Red Bulls Preparing for Next Road Trip to Charlotte FC

By Daniel Feuerstein | Harrison, NJ | March 20th, 2026 |

After a thrilling last-second goal to earn a point at Toronto, Red Bull New York is heading down to Charlotte, North Carolina, to face Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium, a building they have never won at. So far, they have a record of 2 draws and 2 losses in the Queen City, and this year they hope to get that elusive first road win at that stadium. But Charlotte FC is always a tough customer with that roster; even with some changes, they are still a tough side to face at home, so now it’s up to Michael Bradley to see if he can get his first crack at three points away from home.

“I’ve been watching a lot of their games throughout the season. I keep up with all the MLS games. And looking at Charlotte, you can see they’re a very attack-minded team. They have good players. Obviously, they have (Wilfred) Zaha coming from Europe. He’s played at a really high level. Other good players, fast players. So it’s going to be really important for us defensively, our rest defense, and then how quickly can we go at them on the counterattack,” said Adri Mehmeti

But the draw from the last game in Toronto is what everyone was discussing with head coach Michael Bradley. That huge moment when the Red Bulls had the last set piece of the match at the near corner: Tanner Rosborough won the corner along the near side, and Omar Valencia delivered a ball inside the area. It pinballed around, and just getting his foot on it was Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who gently bent it inside the upper near 90, which looked like a slow-motion movie as the big moment was about to come true. Then, celebrations of a robbery were forming inside the center circle.

“Early on in the season, to be able to go to a place like Toronto in their home opener and push the game the way that we did, play the way that we did. But even when it didn’t go perfectly, even when it didn’t come easily, just keep going and keep playing and keep pushing until the bitter end. That part was really important. That part special. We said to the group after the game the mentality of players, the mentality of a team to step on the field every single weekend and regardless of whether it goes your way or doesn’t go your way, or whether you get the first goal or concede the first goal to just play and give everything you have and just keep going and going until they say you can’t go anymore. That part is the quality of a really good team,” said Michael Bradley

Fans continue to watch that highlight over and over again. Seeing Choupo-Moting take his chance inside the area, watching Toronto’s players watching that ball go toward their net, hoping it doesn’t go in. When it did, you saw their goalkeeper fall backwards and cover his face with his hands, as he couldn’t believe it had gone in, and the dropping of two points that afternoon. Especially since it was their home opener after Toronto started their season with three consecutive road matches.

“It’s an incredible finish, incredible the way when the ball falls for him with the skill and the balance, to be able to score the way that he does it that’s a goal scorer’s goal in every way. And we are really excited for Choupo-Moting to get his first goal of the season, especially at such an important time. He is such an important player for us on the field and off the field, in terms of his quality, but also just the person that he is, the teammate that he is, the example that he sets for his teammates every day. He came through for us in a really big moment.”

Since coming off his MLS Next Pro Championship last season, Midfielder Adri Mehmeti has been touted as the next great academy player to join the main club. So far in four matches, he has played well with two assists toward Julian Hall’s two of his three goals to start the season. He’s been active and puts himself in good positions to set up chances for himself and his teammates to put the ball on frame.

“It’s been really good for me. I think all the guys in training have been pushing me in a great way, so that I can have that confidence. So when I go into games, I give everything I have, and I don’t shy away from the moment. And again, every game is a learning experience and a moment to grow, so just taking it game by game, minute by minute, and trying to make the most out of every game and give everything I have,” said Adri Mehmeti

Since he started this season in the midfield, Mehmeti has been playing alongside the Captain, Emil Forsberg. A player who has years of experience at RB Leipzig and on the Swedish National Team. Working with Forsberg has been a fantastic experience for Mehmeti; it’s also been a great time for Forsberg to have a younger player with him, so he can help mold him into a better player. So far, the midfield has been active, and these two, along with Ronald Donkor, have looked strong for three of their first four matches.

“Emil (Forsberg) has a lot of experience in Europe, obviously, playing with Leipzig for a very, very long time, a team that’s competing in the Champions League. He’s obviously been the leader coming into this team since he first came, and the way he moves with and without the ball, offensively, defensively, I’ve been trying to implement in my game. Obviously, how he takes care of himself off the field. So then when he comes to training, he’s ready every single day. And he’s been giving me a lot of confidence, pushing every single day. He’s telling me always to get on the ball. Get on the ball, be brave, even if you make a mistake, keep going, which has been really helpful for me.”

Right now, the club has seven points in four matches, and the hope is to make it eight or ten in five. They will have to be on their toes when they face Charlotte FC, as the club’s midfield is its strongest part. We shall see what happens when Michael Bradley takes another step as head coach of Red Bull New York’s first team.

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