2024 Austin FC season

Austin FC ended the 2023 season with multiple players at the end of their contract. The front office made their first move by signing Ethan Finlay to a new one-year contract with an option for a second year at the end of October.[6] In addition to working on their roster Austin FC started making plans for their 2024 pre-season, announcing they would participate in the AEG sponsored Coachella Valley Invitational taking place February 4–17, 2024.[7] In mid-November 2023, Austin FC announced their initial roster changes for the 2024 season. Alexander Ring met his performance metrics and his contract was extended automatically through the 2024 season. Both Daniel Perreira's and Damian Las's options were exercised for 2024. Charlie Asensio, Will Bruin, Sofiane Djeffal, Kipp Keller, Adam Lundqvist, Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez, Rodney Redes, Memo Rodriguez, and Maximiliano Urruti options were all declined. Brandan Craig will return to the Philadelphia Union at the end of his loan.[8]

Austin started the month of December, by announcing they had exercised Hector Jiménez option for the 2024 season.[9] On December 11, 2023, Austin FC traded Nick Lima to the New England Revolution for $300,000 in GAM.[10] On December 14, Austin traded up for the first pick in the 2023 MLS Re-Entry Draft[11] and subsequently picked Jáder Obrian, who had previously played for FC Dallas.[12] On December 19, 2023, Austin FC chose Nate Jones from University of Washington with the 5th overall pick,[13] and subsequently traded him for $250,000 GAM and the 31st pick. Austin FC then picked Jimmy Farkarlun from UT Rio Grande Valley with that pick.[14] Austin FC signed Stefan Cleveland on December 24, 2023, as a free agent, bringing the roster up to four goalkeepers.[15]

On January 9, 2024, Austin FC announced they had traded Jhohan Romaña to the Argentine team San Lorenzo de Almagro[16] for $750,000.[17] The same day the team announced they had signed defender Guilherme Biro as a free agent. Biro spent the previous season with Brazilian team Mirassol.[18] On January 10, Austin FC announced the signing of their second homegrown player, Micah Burton. Burton was signed to Austin FC II for the 2023 MLS Next Pro season and has multiple appearances with the United States men's national under-17 soccer team.[19] The team reported for pre-season on January 13, 2024, and announced that Sebastián Driussi had obtained his green card and no longer would occupy an international spot on the roster.[20] On January 29, 2024, Austin FC announced they has signed Damian Las to new contract through the 2026 season, with an optional additional year. Austin FC also announced that Las would be loaned to Louisville City FC for the 2024 season.[21]

Austin FC started February off by adding another player to the roster when they announced the signing of Striker Diego Rubio as a free agent to a one year contract, with an option for a second.[22] On February 14 Austin FC announced that they had signed free agend defender Brendan Hines-Ike. Hines-Ike spent the last two seasons with D.C. United.[23]

Austin FC started the 2024 MLS season in a lackluster loss Austin to Minnesota United FC 2–1, with Guilherme Biro salvaging a stoppage time goal.[24] On March 2, Austin struggled offensively, being outshot by the Seattle Sounders 9–0 in the first half, but stood strong defensively, earning a 0–0 draw.[25] Returning to Q2 Stadium for their second home match of the season, Austin FC gave up a 2-1 lead, allowing a stoppage time goal against St. Louis City letting their win slip through their fingers,[26] then did the same thing the next week, earning another 2-2 draw, their third straight, this time against the Philadelphia Union. Sebastian Driussi made his first appearance of the season against the Union.[27] Austin lost the next week to Orlando City 2-0.[28] For the next game March 30, Austin ended the first stretch of the season on a high note, defeating in-state rival FC Dallas 2-1 for their first win of the season, with Diego Rubio netting the match-winner in the 70th minute.[29]

The Verde and Black took advantage of the win against Dallas, and followed it up winning a 4-3 thriller against the San Jose Earthquakes. Trailing 2-0 an hour into the match, Austin got three goals in the next 7 minutes - a penalty from Sebastian Driussi, Jáder Obrian's first goal with Austin, and a goal from Guilherme Biro. San Jose tied it in the 74th minute, but Driussi scored the match-winner 11 minutes into stoppage time on the last kick of the match, the latest goal in Austin FC's short history.[30] Austin wasn't able to keep up the momentum at a road loss in St. Louis where they didn't register a shot on goal,[31] but finally got their first road win of the season, beating the Houston Dynamo 1–0 on an 86th minute goal by Emiliano Rigoni the next week. It was also their first road goal of the season.[32] On April 26, Austin FC announced they had extended Žan Kolmanič's contract throught the 2025 season with an club–option for 2026.[33] El Tree finished April by shutting out LA Galaxy 2–0 at home on two first half goals, one from Diego Rubio, and another from Obrian.[34]

Starting the month of May, Austin FC travelled to Canada to earn one point from the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in a 0–0 draw[35] in the Whitecaps' 50th anniversary match, which set an MLS-era attendance record for them.[36] In their third Copa Tejas match of the season, Austin FC fell behind FC Dallas in the fourth minute, eventually losing with a final score of 2–1.[37] In their next Copa Tejas match of the season four days later, Austin FC scored another late goal against the Houston Dynamo, with Driussi netting the match-winner in the 87th minute.[38] Three days after that, Austin FC took on Sporting Kansas City on May 18, earning a 3–2 victory at home on a brace by Obrian and team leading 5th goal by Driussi. Austin set a new home win streak record of 5 straight home wins.[39] On May 21, Austin FC announced they had exercised their buyout option for Emiliano Rigoni, freeing up a DP, senior roster, and international slot all at once.[40] Austin FC earned a 1–1 draw against San Jose, with center back Brendan Hines-Ike scoring his first goal for the club.[41] Closing out May, Austin FC snapped their home win streak on what Coach Wolff described as a sloopy performance, falling 0–2 to the Portland Timbers.[42] One day later, Austin announced they had signed Ghana-international winger Osman Bukari from Red Star Belgrade for a reported $7.5 million. Bukari will occupy a senior roster, designated player, and international player slot[43]

Austin ended the first half of the MLS season with their worst loss, falling 5–1 to Real Salt Lake on Chicho Arango's goal of the year candidate, leading to a hat-trick. Alex Ring added a consolation goal on a PK earned in extra time by Owen Wolff.[44] After a two week break, Austin FC returned to play against the Colorado Rapids and lost 2-0 on the road.[45] Austin then mustered a draw against LAFC on a 19th minute goal by Jáder Obrian, but Kei Kamara scored the equalizer in the 90th minute. It was Kamara's 145th MLS goal, putting him in a tie with Landon Donovan for second all-time.[46] The Verde and Black got back in the win column with a 1–0 win against Minnesota United. Hassani Dotson received two yellow cards in a span of 40 seconds, and Austin capitalized when Diego Rubio scored his fourth goal of the campaign in the 31st minute.[47]

After announcing the Bukari signing on May 30, Austin FC announced the signing of Danish defender Mikkel Desler as a free agent on June 3. Desler, having most recently played Toulouse FC, was signed to a three-and-a-half-year deal taking him through the 2027 season, with a one-year club option. Desler will occupy a senior and international slot on the roster.[48] On June 24, the club announced the signing of CB and Ukrainian national Oleksandr Svatok from SC Dnipro-1. Bukari, Desler, and Svatok are set to join the team July 18 before the Leagues Cup.[49]

Austin FC II represented the club in the 2024 U.S. Open Cup based on a deal reached between U.S. Soccer and MLS.[73]

Numbers after plus–sign (+) denote appearances as a substitute.