Charlotte FC Hadapi New England Revolution Jelang Jeda Piala Dunia

Charlotte FC akan menjamu New England Revolution dalam laga lanjutan kompetisi sepak bola Major League Soccer (MLS) Wilayah Timur di Stadion Bank of America pada Sabtu malam, 23 Mei 2026 pukul 19.30 waktu setempat.

Pertandingan ini menjadi laga terakhir bagi kedua klub sebelum kompetisi dihentikan sementara karena jeda Piala Dunia FIFA. New England Revolution saat ini berada di peringkat ketiga klasemen, sementara tuan rumah Charlotte FC menempati posisi ketujuh.

Laga ini juga berpotensi menjadi penampilan terakhir bagi penyerang andalan Charlotte FC, Wilfried Zaha, yang kontraknya akan habis pada 30 Juni di tengah masa jeda kompetisi. Pemain yang telah mengemas tiga gol dan empat asis musim ini baru saja memutus mandul gol saat menang 3-1 atas Toronto FC minggu lalu.

Manajer Charlotte FC, Dean Smith, memberikan konfirmasi mengenai situasi kontrak pemain andalannya tersebut yang masih belum menemui kejelasan menjelang pertandingan penting ini.

"I don’t know where it is with Wilfried," ujar Dean Smith, Manajer Charlotte FC.

Smith menambahkan bahwa proses negosiasi terus berjalan dan keputusan dipastikan tidak akan diambil sebelum pertandingan hari Sabtu.

"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.

Di kubu tim tamu, New England Revolution datang dengan modal performa positif setelah meraih tiga kemenangan dari empat laga MLS terakhir mereka. Pelatih kepala Marko Mitrovic menyatakan bahwa dirinya sudah mengantongi kekuatan lawan berbekal pertemuan pertama awal Mei lalu yang dimenangi Revolution dengan skor 1-0.

"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 Blair Gavin menekankan pentingnya kebersamaan tim untuk menghadapi atmosfer pertandingan tandang yang diprediksi akan menyulitkan di markas Charlotte FC.

"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," tutur Blair Gavin, Asisten Pelatih New England Revolution.

Bek New England Revolution, Mamadou Fofana, ikut menyuarakan optimisme senada mengenai kesiapan mental rekan-rekannya untuk mengamankan poin penuh demi mempertahankan posisi papan atas.

"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," ungkap Mamadou Fofana, Bek New England Revolution.

Fofana juga mengakui kualitas kolektivitas Charlotte FC yang dinilainya kompak dan menyulitkan saat pertemuan pertama di Foxborough.

"It wasn’t easy because they are a very good team," kata Mamadou Fofana, Bek New England Revolution.

Ia menambahkan bahwa timnya harus percaya diri penuh menghadapi tekanan dari suporter tuan rumah.

"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," kata Mamadou Fofana, Bek New England Revolution.

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