MLS coaching changes and new roster rules for 2026

Charlotte FC relieved Christian Lattanzio of his duties on Wednesday morning. The club also let go of assistant coach Andy Quy. This decision followed an offseason evaluation where leadership determined Lattanzio "maxed out what he can do at their club." While Lattanzio guided the expansion side to the playoffs, he oversaw a squad that conceded 25 points from winning decisions, the highest number in the league.

The club’s decision follows a season where Lattanzio’s tendency to play players out of position drew criticism. For example, star forward Karol Swiderski faced frequent positional changes. Despite this, Lattanzio improved the team’s underlying numbers, moving from a -4.9 xGD to a +1.42 xGD. His points per game rose from 1.16 to 1.37. Sporting director Zoran Krneta and President Joe LaBue stated the move serves the best interests of the club for 2024 and beyond.

Charlotte FC Coaching Change	Detail
Departed Manager	Miguel Angel Ramirez
Interim Manager	Christian Lattanzio
Decision Date	November 8
Playoff Finish	9th in Eastern Conference

I find the club’s sudden dismissal of a manager who reached the playoffs to be an erratic move. The club previously removed Miguel Angel Ramirez after only 14 games. Lattanzio had previously assisted Patrick Vieira in moving NYCFC from 17th place in their inaugural season to 4th place in their second season. Will the new hire fix the defensive lapses that cost Charlotte 25 points?

Houston Dynamo swap Nagamura for Olsen

The Houston Dynamo officially named Ben Olsen head coach this week. The club parted ways with Paulo Nagamura on September 5 after the team sat in last place in the Western Conference. Olsen previously managed D.C. United until 2020, where he recorded 113 wins, 137 losses, and 84 draws. Majority owner Ted Segal noted Olsen brings championship experience from his playing career.

Houston’s roster management under owner Ted Segal and President of Soccer Pat Onstad involves high-stakes decisions. The club recently signed Hector Herrera and Sebastian Ferreira as Designated Players.

Houston Dynamo Roster Status	Player	Type
Contract Expiring	Franco Escobar	No option
Option Declined	Artur	DP status
Loan with Buy Option	Felipe Andrade	Brazilian
Loan expiring	Gabriel Segal	No option

Olsen must manage a squad that includes high-profile talent like Herrera. The club previously declined the option for Hector Herrera last offseason. He also faces decisions regarding players like Amine Bassi and Sebastian Kowalczyk, who both moved into sub roles. The club also faces the prospect of declining the option for captain Artur.

New MLS transfer and roster constraints

MLS implemented updated transfer window dates and roster rules for the 2026 season. The Primary Transfer Window runs from January 26 to March 26. The Secondary Transfer Window now opens on July 13 and closes on September 2. This extension allows clubs to acquire talent closer to the MLS Cup Playoffs.

The league also changed how clubs trade international slots. Clubs may now agree to trade a slot with a clause that it returns to the original club on a specific date during the Secondary Transfer Window. This change turns slots into timed assets.

Rule Change	Description
Cash for Player Trades	No limit on number per season
Intraleague Loans	No age restrictions or caps
Roster Compliance	Due February 20 at 8 p.m. ET
Roster Freeze	Occurs October 9

The removal of limits on Cash for Player Trades gives clubs more leverage. New England utilized this mechanism to move on from Tomas Chancalay and acquire Brooklyn Raines. The league also removed the deadline that governed when a player could be treated as domestic instead of international. If you follow the trade market, you see clubs using these new rules to bypass old restrictions. The club’s ability to register players depends on these specific counts.