MLS: What challenges will James Rodríguez have in Minnesota?
James Rodriguez He already knows what the next step in his career is: he will play for Minnesota, a team in the MLS which will be his home just in the months prior to the 2026 World Cup, a necessary addition for the Colombian to arrive at the competition with rhythm. Now, What challenges exactly will the ’10’ of the National Team have in this new cycle?
Getting back into rhythm, James’s first big step
First, James’ goal will be get ready as soon as possible. It should be remembered that he has not played a game since November 18date on which he played the friendly match with Colombia against Australia.
At club level, James left León at the end of 2025 after a year with more disappointment than joy. They were left without the Club World Cup because of the timeshare and in Liga MX the team went unnoticed with results that put the Colombian in the eye of the storm.
After completing his stage in Mexico, James will continue his career in the United Statesone of the countries that will host the World Cup, the great objective of the ’10’.
James, titles? and an MLS unknown to him
James Rodríguez’s contract in Minnesota does not open the doors to much excitement in terms of titles. As it was known, The link would be for six months with the possibility of extending for six morealthough this, of course, is an unknown.
If there were no extension and James says goodbye to Minnesota In July, the chances of accompanying the team until the end of the campaign are zero.
Yes it can help in the processespecially taking into account that the MLS starts on February 21 and will only enter the Playoff stage at the end of the year, hypothetically without James if he leaves.
James arrives at a team with practically no history and what does it have 16 years of lifeso any achievement, no matter how small, will have a full impact on the institution.
Minnesota’s debut in MLS will be against Austin, away from home, on the 21st at 8:30 pm (COL)while the first home game will take place on the 28th, at 4:30 pm (COL), against Cincinnati.
Leagues Cup, another title that Minnesota will play in 2026
The Leagues Cup will be another of Minnesota’s objectives, although this would also be off James’ radar.
The contest will start on August 4 this year, a date when the Colombian may no longer be on the team.
It is a competition that He already disputed with León and in which both MLS and Liga MX teams participate. James didn’t do so well.being eliminated early without victories.
When would James Rodríguez debut in Minnesota?
In the run-up to the official competition, Minnesota has scheduled three games of “pre-season” to warm up engines, which are in February.
James is just arriving and must get ready, train with the team and add physically, so it would be unlikely that he will play in these games.
The first is February 7 against Kansas, then he will play 11 against DC United.
The last preseason game is against Charlotte the 14thperhaps the great opportunity for James Rodríguez to play even a few minutes before the official debut.
The first date of MLS is February 21.
James’ Minnesota pre-season games
Kansas vs. Minnesota
Day: February 7
Hour: 4:30 pm pm (COL)
DC United vs. Minnesota
Day: February 11
Hour: 3:30 pm (COL)
Charlotte vs. Minnesota
Day: February 14
Hour: 1:00 pm (COL)
