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With season two just five days away, the focus now shifts to lineup decisions. Predicting Mikey Varas’ opening-night XI is far from simple, given preseason experimentation and ongoing competition for minutes. However, recent performances and tactical patterns offer meaningful clues about how San Diego FC may take the field in their season opener.
Goalkeeper
Many may have forgotten but Pablo Sisniega received a red card in the final playoff match against Vancouver after coming out of the box to make a challenge on a 50/50 ball. Sisniega missed the ball and got the player, which saw him get ejected. MLS rules state that if a player receives a red card in the last game of the season, the punishment of a one game suspension transfers to the next season.
Sisniega's last two performances against Pumas UNAM in the Concacaf Champions League have been inspiring. With former number one, CJ Dos Santos, still progressing toward an eventual return after a gruesome facial injury, Sisniega looks to be the clear number one.
That leaves Duran Ferree. The young goalkeeper (who was SDFC's first ever signing) made his MLS debut in the final game of the season last year after Sisniega was sent off. He made an incredible save from a close distance just minutes into being subbed on and finished the game strong. Saturday night will provide another chance to showcase his skill between the sticks.
Goalkeeper - Duran Ferree
Defenders
San Diego’s back line appears to be the most settled unit entering the new season. Luca Bombino and Manu Duah emerged as breakout performers in 2025, quickly establishing themselves among the league’s most promising young defenders. Now, Bombino and Duah head into their sophomore seasons after solidifying their roles at left back and center back, respectively.
Chris McVey will play on the right side of Duah, providing veteran leadership and presence to the youngest back line in MLS. McVey started all 32 matches that he played in, proving his durability through strong performances.
The right back position is currently contested and was among one of the top position battles in the preseason. Oscar Verhoeven showed exactly why Varas believed in him, as the young arrival from San Jose delivered composed, hard-nosed performances that backed up the faith placed in him.
After Verhoeven's injury, Ian Pilcher broke out as the new starting RB. Pilcher faltered in the playoffs, famously making crucial mistakes that led to Vancouver goals. That performance shouldn't take away from how well he played in the matches prior. There was a reason for why Pilcher got the nod to start int he most important game that SDFC played last season.
SDFC's newly acquired RB Wilson Eisner seems to be the top candidate to see starting minutes on Saturday. Eisner impressed in training and preseason matches by playing the style that Varas wants his RB's to play – moving up and down the flank and getting involved in the offense. His uncanny ability to drive the balls into the penalty area makes him an attractive choice. Eisner's inclusion in the starting XI against CF Montréal would come as little surprise, especially after earning the nod in both legs of the Concacaf Champions Cup against Pumas UNAM.
Defenders: Luca Bombino/Manu Duah/Chris McVey/Wilson Eisner
Midfielders
All indications point to captain Jeppe Tverskov playing with a new fact on his left this season. Pedro Soma, who was highly-regarded as the future of SDFC's midfield, took his opportunities this year to prove he belongs in the starting XI. With the departure of Luca de la Torre, a battle for the left midfielder spot is underway.
After reports of Onni Valakari picking up a small knock during training, Soma was slotted into the starting LM role. Last year, Soma lacked enough experience to warrant replacing a player like Valakari or de la Torre. This year, the question is whether his two starts against Pumas were enough to earn the nod from Varas as the club’s starting left midfielder.
At 34 years old, Anibal Godoy played in 25 MLS matches last year, starting 21 of them. The critics say his durability is not there to slot him in as the long-term solution in the right midfielder position. The supporters say his leadership and veteran experience is undeniably needed on the field if he's healthy enough to play. The answer is most likely a mix of both. Either way, Godoy is in line to start on Saturday.
Midfielders: Soma/Tverskov/Godoy
Forwards
Perhaps the biggest question mark going into the preseason was regarding the central striker position. SDFC made a nice move in the offseason by bringing in Lewis Morgan. The Scottish striker spent the majority of last year injured but Sporting Director Tyler Heaps and co. are hoping San Diego will get the pre-injury, MLS Comeback Player of the Year, version of Morgan.
The player who started the first two games of the season in that role this year has been Marcus Ingvartsen. SDFC will hope the investment they've put into Ingvartsen prior to his injury setbacks last year will pay off once he finds his form. The two top options at the nine are both injury-prone, hoping to make a comeback and reinvigorate the offense, thus making this position battle one of the top to watch. Until Morgan is on the pitch, scoring goals – the nod goes to Ingvartsen.
The winger spots are solidified between last year's MVP runner-up Anders Dryer on the right and Amahl Pellegrino on the left. After Chucky Lozano has been excluded from the roster moving forward, the LW position was another one that was up for grabs. Pellegrino's success last year made him the front-runner for the starting XI this year. Fellow teammate Alex Mighten will challenge for the role but realistically, it's Pellegrino's to lose.
Forwards: Amahl Pellegrino/Marcus Ingvartsen/Anders Dreyer
Final Thoughts
Projecting an opening-night lineup is always an inexact science, particularly for a club entering its second season with heightened expectations. Injuries, form, and late tactical adjustments could still influence Varas’ final decision. Still, based on preseason usage, Concacaf Champions Cup rotations, and last year’s performances, the framework of this XI appears to be taking shape.
The blend of emerging young talent and experienced leadership reflects the identity San Diego FC is attempting to build — energetic, aggressive, and tactically disciplined. Saturday’s matchup with CF Montréal will ultimately provide the answers, but the early indicators suggest continuity in key areas and calculated competition where it matters most.
