MLS Preview: Comprehensive Guide to the 2015 Season
The 2015 MLS season begins Friday, when the LA Galaxy opens its title defense in Los Angeles, Calif., against the Chicago Fire.
The league's 20th season sees the Galaxy aim for its fourth title in five years, and welcomes two new clubs: New York City FC and Orlando FC.
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- Related: Season Predictions
- Related: Complete 2015 MLS Schedule
Check out detailed previews for all 20 teams below.
Eastern Conference
After a flurry of offseason moves, Chicago went from having one of the most underwhelming squads in the league to one rife with intriguing, if unproven, talent that will have Frank Yallop expecting to get the Fire into the playoffs for only the second time in the last six years.
Gregg Berhalter has arguably the most balanced squad in the league at his disposal, but in order to fulfill many pre-season predictions and challenge for both the Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup, Kei Kamara will need to find the net on a consistent basis.
Not as good as last season and certainly not as bad as two seasons ago, D.C. United should be fighting for a playoff spot in 2015, though their reliance on Fabian Espindola to score the overwhelming majority of their goals is a tad concerning.
After a modest offseason in which the team failed to address the massive hole left in attack by the retirement of Marco Di Vaio, it's difficult to envision a scenario in which Frank Klopas gets excited during the MLS season the same way he did in the club's recent CONCACAF Champions League triumph.
The goals will flow at one end as Juan Agudelo adds firepower to a club already boasting a wealth of attacking riches, but if Jay Heaps is going to guide (arguably) the league's best team one step further than last season's heartbreak, it's in defense where the questions will need to be answered.
Backed by the financial muscle of Manchester City, the club will be able to compete for a playoff spot right from its infancy, with David Villa and Frank Lampard - when the latter arrives - leading the way during a successful opening season.
The lofty expectations still remain, but it's far from certain that the new-look Red Bulls have the talent to avoid taking a big step backwards this season.
Transferring their winning pedigree from USL Pro into MLS will be no simple task, but with an already solid core being boosted by an influx of talent - led by Kaka - the Lions should be in the playoff race in the weaker of the league's two conferences.
Despite a quiet offseason, Jim Curtin is preaching a playoff berth to his team, hoping that continuity with his roster and a couple intriguing additions in attack will be enough to get the Union into the post-season for just the second time in franchise history.
Their marquee signing wants to be there, the squad is significantly more balanced than last season and Bradley won't have to do it all by himself anymore: if Toronto FC doesn't make the playoffs in 2015, they should consider demolishing BMO Field and starting from scratch.
Western Conference
Powered by a lethal core of attacking talent that can be devastating on the break with its combination of speed and dribbling ability, Oscar Parejo's side will be a force to be reckoned with - even if the backline isn't quite at the same lofty standards of the attack.
It will take time for Owen Coyle to put his mark on a team that returns much of the core from last season's nightmare, but if Raul Rodriguez can solidify things at the back and Erick Torres can make good on the hype surrounding his arrival, there will be clear signs of improvement for the Dynamo in 2015.
With Pablo Mastroeni firmly at the helm and an intriguing young core supplemented by some impressive offseason signings, the Rapids should be better than last season, though expecting them to get into the post-season still seems like quite the stretch.
It's a case of no Landon, no problem for the most talented team in the league, who will be expected to achieve nothing less than yet another MLS Cup triumph.
Already off to a rough start with a pair of high-profile injuries, the Portland Timbers will need to weather the storm without Diego Valeri and hope the return of the Argentine is enough to push them back into the playoffs.
The squad, though markedly different from the one that pushed for the Supporters' Shield last season, is still sprinkled with talented veterans that should have enough in the tank for another playoff berth - assuming they stay healthy, of course.
Good luck, Dominic Kinnear (at least the new stadium looks fantastic).
There are some questions about the dynamic in defense following the loss of DeAndre Yedlin, but with the league's most lethal attacking duo from a season ago remaining intact, the Sounders will once again be a threat for top spot in the Western Conference - and for that elusive MLS Cup.
A squad rife with talent and certainly capable of returning to the heights of 2013, Sporting Kansas City will be hoping that the injury bug doesn't sink its teeth in nearly as deep as it did last season.
Forever the dark horse of the Western Conference, the Whitecaps will need to find consistent attacking contributors to alleviate the burden on Pedro Morales and establish themselves as a team that can not only make the post-season consistently, but make some noise once they get there.