D.C. United boasts a strong defense with years of experience. The team’s typical center back pairing consists of Frédéric Brillant, 34, and Steve Birnbaum, 29. In 2019, they each played in 34 MLS regular season matches and started in the MLS Cup Playoffs loss. They created the spine of a difficult defense to break down in 2019, allowing the least goals in the Eastern Conference with 38.
The departures of Wayne Rooney and Lucas Rodriguez and the injury to Paul Arriola have left the team with a new look in attack. New acquisitions Julian Gressel and Edison Flores will look to fill some of the attacking output as well as forward Ola Kamara who was acquired in August of 2019.
In their 2020 season opener, D.C. United lined up with Bill Hamid in goal; Russell Canouse, Brillant, Birnbaum and Joseph Mora in defense; Júnior Moreno, Felipe Martins, Flores, Gressel and Ulises Segura in midfield; and Kamara as the lone striker.
