Timo Werner has found his role, and his form, in Major League Soccer. The German striker scored twice on Saturday to lead the San Jose Earthquakes to a win over Saint Louis City, giving him eight goal contributions in his first eight games. The Earthquakes now hold the best record in MLS, surprising many who doubted Werner's transition to the league.
Bruce Arena's Philosophy
Bruce Arena, now in his near-30th year as a head coach in American soccer, has never claimed to be a tactical genius. He has expressed open contempt for the concept, routinely brushing off questions about formations and strategies. He once said, 'We have a very important analytic, and that's the score.' This attitude is out of step with modern managers, but Arena wins. He wins largely because of how he sets roles and expectations for his players. Robbie Keane, Arena's star striker at LA Galaxy, called him the 'Sir Alex Ferguson of America.' Matt Turner, who rose to USMNT starter under Arena at New England Revolution, praised the 'super powerful thing' Arena offers through man management.
'When you have 25 guys that are on the same page, they know their role, and they know what they can do to help the team the best, it's a beautiful thing and it creates this energy around the locker room that boosts everyone's play,' Turner said in 2021. 'It really simplifies the game so when you're in higher-pressure moments you can execute.'
Timo Werner's Impact
Timo Werner moved to MLS at the start of 2026 after a couple of down seasons with RB Leipzig, where he first made his name as one of Europe's most in-demand strikers. His career took him to Chelsea and later Tottenham on loan, but his Premier League stays were uneven. In San Jose, on a team that lost their best provider Cristian Espinoza in the offseason, doubts existed about Werner's effectiveness. Those doubts have vanished. With his brace on Saturday, Werner now has eight goal contributions in eight games, propelling the surprising Earthquakes to the best record in MLS. Werner has not started all games as he built fitness, but he has raised the level of the group.
'[Arena] said, 'You are the top player, and I want to win something with you,'' Werner told Goal.com last month. 'He always said he would be behind me. He will help me.' Arena's system accentuates Werner's skills as a lethal finisher, quick reader of the game, and center of gravity who creates open looks for teammates. Contributions also come from winger Ousseni Bouda, striker Preston Judd, and playmaker Niko Tsakiris. Without Werner, the Earthquakes are solid; with him, they are scary.
Sporting Kansas City's Historic Struggles
Sporting Kansas City are flirting with history in the worst way. After a 5-0 drubbing by the Chicago Fire, SKC have just one victory in nine matches, an unconvincing 2-1 win over a struggling LA Galaxy side. They are on pace to shatter the record for worst goal differential in a single season, currently at -18, and have scored only seven goals through about a third of the campaign, threatening the league's all-time low.
For years, Sporting was a model MLS franchise, consistently competitive for over a decade. But signs of decline were evident. They have gotten progressively worse over the past three years, with no team in MLS having fewer points in that timeframe. The departure of Peter Vermes last year after over a decade as head coach and chief soccer officer left a leadership void. Sporting appointed David Lee as sporting director, but expiring contracts and declined options left the club with just 12 players entering the 2026 offseason. Experienced forward Daniel Salloi was traded to Toronto FC.
Despite hope that roster flexibility would allow a rebuild, SKC have rolled out a roster akin to a USL side. They were eliminated from the US Open Cup by the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, a midtable USL Championship team. Lee and first-year head coach Rafa Wicky cite a longer-term plan, with recruitment staff to be added this summer. In the meantime, what could have been a transitional year has turned into the worst season in MLS history.
Other candidates for worst season include DC United in 2013, who had more own goals (four) than their leading scorer, and FC Cincinnati, who had a 20-game winless streak in 2021. But SKC's current form is historically bad.
Matt Turner and the USMNT Goalkeeper Debate
Matt Turner is the best goalkeeper in MLS right now, sparking debate among USMNT fans. Turner is expected to be a backup at this summer's World Cup behind NYC FC's Matt Freese. Turner's form is a welcome change after he was in goal for the USMNT's 5-2 loss to Belgium last month. While not covering himself in glory, his performance was not the main problem, and head coach Mauricio Pochettino absolved him of responsibility.
With New England this year, Turner has prevented just over six goals in 2026, a league best according to Fotmob's algorithm. He has faced about 2.5 more shots per game than Freese and half a goal more in expected goals. His performances against Miami and Atlanta were fearless, and he bore no responsibility for the goals he allowed.
Pochettino has favored Freese but has shown willingness to use players based on current form. If that is the approach for the group stage opener against Paraguay, Turner feels like a better fit.
