Houston Dynamo FC entered the 2026 Major League Soccer season with several offseason roster changes designed to strengthen the squad after missing the playoffs in 2025.
Houston opened the campaign with a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire FC on Feb. 22 at Shell Energy Stadium. Brazilian winger Guilherme Vieira da Silva scored twice in his debut, providing an early spark for the Dynamo offense. The team followed the win with a 2-0 loss to Los Angeles FC, leaving Houston with a 1-1 record early in the season.
The Dynamo’s offseason was highlighted by several key additions. Houston signed Polish attacking midfielder Mateusz Bogusz from Cruz Azul in one of the most expensive transfers in club history. The 24-year-old is expected to play a central creative role in the Dynamo attack and help drive the team’s transition play.
Houston also added Guilherme from Santos FC as a designated player. The 30-year-old arrives with nearly 100 professional goals and extensive experience across Brazil and the Middle East, bringing proven scoring ability to the Dynamo’s front line.
Another major storyline was the return of veteran midfielder Héctor Herrera, who rejoined Houston after spending the 2025 season with Deportivo Toluca F.C. in Mexico’s Liga MX. Herrera, a two-time MLS All-Star with Houston, previously captained the club to the 2023 U.S. Open Cup title and is expected to provide leadership in midfield.
The Dynamo also strengthened their roster depth with several additional signings, including Brazilian defender Lucas Halter, Argentine midfielder Agustín Bouzat and forward Nick Markanich, who joined on loan for the 2026 season. Defender Franco Negri was also added to bolster the back line.
Houston continued to invest in young talent as well. The club signed 15-year-old academy product Matthew Arana to a homegrown contract, making him the youngest first-team signing in franchise history.
The team remains under the leadership of head coach Ben Olsen, who is entering his fourth season with the club. With a mix of experienced international signings and young academy talent, the Dynamo are aiming to return to playoff contention in the Western Conference as the MLS season continues this spring.