Charlotte FC Hadapi New England Revolution Jelang Jeda Piala Dunia

Charlotte FC akan menjamu New England Revolution dalam pertandingan pekan ke-15 Major League Soccer di Stadion Bank of America pada Minggu, 24 Mei 2026. Laga ini menjadi ujian terakhir bagi kedua tim sebelum kompetisi reguler dihentikan sementara demi menyambut jeda Piala Dunia FIFA.

Tuan rumah Charlotte FC saat ini mengantongi rekor kandang 4-2-2 dan baru saja memutus tren negatif melalui kemenangan 3-1 atas Toronto FC. Di sisi lain, New England Revolution datang dengan modal kuat setelah menempati posisi ketiga di Wilayah Timur dan meraih kemenangan atas Minnesota United pekan lalu.

Pertandingan ini juga diprediksi menjadi laga terakhir bagi penyerang Charlotte FC, Wilfried Zaha, yang kontraknya akan habis pada 30 Juni mendatang di tengah masa jeda kompetisi. Pemain yang telah mengemas tiga gol dan empat asis musim ini baru saja memecahkan paceklik golnya pada akhir pekan lalu.

Manajer Charlotte FC, Dean Smith, menyatakan bahwa proses negosiasi kontrak dengan sang pemain masih terus berjalan menjelang pertandingan penentu ini.

"I don’t know where it is with Wilfried," ujar Dean Smith, Manajer Charlotte FC. "I believe there’s been discussions going on. But we know we’re coming to a point where discussions are going one way or another. And, a decision will be made one way or another. But it won’t be made before Saturday."

Smith menambahkan bahwa Zaha tetap menunjukkan profesionalisme yang tinggi di lapangan meskipun masa depannya bersama klub belum menemui kejelasan.

"One thing I can say throughout all of this is his reaction to it all; he’s just kept playing. He loves playing football, and he loves being at Charlotte. Those are two things that I do know, and I don’t think we’ll see anything different from him," kata Dean Smith, Manajer Charlotte FC.

Sementara itu, kubu tim tamu mewaspadai pergerakan taktis dari Charlotte FC yang dikenal solid saat bermain di depan pendukungnya sendiri.

"I don’t think that there is something in those two weeks that is a big difference. [Charlotte FC] have a little bit different set up when they build up, but there’s tendencies in their game that it’s kind of similar. Defensively, also, I feel we know enough about them, and I also feel they know enough about us. That’s a team that has, as I said, strong tendencies in the way they defend and the way they attack. They have a lot of talent higher on the field that, once you give them the space, they can use that space easily and create situations for them. We’re just working toward that game and to be ready," kata Marko Mitrovic, Pelatih Kepala New England Revolution.

Asisten pelatih New England Revolution, Blair Gavin, menekankan pentingnya kebersamaan tim untuk menghadapi atmosfer pertandingan tandang yang dipastikan akan menyulitkan.

"I think the word that we use a lot is togetherness, and the group has really bought into that – not only on the field but off the field. You see in these games with difficult circumstances, whether it’s home or on the road, the group is sticking together, and it has been nice to watch. It gives you an extra little motivation to make a further run, or get a tackle, or win the ball. Those moments add up throughout a match, and it has been great to see," kata Blair Gavin, Asisten Pelatih New England Revolution.

Pemain bertahan New England Revolution, Mamadou Fofana, menegaskan komitmen tim untuk menjaga posisi mereka di papan atas klasemen Wilayah Timur sebelum liga memasuki masa jeda panjang.

"We know it’s the last game. It’s very important for us to finish well, because now we are third [in the Eastern Conference] and we want to keep the same level. We have to stay together and work, and like I said, we will get what we need," kata Mamadou Fofana, Bek New England Revolution.

Fofana juga mengingat kembali kemenangan 1-0 atas Charlotte FC pada awal Mei lalu sebagai modal kepercayaan diri bagi timnya.

"It wasn’t easy because they are a very good team," kata Mamadou Fofana, Bek New England Revolution. "They play together, and they are compact. It’s always difficult to play against them. We know we’ll go to Charlotte with fans and everything, but the most important thing is trusting ourselves and continuing to do what we are doing now. I think we will take what we need."

Berdasarkan laporan status pemain dari theblazingmusket.com, New England Revolution dipastikan tampil tanpa Leo Campana, Ilay Feingold, dan Malcolm Fry yang mengalami cedera, serta Brooklyn Raines yang terkena sanksi larangan bertanding. Di kubu Charlotte FC, Harry Toffolo dipastikan absen akibat cedera tubuh bagian bawah, sementara kondisi Nathan Byrne masih diragukan.