San Diego FC vs CF Montreal: Opening Match Preview

As San Diego FC enters its second season, the focus shifts from establishing an identity to reinforcing it.

"The expectations are that we help strengthen the roots, the foundation that we laid last year," head coach Mikey Varas told the media on Thursday.

Of course, the foundation that Varas is talking about consists of possession-style play, relentless off the ball until the final whistle, and all of the success the team had in their first season. Surely, it's a tough act to follow – it all starts on Saturday when SDFC face off against an opponent they've not faced in their year one campaign, CF Montreal, at Snapdragon Stadium.

Straight Outta Concacaf

Unlike other MLS clubs, San Diego FC are coming into their opening season match having already played two meaningful games. The Concacaf Champions Cup home and away matches versus Pumas UNAM allowed San Diego to find their game shape early.

Those games showed the coaching staff very important details that can only be seen during meaningful match play. It showed them that players like defender Wilson Eisner and midfielder Pedro Soma are ready to be plugged into the starting XI. It allowed for Marcus Ingvartsen to get important minutes under his belt as he's coming back from a long stint on the injury list.

Most importantly, they accelerated the development of the team’s identity heading into the home opener.

Lineup Prediction: San Diego FC

As predicted earlier, the same lineup idea still stands a day away from kickoff.

Expect teams to begin paying more attention defensively to Anders Dreyer now that Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano is no longer in the mix. It should allow for guys like Amahl Pellegrino and Ingvartsen to get more one-on-one opportunities with defenders. Lozano used to draw a lot of attention from defenders which allowed for Dreyer to get free by making runs into open space and vice versa.

Dreyer had his own thoughts when he was asked about the uptick in attention from defenders.

It remains to be seen whether Pedro Soma keeps his place on the left side of the midfield when CF Montreal visits. Onni Valakari is healthy and has typically been the first choice in that role.

The decision may ultimately come down to whether Soma’s performances in the two Concacaf Champions Cup matches were convincing enough to earn another start.

Veteran midfielder Aníbal Godoy, for his part, spoke highly of Soma when asked by SDFC Nation about the young midfielder’s recent growth.

Profile: CF Montreal

CF Montreal comes into the new season looking for steadiness after another difficult year in 2025.

The club finished in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference yet again, continuing a trend that has defined much of the past decade outside of their brief rise under Wilfried Nancy. Last season was especially turbulent, with a coaching change just five matches in and front office shifts that added to the uncertainty around the club’s direction.

Roster construction has reflected a cautious approach. Montreal has not consistently used all of its Designated Player spots and currently enters the season with just one DP, Ivan Jaime, who is on loan.

Rather than building around established stars, the club has prioritized developing young talent and creating potential transfer value — a model that can leave the squad short on proven difference-makers.

As a result, expectations externally remain modest. Montreal will look to stay competitive, develop its younger players, and find consistency week to week. But in a conference filled with deeper and more aggressive roster builds, they enter the season still searching for the firepower and stability needed to become a serious playoff contender.

Lineup Prediction: CF Montreal

Under Marco Donadel, CF Montreal mostly lined up in a back four last season, switching between a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-3-3 depending on who was available.

Defensively, Montreal tried to step higher up the field and be aggressive when pressing. At times, they were willing to push their line forward and disrupt build-up play.

The issue was what happened after they won the ball.

They often struggled to keep possession for long stretches, which meant they were forced to defend deeper and absorb pressure. Without a true playmaker to control the tempo in the attacking third, sustaining attacks became difficult.

Against San Diego FC, expect a similar game plan. Montreal will likely sit in a compact shape, look to pick their moments to press, and try to hit in transition.

For SDFC, that means patience will be key. If San Diego can move the ball quickly and avoid careless turnovers, they should be able to stretch Montreal’s defensive block and create chances in the final third.

Keys to the Match

Varas told media that he's worked with the team on different ways to break down a mid-to-low block. Some teams found success when they played defensively against San Diego, which is reason to believe more teams will play them this way in 2026.

The key for SDFC will be executing what they've been learning on the practice field in terms of being successful offensively against teams who are hard to break down. Expect a heavy tilt towards SDFC in possession – what they do with it will be the key question.

Duran Ferree was announced as the starter for this match due to Pablo Sisniega getting a red card int he last match of the 2025 season. Although Ferree showed some moments of brilliance when he stepped in for the aforementioned Sisniega, he will need to prove himself for a full 90, something he hasn't had a chance to do yet in his short MLS career.

Can San Diego put up a high-scoring performance against a team who is struggling to find their identity and is a contender to finish near the bottom of the league table? Whether San Diego delivers a statement performance or grinds out a result, the priority is simple — start the season with three points.