San Diego FC will begin their inaugural 2025 MLS season this Sunday, February 23, against LA Galaxy in Carson, California.

SDFC played three official preseason games against MLS teams ahead of the season and enjoyed just one win, along with two losses.

Hirving Lozano is at the forefront of this project, and SDFC has built a roster with plenty of potential for the upcoming campaign. Here is a roster breakdown before the inaugural match this weekend.

CJ dos Santos

The goalkeeper position has the most questions and doubts ahead of the new season, with two fairly inexperienced players fighting for the starting role. 24-year-old dos Santos only has one MLS appearance in his trajectory and now has a career-changing opportunity at SDFC. The Philadelphia native is the front-runner to start in net for the season-opener with two out of three preseason games played.

Pablo Sisniega

Sisniega is the other goalkeeper that is battling for the starting role. Even at 29 years old, the native of Mexico City does not have a plethora of starting experience in flight. Sisniega allowed three goals against Portland Timbers in his only preseason start but remains an option for Mikey Varas.

Jacob Jackson

The 24-year-old shot-stopper is clearly the third goalkeeping option with no starts in the preseason. Jackson has a handful of MLS games to his name with the New England Revolution and San Jose Earthquakes but lacks experience.

Andres Reyes

The Colombian center-back was one of the most significant acquisitions for SDFC during this transfer window. Reyes was one of New York Red Bulls’ most vital players for several seasons before joining San Diego. At 6-foot-3, the 25-year-old has a strong physical presence, but he still has the ability to be very strong on the ball.

Paddy McNair

The Northern Ireland skipper has the potential to form quite a solid partnership with Reyes in the backline. McNair has strong leadership skills and a strong physical presence that has the potential to be useful in this inaugural campaign.

Christopher McVey

McVey is another defender with a towering presence that is likely to get plenty of playing time in the opening games. There is potential for strong internal competition in the center-back slots, and McVey looks like a favorite for Mikey Varas.

Jasper Loffelsend

Loffelsend looks like the front-runner for the right-back spot in this San Diego team. In the preseason, his physical presence was shown along with his ability on the ball. The German player has plenty of MLS experience with Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake and will look to being that to the table for SDFC.

Franco Negri

Negri has the potential to be vital in Varas’ counter-attacking style of play with his pace and build-up play in the left-back slot. The Argentine defender has a pair of MLS seasons with Inter Miami under his belt and seems like a lock for the starting role.

Hamady Diop

Diop is another player who can play in the left-back role, and he offers a solid physical presence at 6-foot but offers much less experience than a player like Franco Negri.

Ian Pilcher

Pilcher was selected No. 24 in the first round of the 2025 MLS SuperDraft and is another ccenter-backwith a similar build to the players on this roster. Given the other players already in the position, Pilcher’s playing time is expected to be limited in his rookie campaign.

Willy Kumado

The Right to Dream graduate is another option at right-back with his quick pace, but he is unlikely to win the starting job at the beginning of the season. Kumado began his professional career at SDFC’s sister club, FC Nordsjaelland, and spent the last couple of seasons at Danish club Lyngby, where he was a consistent starter.

Jeppe Tverskov

Tverskov captained SDFC in their final preseason match, and it looks like he will potentially wear the armband during the season opener. The Danish midfielder commanded the midfield in that game, showcasing his defensive abilities along with his passing range. Tverskov has the ability to be an anchor for this San Diego FC side and a vital part of Mikey Varas’ team.

Did you miss all six(6) goals we scored today?

Don’t worry… we got you. pic.twitter.com/NlTIgzeApU

— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) February 16, 2025

Onni Valakari

The young playmaker is very skillful and will likely be available off the bench when Mikey Varn needs creativity in the attack.

Luca de la Torre

de la Torre has the ability to be a box-to-box midfielder but can potentially serve in a more offensive role with San Diego FC. The San Diego native has a spectacular passing ability, along with the ability to generate space and goalscoring opportunities from the midfield. de la Torre is an exciting player who that has the potential to be one of SDFC’s key players moving forward.

Heine Gikling Bruseth

Bruseth is another young and exciting player for whom Mikey Varas and the front office are very hopeful. The Norwegian midfielder seems to be more skillful in offensive capabilities, and it will be interesting to see what the 20-year-old can provide.

Anibal Godoy

The veteran midfielder has been one of the best defensive midfielders in MLS over the past few seasons. The Panama national team captain has an imposing physical presence and has an immense ability to recover the sphere. At 35 years old, it will be interesting to see his role on this young core of players and the leadership he can provide.

Manu Duah

Duah was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, and what really stands out is his physical presence at 6-foot-4. The 19-year-old is a very exciting player with tremendous potential, and it will be interesting to see how his playing time is managed in MLS.

Alejandro Alvarado Jr.

Alvarado is another very young midfielder who is more promising on the offensive front of the ball. At 21 years old, the Los Angeles native does not have plenty of experience, mostly notably playing with LA Galaxy II and Portuguese club Vizela.

Marcus Ingvartsen

Ingvartsen has shown promise to be a good target man working alongside players like Hirving Lozano and Anders Dreyer. The Danish forward has top-level experience in German football with Union Berlin and Mainz 05 and has the potential to be SDFC’s leading scorer in this opening campaign.

Tomas Angel

At 21 years old, Angel does not possess the experience of a player like Ingvartsen and still has a lot to prove, given his soccer lineage. Angel struggled with Atletico Nacional in his native country and will now have to really perform to obtain playing time under Mikey Varas.

Anders Dreyer

Dreyer really showcased his immense talent and ability on the wings in SDFC’s last preseason match against the New York Red Bulls. There were several doubts raised when the Danish player was announced as a Designated Player, but he has more than enough talent to be effective in Major League Soccer.

Hirving Lozano

San Diego FC’s star man, all offensive play will revolve around “Chucky,” along with most of the off-the-field attention from fans. The Mexican international will be the focal point of this attack and has a huge responsibility to lead this offense throughout the season.

Emmanuel Boateng

Boateng has been playing in MLS for nearly a decade and certainly will be a big leader in the locker room. The Ghanaian forward captained one preseason game for SDFC and is set to play a vital role, not just on the pitch.

Alex Mighten

The former Nottingham Forest player is one of the quickest players on the squad and has the potential to offer offense off the bench. Mighten was loaned out to FC Nordsjaelland when he was first signed, but did not receive much playing time at the Danish club.

Anisse Saidi

At 16 years old, Saidi is highly unlikely to get any playing time this season, so it will be interesting to see if he gets a loan move soon.

Francisco Velasco

Francisco, 28, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego FC, San Diego Wave. I have covered Liga MX, MLS, Mexico National Team, USWNT, Copa América and European clubs like Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund.