This is the most wonderful time of the year.
The eve of a new season fills us with hope and, from a Chattanooga FC perspective, is full of reasons to be optimistic coming off a strong 2025 season that saw the team host an MLS NEXT Pro playoff game for the first time.
CFC has wrapped up a productive preseason and is ready to launch the club's third year competing in MLS NEXT Pro.
Here are five storylines to keep tabs on ahead of the club's 18th overall season.
Dixon writes new chapter in his CFC story
Richard Dixon embodies full commitment to the cause.
He was the club's first signing its professional era. The Jamaican made 92 appearances as a player, placing him sixth all time in appearances for the club.
Dixon announced his retirement from playing ahead of the club's inaugural season in MLS NEXT Pro.
He pivoted brilliantly into becoming the club's performance coach and eventually was promoted to Director of Performance.
His latest chapter sees him step into the interim head coach role, bringing his natural leadership qualities to the team at a crucial point at the beginning of the season.
Captain McGrath returns
The club's captain Alex McGrath missed the majority of the team's 2025 campaign after suffering a season-ending injury in the dying minutes of just the third league game of the season, in Kennesaw against Atlanta United 2.
2026 is poised to be a big year for McGrath as he has worked diligently to return to the field and signed a contract extension in the off-season.
Not only is he expected to return to competition, he is also two matches away from reaching 100 appearances for the club and becoming only the fourth player to do that.Â
McGrath's importance to the team is just as important on the field as it is off it.
Roster rebuild
The front office, led by Sporting Director Sebastian Giraldo, was strategic in its roster construction in the off-season to fit the playing style of MLS NEXT Pro.
The club's overall approach to roster building and recruitment is evidence based.
The average age of the roster dropped by a little over two years.
There were a few new and creative mechanisms used in its construction, including loans from MLS first teams, purchasing sell-on options on young talent from South America and signing two players from the Right to Dream Academy.
U.S. Open Cup on the horizon
This will represent Chattanooga FC's 11th year competing in the U.S. Open Cup, the country’s longest running national soccer competition.
Chattanooga will be one of only two MLS NEXT Pro teams (Carolina Core FC) competing in the First Round of the 2026 Open Cup and will look to improve upon last year's second round exit.
The club will host Kalonji Pro-Profile (UPSL Premier Division - Lawrenceville, Ga.) in the first round of the 2026 edition at Finley Stadium on Wednesday, March 18th at 6:00 p.m. ET.
CFC supporters remain lifeblood of club
Chattanooga FC is nothing without its supporters.
CFC became the first soccer club to offer true ownership to the fans in 2019 with 3,200+ investors from Chattanooga, all 50 states, and 31 countries.
The club always has a supporter director seat on its Board. Jeff Underwood is the current supporter director.
The club's Primary Owner, Davis Grizzard, came from Section 109, the supporter section at Finley Stadium.
There's also season ticket holder Topher Kersting (seen above), who hoists, runs with and waves a giant flag in the northside of the stadium during every single home match.
Interim Head Coach Dixon explained the connection between the club and its supporters best.
"This is why a lot of our players come here to play and they stay here is because of the fans. I don't want this to go unnoticed for our fans: they are a huge part of why these guys do what they do and the reason everyone trains so hard every single day. It means a huge deal to our players. The fans are like a 12th man for us on the field, and we really appreciate everyone showing up in the rain sometimes, the cold and the heat. It's awesome."
