For Michael Collodi, Saturday’s match between FC Dallas and Toronto FC in Frisco, Texas marks the beginning of a new phase in his career.
Collodi has stepped in as the starting goalie after last year’s starter, Maarten Paes, returned to the Netherlands to join Ajax. Last season, Collodi performed well during Paes’ injury, recording three clean sheets and allowing only eight goals in nine games.
Despite the acquisition of Jonathan Sirois from Montreal, Collodi has secured the starting position.
“I have a big chance this year to play regularly,” Collodi said. “This is the role I’ve wanted with this club for a long time. Staying calm is key.”
Last year, Dallas finished with an 11-12-11 record, earning 44 points and placing seventh in the Western Conference. The team was eliminated from the playoffs by Vancouver. They are seeking to improve from a disappointing 6-8-3 record at home.
Offensively, Dallas expects strong performances from Petar Musa, who scored 18 goals and provided six assists last season.
On the other hand, Toronto is aiming to recover from a challenging 2025, where they recorded a 6-14-14 record, finishing 12th in the Eastern Conference with 32 points and missing the playoffs. The team’s rebuild began last summer with the addition of midfielder Djordje Mihailovic, and continued with the signing of Walker Zimmerman from Nashville during the offseason to strengthen their defense.
Zimmerman hopes to guide Toronto back to the playoffs for the first time since 2020 and enhance his own legacy.
“You want a club that’s ambitious, ready to invest, and committed to winning,” he stated. “Toronto meets those criteria. There’s only one way to go, and that’s up, given their recent results.”
Toronto has not won in Dallas in their last 11 meetings, with a record of 0-8-3. This marks the first match between the teams in Texas since 2022.