Four FC Dallas Players Poised for a Breakout in 2026

Every year, we talk about players who are poised to break out for FC Dallas. Either it is a Homegrown player that we’re excited about, who is locking down a starting role, or it is a new depth piece that is getting worked into the rotation.

For the 2026 season, FC Dallas has plenty of young players who are worth tracking. Between the long list of Homegrown players, U22 players and SuperDraft picks, there are multiple pathways for a player to take a meaningful step forward as a viable MLS player. Not all of these players will become MLS All-Stars overnight, but if each can solidify their position on the roster, the entire team will be better for it this season.

Let’s dive into the four players that I am most excited about going into the new season with a look at the case for each of them, as well as, what success could look like in 2026.

Nolan Norris

Going into the 2025 season, it seemed like Nolan Norris was at a bit of a crossroads. He was routinely called into the US youth national team, including last year’s U20 World Cup, where he was a captain on the team. But in Dallas, he lacked the starting spot to help him make the leap that a lot of fans were hoping to see from him.

As the season rode on, he remained patient and earned minutes. He appeared in 14 matches and had nine starts, including a playoff game at home against Vancouver. Going into this season, it’s expected that Norris, barring injuries of course, will start as Dallas' first choice left center back. 

He’s no longer being tossed around between center midfield, left back and center back. He’s a center back now. Manager Eric Quill sees him as one of his starters in this 3-4-3 (or 5-2-3) formation.

Why the breakout case is real for Norris:

Norris feels like he’s right on the edge of moving away from the ‘useful depth option’ to ‘trusted weekly starter’ for Quill. He’s already showing at a MLS level that he’s not a yellow card machine that he once was in MLS NEXT Pro with North Texas SC. If he can continue that ‘leveling up’ that many are seeing with him, the sky may be the limit for him.

What a breakout looks like:

• Fewer dumb yellow cards and mental mistakes
• Fewer “learning moment” mistakes
• Starting in at least 25-30 games this season

That’s a real leap, and it’s very doable.

Michael Collodi

In a way, this one feels like cheating. Collodi took over as the starting goalkeeper in the late summer, right when the club was starting to turn things around. Maarten Paes went down for a few weeks with an injury and it opened the doors for Collodi to step in and pick up some big minutes. When Paes returned from is injury (and international duty), Collodi continued to hold the starting position down.

What is working for Collodi is Quill has the belief in him, and most importantly, the defense has the belief in him. With Paes on his way out to Ajax,, the time is certainly now for Collodi.

Why the breakout case is real for Collodi:

Again, this one feels like it is cheating since he will likely be the First Kick starter in goal. Collodi still needs to grow as a regular starter in this league. He made the leap from MLSNP to MLS in 2025, became a starter late in the season, and locked up the role. Now it is about establishing himself as a leader in goal and as a reliable starter from week to week.

What a breakout looks like:

• Improved decision-making under pressure
• Quickly making people forget about Paes

This is less about flash and more about consistency.

Kaick

Kaick

It feels a little weird to call out a guy that FC Dallas paid $4 million to get a year ago from Brazil as a breakout guy, but I’m always a firm believer in seeing how a young guy can progress when he gets a full preseason under his belt. We all may forget that Kaick didn’t join the team last year in preseason; it was a bit later on after the regular season had started. Still, he showed a lot of us why the club was so eager to get him and play him in his first season in Dallas. He earned a lot of minutes, most coming as a starter (he started 23 of 29 games he appeared in).

Year two for Kaick has to be a big leap for him. He’s still one of the club’s U22 players. If the club is handling those roster slots correctly, they’re getting guys like Kaick the minutes on the field to produce and then finding someone overseas to buy them within a year or two.

Why the breakout case is real for Kaick:

Of all the players on this list, Kaick has the highest ceiling. The physical tools are obvious, and Dallas clearly wants this one to hit with the investment made in him. This season feels like where patience starts to turn into expectation.

What a breakout looks like:

• Fewer positional lapses
• Clear trust from the coaching staff
• Regular minutes against MLS starters, not losing his spot to a veteran

If he becomes dependable, not just intriguing, that’s a breakout.

Ricky Louis

I’ve been hesitant to place the rookie, but his time with the team in Portugal showed that he may be the real deal. Dallas paid plenty to move up in the SuperDraft in December to land Louis, and he’s already showing why the club was smart to do that.

So far, he’s split time between attacking roles and as a fullback. Where he actually lands on the depth charts with this team will be the real story to watch in 2026.

Why the breakout case is real Louis:

Louis might have the cleanest pathway of anyone here. A Generation adidas status buys him time, and his attacking profile fits a team that needs movement, energy, and unpredictability. He doesn’t need to carry the attack—he just needs to contribute. If he can somehow also transition into a reliable fullback option off the bench, he could see even more minutes.

What a breakout looks like:

• Earning minutes early in the season (as either a fullback or forward)
• Tangible production (goals, assists, pressure)
• Looking MLS-ready, not overwhelmed or burnt out by the summer

If he gives Dallas something off the bench or in rotation, that’s a massive win.