MLS 2024 preview: Four teams that could be in deep trouble

A public war of words followed, with Toronto sharing details about the Italians vaping through practices and the Italians holding secret conference calls with their teammates in a bid to get Bradley fired. In the end, as the team slumped to defeat after defeat, Toronto sacked Bradley, but Insigne and Bernardeschi remained.

Canadian coach John Herdman, renowned for his no-nonsense style, took the reins during the offseason, and in many ways, he's a brilliant get for Toronto. He cut his teeth in the women's game before leading Canada's men's squad to the 2022 World Cup.

Despite all the chaos of last season, Toronto has made virtually no changes to its lineup. It's still reliant on Insigne and Bernardeschi, both of whom cost the club millions but have no interest in giving their best. It seems Toronto's plan is simply to wait out their contracts and attempt a full rebuild later, and that means 2024 is likely to be a wash for the franchise.

Inter Miami

Last season: 14th in Eastern Conference

On paper, Miami looks great. The Fab Four of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets should crash through MLS defenses and score buckets of goals. But in practice, the group has struggled to find its footing, with Suarez tiring around halftime, Busquets and Alba losing sharpness shortly thereafter and Messi left to fend for himself. 

If Miami had a bench of young playmakers to leverage as substitutes, this wouldn't be a problem, but it doesn't. It lost Facundo Farias to an ACL injury and Benjamin Cremaschi to a sports hernia. It found Federico Redondo, an exciting Argentine prospect, as a replacement, but its negotiations with Redondo fell apart after MLS accused Miami of breaking the salary cap. (Redondo's transfer may yet go through, but it will be at a significantly lower value than previously reported.)

With 2024 shaping up to be the longest MLS season on record, and competitions like the Leagues Cup filling up the summer break, Miami simply doesn't have the legs to be competitive for a full year. It will do well to make the playoffs.

Houston Dynamo

Last season: Fourth in Western Conference

Houston — the unglamorous underdog of the Western Conference — is a franchise with tremendous upside, including a fantastic supporter's section. When it beat Inter Miami's Galacticos to win the U. S. Open Cup last fall, it felt like a victory for the so-called "old guard," and it was hailed as a triumph across the league.

Much of Houston's verve comes from Hector Herrera, the legendary Mexican midfielder. It's hard to explain how much Herrera matters to Houston's success; everything, from attacks to defense to lateral ball-holding passes, moves through him. When he's fit and available, Houston can challenge anyone in the league. When he's absent, Houston becomes a shell of itself.

Herrera suffered a minor injury in the preseason and will miss Houston's opening run of fixtures. The team didn't make any attacking signings over the summer, either, and accordingly, Houston looks stagnant. It did well to finish fourth last season, and it's hard to see it reaching those heights in 2024.

Austin FC

Last season: 12th in Western Conference

Austin is a team that has everything going for it: an engaged fanbase, a beautiful stadium, stable ownership and a respected coach. But the team struggled to tell a coherent story on the field in 2023, and after several seasons of lights-out play, Austin sank like a stone. It finished 12th, well outside the playoff spots, and got knocked out of the CONCACAF Champions League by Haitian outfit AC Violette.

In the offseason, Austin dropped several of its expensive, underperforming players, but it hasn't done much of anything to replace them. 

It looks like ex-U. S. Men's National Team player Gyasi Zardes will line up as Austin's top front-to-goal striker, and given that Zardes has been a backup for years in MLS, that's worrying. While it's great to see Austin clearing dead weight from its roster, it's concerning to watch it rely on former B-teamers for 2024.