.PlayerParent clubLength/NotesBeginningEndSource MF Lautaro Giaccone Argentinos Juniors June 29, 2026 FW Gonzalo Tapia São Paulo FC August 5, 2026 MF Anass Zaroury Panathinaikos September 3, 2026
Out Pos.PlayerTransferred toFee/notesDateSource MF Darlington Nagbe Retired Contract expired November 26, 2025 GK Abraham Romero El Paso Locomotive FC Contract expired November 26, 2025 DF Lassi Lappalainen HJK Option declined November 26, 2025 MF Derrick Jones Option declined November 26, 2025
References