Columbus Crew 2025 Season Preview, Roster and Schedule

Columbus Crew 2025 marks the 30th season for the Crew in Major League Soccer. The Crew are an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio, competing in the Eastern Conference. Founded as one of the ten charter MLS teams in 1996, Columbus has a rich history, including multiple MLS Cup titles and US Open Cups. In recent years, the Crew won the 2023 MLS Cup (their third league championship) and the 2024 Leagues Cup. Last season (2024) the team set franchise records with 66 points and 19 wins (the league’s best goal differential of +32). Head coach Wilfried Nancy, hired in late 2022, has been instrumental – guiding the Crew to back-to-back club-record seasons and earning the 2024 MLS Coach of the Year award.

Table of Contents

By any measure, Columbus Crew has established itself as one of Ohio’s premier sports teams – the Black & Gold consistently drawing sellout crowds at Lower.com Field (the modern soccer-specific stadium in downtown Columbus). The team enjoys a passionate fanbase (notably the Nordecke supporters’ section) and a strong home-field advantage. This in-depth 2025 preview covers the Crew’s history, 2024 recap, offseason moves, key players, schedule highlights, and outlook for the MLS 2025 season. It also offers FAQs and actionable tips for fans. Let’s dive in!

Club History & Achievements

Columbus Crew SC (often just “Crew”) has a decorated trophy cabinet. The franchise has won three MLS Cups (2008, 2020, 2023), three Supporters’ Shields (2004, 2008, 2009), the 2002 U.S. Open Cup, and the 2024 Leagues Cup. The club also won its first continental trophy by capturing the Campeones Cup in 2021 and made the 2024 Champions Cup final. As Wikipedia notes, “The Crew have won eight major trophies” overall. At Lower.com Field (capacity 20,139), Columbus has seen the team’s popularity surge: 2023 set club records for attendance and sellouts.

MLS Cups: 2008, 2020, 2023
Supporters’ Shields: 2004, 2008, 2009
Other Trophies: 2002 U.S. Open Cup; Campeones Cup 2021; Leagues Cup 2024

Many Crew legends have donned the black-and-gold. Darlington Nagbe, the veteran midfielder and team captain, has won four MLS Cup rings in his career (with other clubs and Columbus). Goalscorers like Cucho Hernández (Club’s all-time leading scorer before departing in 2024) and Lalas Abubakar (former captain and defender) have left their mark. In 2024 the Crew saw an unprecedented level of club success: 19 wins and 66 points in the regular season (franchise highs), playing 50 matches across all competitions. The season culminated in winning the Leagues Cup (defeating LAFC in the final) and reaching the Concacaf Champions Cup final.

Team Record & Standings

Under Nancy’s leadership, Columbus set multiple team records in 2024. The Crew’s final regular-season record was 19W-6L-9T (66 points), good for 2nd place in the Eastern Conference. They led MLS in goals scored (72) and goal differential (+32). That performance earned Nancy the 2024 Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year. Despite being favorites as defending MLS Cup champions, Columbus was upset in the 2024 playoffs by the New York Red Bulls (seventh seed) in the opening Best-of-3 series. (NYRB won the first game 1-0 against Columbus.) The Crew will look to build on that strong finish and go further in 2025.

Coaching and Management

The 2025 Columbus Crew will again be led by Head Coach Wilfried Nancy. Nancy joined Columbus on Dec. 6, 2022 as the eighth full-time head coach in club history. A former player and long-time assistant, he brought a possession-oriented style to the Crew. Nancy’s impact was immediate: by 2023 he guided the Crew to an MLS Cup championship (Columbus’ third title). In 2024 he was named MLS Coach of the Year, having led the team to the Supporters’ Shield (league’s top points) and Leagues Cup trophy. As the team website explains, “Under the 2024 Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year, the Crew have recorded two of their best seasons in club history”, setting franchise records in wins, points and goals.

Nancy is known for developing young talent and rotating his lineup. In 2024 he mentored several players to All-Star honors. Defender Steven Moreira was named the 2024 MLS Defender of the Year, and forward Cucho Hernández finished second in MVP voting. Crew players Moreira, Nagbe, Cucho, Rudy Camacho and Diego Rossi were all MLS All-Stars – the most from any team that year. Assistant coaches and staff (including former players like Patrick Ampadu) round out the technical team. For 2025, there have been no major coaching changes, so Nancy’s proven system will continue to underpin Columbus’ style of play.

Roster and Key Players

The 2025 Columbus Crew roster features a mix of MLS veterans and promising newcomers. The squad lost a few big names in the 2024–25 off-season. In December 2024, star forward Cucho Hernández was transferred to Real Betis (Spain) for a club-record fee. Veteran striker Christian Ramírez was traded to LA Galaxy, and Ghanaian winger Yaw Yeboah was dealt to LAFC (after scoring in the 2023 MLS Cup). Romanian midfielder Alexandru Mățan also departed after his contract expired. These key departures created gaps in the attack that the Crew have to fill.

On the acquisitions side, Columbus’ headline signing is Finnish winger Lassi Lappalainen, joining as a free agent after six seasons with CF Montréal. Lappalainen (capable of playing on either wing or centrally) is expected to bolster the attack and midfield. The team also added Dániel Gazdag, a Hungarian international midfielder acquired from Philadelphia Union (in a deal finalized late 2024), who will bring creativity and goals. Veteran midfielder Darlington Nagbe (the club captain) returns as a key locker-room leader. Defensive mainstays Steven Moreira and Rudy Camacho (both 2024 all-stars) will anchor the back line. Other notable contributors include forward Diego Rossi (Uruguay international on loan) and midfielder Sean Zawadzki, who took over more of the team’s set-piece duties.

Team Captain: Darlington Nagbe (midfielder) continues as the Crew’s on-field captain. Nagbe is “a highly respected leader” and has won four MLS Cups in his career.

Key Players to Watch

Darlington Nagbe (Midfielder, Captain): A steady veteran known for ball control and leadership.
Dániel Gazdag (Midfielder): Dynamic playmaker (Designated Player) acquired from PHI Union; brings goals and assists.
Diego Rossi (Forward): Fast striker on loan, scored 8 goals in 2024.
Lassi Lappalainen (Winger): New signing from Montréal, versatile attacker.
Steven Moreira (Defender): 2024 MLS Defender of the Year; strong in defense and passing.
Rudy Camacho (Defender): Veteran French-Cape Verdean center back, club stalwart.

Roster Overview

The roster rules in MLS allow each team to sign up to 30 senior players plus supplemental roster spots. Columbus projects a balanced squad, with a mix of players under contract for 2025 and draft picks. The official team roster (available on the Columbus Crew website) will detail each player’s status【1†】. As of now, aside from departures noted above, most of the 2024 playoff roster remains in Columbus for 2025. Depth players from Crew 2 (MLS Next Pro affiliate) will also push for first-team minutes. Fans should keep an eye on mid-season transfer windows, as Wilfried Nancy has historically been active to address team needs.

Lower.com Field & Fan Experience

Lower.com Field, the modern soccer stadium in Columbus’ Arena District, is home to the Columbus Crew. (Image: Crew’s Stadium)

Lower.com Field is the state-of-the-art home stadium of Columbus Crew. Opened in July 2021, it seats 20,139 fans. The soccer-specific stadium is built on 12 acres in downtown Columbus’ Astor Park, just south of Interstate 670. As the club’s official site notes, “the 20,139 seat stadium in Downtown Columbus’ Astor Park… opened in July 2021” with a natural grass playing surface. Since the move to Lower.com Field, the Crew has enjoyed tremendous home success. In fact, the team sold out all season tickets for the second straight year in 2025, a club first. Columbus entered 2025 having hosted 31 consecutive regular-season sellouts at Lower.com Field. Those sellouts have translated into strong home results: since 2023, the Crew led MLS with 22 home wins and a +44 goal differential at home.

Matchdays at Lower.com Field are vibrant and family-friendly. The stadium offers modern amenities and a steep, 37° seating bowl design that keeps fans close to the action. One special feature is the Nordecke (German for “north corner”), the supporters’ section behind one of the goals. With over 3,300 safe-standing seats, the Nordecke is the “heart of Columbus Crew” and the second-largest supporters’ section in MLS. Crew supporters are known for elaborate tifo displays, chants, and drumming. As the club describes it, the Nordecke “brings unparalleled energy to Lower.com Field to help the 2023 MLS Cup Champions to victory.”. The atmosphere is famously loud – spectators might even hear the club’s victory song echo through the stadium after goals.

Columbus Crew supporters rally in the Nordecke section at Lower.com Field, cheering on the Black & Gold (photo of fans with US flag). Fans and the Nordecke bring a “Wall of Sound” on matchdays.

Away from matchdays, Lower.com Field hosts other events (concerts, etc.), but it remains primarily associated with Crew games. Fans arriving for Crew matches are encouraged to explore the Arena District neighborhood (restaurants, bars, state capitol nearby). The stadium has convenient parking and public transit options. Ticketing is handled via Ticketmaster and the Lower.com Field ticket office.

Quick Stadium Facts:

Address: 96 W Nationwide Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215

Capacity: 20,139 seats (all-seater)

Opened: July 3, 2021 (vs. LA Galaxy)

Ownership: Crew’s Haslam/Edwards group (same owners as Cleveland Browns)

Stadium Partners: Sponsored as Lower.com Field (naming rights partner)

Amenities: Grass field, safe-standing supporters’ section (Nordecke), LED lighting, open concourses.

Lower.com Field Tours and Events: Fans can visit the Lower.com Field website for tours and events. (Day-of-match tours might be offered by the Crew organization.) Season ticket members enjoy extras like scarf pick-up and priority seat access. Keep an eye on the official Crew site and the Lower.com Field site for updates and special events.

2025 Schedule & Competitions

The 2025 MLS season officially kicks off on February 22, 2025, with Columbus Crew hosting the Chicago Fire at Lower.com Field. (The Crew swept Chicago in 2024 and have been unbeaten at home vs. the Fire since 2013.) Columbus will play 34 MLS regular-season matches (17 home, 17 away), plus any Leagues Cup or Campeones Cup fixtures. The league’s schedule is designed with regional matchups, rivalry games, and marquee broadcasts.

Key 2025 Schedule Dates:

Feb 22: Season opener – Crew vs. Chicago Fire (Home).
Apr 13: Away at St. Louis CITY SC (Sunday evening) – Crew’s first road game.
Apr 19: Crew vs. Inter Miami CF at Cleveland’s Huntington Bank Field (Sunday, 4:30 PM). This high-profile neutral-site match features the 2023 MLS Cup champions vs. 2024 Supporters’ Shield winners.
May 17: “Hell is Real” Derby – Crew hosts FC Cincinnati (7:30 PM, Lower.com Field). The heated Ohio rivalry games are always major events. (Return leg in Cincinnati on Jul 12.)
Jun 25: Crew hosts Atlanta United (national TV match on FS1).
Jun 29: Crew hosts Philadelphia Union (MLS Cup rematch from 2023 semifinals).
Jul 10: Away at Seattle Sounders (late kickoff) – visit a strong western power.
Oct 2025: Regular season finale (opponents TBD); Crew aims to clinch a top playoff seed in October.

Many games will be nationally televised (Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass carries all matches, plus select games on ESPN/FS1). The Crew’s broadcast schedule will be announced closer to the season.

In addition to MLS play, Columbus may participate in secondary competitions. As 2023 MLS Cup winners, they earned a spot in CONCACAF Champions Cup (though that tournament shifted to 2024). There is no U.S. Open Cup in 2025 (it alternates). The new Leagues Cup (MLS vs Liga MX) will resume in 2025 with a new format including all teams. Columbus, as a 2024 Leagues Cup champion, will be a favorite in next year’s edition as well.

Eastern Conference & Playoff Push

Columbus competes in MLS’s Eastern Conference. In 2024 the Crew finished 2nd in the East, only behind the Supporters’ Shield-winning Inter Miami CF. The 2025 Eastern Conference will again be competitive, featuring NYCFC, Philadelphia Union, Orlando City, Atlanta United and rising teams like St. Louis CITY. The Crew aims to be at or near the top of the East standings by October to earn home-field advantage in the playoffs.

Importantly, the MLS playoff format has recently expanded. For 2025, the playoffs will include the top 9 teams from each conference. The top 7 seeds in the East (and West) will advance directly to the best-of-3 first round. Teams seeded 8th and 9th must play a single-game Wild Card to reach Round One. (In 2024 that format debuted, and Columbus’ first-round loss to NYRB was in a best-of-3 series.)

2025 Playoff Qualification: Top 9 clubs in Eastern Conference (by points per game).
Top 7 seeds: Straight to Round One (best-of-3).
Seeds 8 & 9: One-off Wild Card game (hosted by the higher seed).

Once in Round One, it’s an East-vs-East best-of-three. The Crew’s goal is to secure a top-7 finish in 2025 so they bypass the win-or-go-home Wild Card round. As MLS guidelines explain, the playoff bracket will pit the Crew against the conference’s other top teams in the spring of 2026, culminating in the MLS Cup (likely in December 2025). Columbus fans will be watching the standings closely – a late push for the playoffs can generate real momentum.

If the Crew reach the 2025 playoffs, there will be a “Friendly Rivalry” heading into it. Last postseason, the Crew (as the defending champs) were viewed as a favorite, but the slip-up against NYRB showed that anything can happen. In a playoff race, results against Eastern foes (especially MLS Cup Finalists Inter Miami and Philadelphia) will be key. Historically, Columbus has some playoff pedigree – winning MLS Cups in 2008, 2020, and 2023 – so the pressure is on to add a 2025 Cup title.

Columbus Crew and Ohio Sports

The Columbus Crew play a unique role in Ohio sports. Alongside NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns, MLB’s Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians, and NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, the Crew are one of Ohio’s “big four” pro teams. They also have a major following in Columbus (home of Ohio State University) where no other major-league team resides. The growth of soccer in Ohio is evident: as of 2025, Columbus is the only MLS city in the state, but that will change soon with new teams on the horizon (and of course Cincinnati now has FC Cincinnati in MLS).

Fan Culture: Columbus Crew fans are known for creativity and passion. The Nordecke pride (named for the German “north corner”) is a symbol of Columbus’ large soccer community. The Crew also encourages community involvement: players visit local schools and charities, and “Goals Drive Progress” initiatives tackle social causes (Nagbe won an MLS humanitarian award in 2024). Many Ohioans follow the Crew along with college and NFL sports. Tailgating, Drum Fest (pre-game drumming contest), and yearly traditions make Crew games social events. The team is often called “the heartbeat of Columbus” by local media.

Columbus Crew in the Community

As an American soccer club, Columbus has ties to the community. The Crew Foundation runs community programs in Ohio, promoting youth soccer and health initiatives. Games at Lower.com Field often have themes for charity. Columbus is also a soccer city with a strong youth soccer culture – the Crew Academy develops local talent who often graduate to the first team. Crew 2, the MLS Next Pro side, gives younger players professional experience just outside the main city.

In short, Crew games are major events for Columbus sports fans. Local broadcasters and newspapers (like The Columbus Dispatch and national outlets) regularly cover the team. The phrase “⚽❤️ The Crew” is often seen on social media among Ohio sports fans. Expect 2025 to see not only the team on the field, but active fan parties and tailgates around Lower.com Field.

Columbus Crew 2025 FAQs

Q: When does the Columbus Crew 2025 season start?
A: The 2025 MLS season kicks off on Feb. 22, 2025 with Columbus hosting Chicago Fire at Lower.com Field. (Check the official schedule on the Crew website for the full list of dates.)

Q: Who is the Columbus Crew coach for 2025?
A: Head coach Wilfried Nancy leads the Crew in 2025. Nancy joined Columbus in Dec 2022 and won MLS Coach of the Year in 2024.

Q: Who is the captain of Columbus Crew 2025?
A: Midfielder Darlington Nagbe is the team captain. A two-time Humanitarian of the Year and MLS veteran, Nagbe led the Crew on the field and has multiple MLS Cup championships to his name.

Q: Where do the Columbus Crew play home games?
A: Columbus plays at Lower.com Field in downtown Columbus (Astor Park). It’s a 20,139-seat soccer-specific stadium opened in 2021. For stadium details and tickets, see the Lower.com Field site or ColumbusCrew.com.

Q: What’s on the Columbus Crew 2025 roster?
A: The official 2025 roster can be found on ColumbusCrew.com. Key players include Darlington Nagbe (captain), Dániel Gazdag, Diego Rossi, Lassi Lappalainen (new signing), Steven Moreira, and Rudy Camacho. Notable departures: Cucho Hernández, Alexandru Mățan, Christian Ramirez, Yaw Yeboah.

Q: How do I get tickets for Crew 2025 games?
A: Single-match tickets for all 2025 home games went on sale in January 2025. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster and the Crew’s online ticket office. Season tickets have sold out, so individual game tickets (especially for big matches) should be purchased early. Visit ColumbusCrew.com/Tickets for ticket info.

Q: How do the MLS playoffs work for 2025?
A: The 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs will include the top 9 teams from each conference. The top 7 seeds advance directly to the first round (best-of-3 series), while seeds 8 and 9 play a one-game Wild Card. Columbus will aim to finish in the top seven to avoid the sudden-death round. For details, see MLS Competition Guidelines.

Q: Who owns the Columbus Crew?
A: The Crew are owned by the Haslam family (owners of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns) and physician Pete Edwards. This ownership era began in 2019 and has stabilized the club with strong investment in facilities.

Q: What gear/colors does Columbus Crew use?
A: The team’s primary kit is black & gold (hence the nickname “Black & Gold”). The 2025 jerseys (revealed in early 2025) feature new designs but retain the traditional colors. For merchandise, check the Crew Shop or authorized retailers.

Q: How can I watch Columbus Crew games in 2025?
A: All Columbus Crew matches (MLS, Leagues Cup, Campeones Cup) are streamed on MLS Season Pass (Apple TV). Some high-profile games will also air on U.S. TV (ESPN, Fox/FS1, or Univision for Spanish coverage). Radio broadcasts are available on local stations in Columbus (check Crew media guides).

Conclusion and Engagement

The Columbus Crew 2025 season promises excitement for MLS and Ohio sports fans. With an improved roster, championship pedigree under Coach Nancy, and the formidable home crowd at Lower.com Field, the Crew will aim to return to the playoffs and compete for trophies. Stay updated on lineup announcements and game results by following the official Crew channels.