The calendar may have flipped, but the questions around FC Dallas have only grown louder.
After a 2025 season defined by transition, experimentation, and uneven results, the focus now shifts to what comes next. From Petar Musa’s long-term future and potential Designated Player moves to lingering defensive concerns and the club’s use of the U22 model, 2026 represents a pivotal year in determining whether this project is truly moving forward or simply treading water.
With preseason looming in the coming days, here are the biggest questions that will shape FC Dallas as the new season approaches.
1. How much should we actually stress about Petar Musa’s future?
Let’s not kid ourselves — this may be the keystone question surrounding the club in 2026.
Musa is on track to potentially play in a World Cup this summer with Croatia. If he makes that roster, he’ll not only get a big match against England in the Dallas market, but he’ll also get the chance to open up a lot of doors for his exit should he shine in that tournament.
Aside from the big question, it also comes with several sub-questions for me:
- Is Musa still here past summer 2026?
- Is the club planning for life with him… or quietly planning after him?
- And if he goes, is there a real succession plan or just “we’ll figure it out”?
If Musa leaves without a ready-made replacement, everything else is rearranging deck chairs.
Again, this is the big one for me. How FC Dallas manages Musa in 2026 will determine a lot about this club’s success or failures.
2. Will FC Dallas make a DP signing this winter — or keep flirting with the idea?
We know the club is sticking it out with the U22 roster model in 2026 (more on that next), so the only other ‘big’ addition the club can make in 2026 will be another Designated Player. The club wants another #10 to help the attack, and it is really only a matter of time for them to sign that guy.
DP 10 coming soon to FC Dallas 👀 🔜
— Soccerwise (@soccerwisehq.bsky.social) 2026-01-02T17:35:37.477Z
Andre Zanotta says in that clip above that they want to make it in this window, that goes through March. But, at the same time, he’s also saying it has to be the right guy that will work with Musa and Logan Farrington.
Can they land the plane on the right DP in this winter window? That will determine a lot of the success of this club in 2026.
