Matchweek 1 of the 2025 season has arrived for globetrotting Real Salt Lake
RSL returns to CONCACAF play for the first time since 2016 Wednesday, traveling to Costa Rica to open the Champions Cup at CS Herediano (4:30 p.m. MT, FS2).
Put away the preseason. Real Salt Lake has arrived in its 21st campaign in Major League Soccer.
And with it, a return to intercontinental play.
The club departed Monday for Costa Rica, where Salt Lake will face CS Herediano at 4:30 p.m. MT Feb. 19 in its first CONCACAF Champions Cup match and first match in the former Champions League since 2016.
After that, it’s off to the other San Jose — the one in California, that is — for a league opener against the Earthquakes at 8:30 p.m. MT Saturday on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
There have been plenty of changes to the roster since Salt Lake was eliminated from the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs on penalty kicks by Minnesota United FC last November, and several more to come. The club sold star striker Chicho Arango to San Jose and released midfielder Matt Crooks to return to his native England, among other moves.
How to watch and stream RSL’s CONCACAF return:
When: Wednesday, Feb. 19
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. MT
Where: Estadio Nacional; San José, Costa Rica
TV: Tubi TV (English), ViX+ (Spanish)
RSL also remade the goalkeeper room by adding Rafael Cabral, the 34-year-old Brazilian international who most recently play for Gremio in Italy and also spent time in England and his home country.
The back him up, the club traded $50,000 in general allocation money and a second-round pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft for Mason Stajduhar, the 27-year-old MLS veteran of Orlando City who also spent time at Louisville, Tulsa and New York City FC on loan.
RSL also took two goalkeepers from eight selections in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft in UConn redshirt freshman Max Kerkfliet and North Carolina product Trace Alphin out of Wake Forest. The club is likely to sign Kirkvliet, the 6-foot-5 shot stopper from Houston, to an MLS contract after the All-Big East third-team selection made 57 saves with eight shutouts for the Huskies in 2025.
The moves come with veteran shot stopped Zac MacMath sidelined potentially for the long term due to shoulder surgery, and U.S. youth international Gavin Beavers sold to Danish Superliga club Brondby IF.
But the only thing constant is change, and the changes don’t stop there.
The club waived Monday homegrown defender Andrew Brody, the 29-year-old veteran right back who made 112 appearances (including 93 starts) in an eight-year career in Claret-and-Cobalt where he also scored two goals with 14 assists in 8,407 minutes.
“Andrew has been a model professional on and off the field during his long tenure with Real Salt Lake, at the Academy, Monarchs and MLS levels,” said RSL Chief Soccer Officer Kurt Schmid. “His hard work and commitment to the club have made him a joy to work with over the last decade-plus, and we wish Andrew the best of luck in future endeavors. His contributions to Utah soccer will not go unnoticed.”
And Brody won’t be the only player not headed to San Jose, Costa Rica, either.
RSL midfielder Diego Luna will stay home, still recovering from a nasal fracture the reigning MLS Young Player of the Year sustained during an international friendly while with the U.S. men’s national team in January camp.
“I feel healthy, feel good,” Luna said Feb. 1 when he returned to Salt Lake from camp. “I’ve just got to recover from this nose thing, however long it takes.
“Right now, it’s two weeks of no training. And then after that, it’s basically just how I feel … I think we’re going to take it week-by-week.”
The recovery of the 21-year-old rising star with 13 goals and 15 assists in his first two full seasons in MLS should have him on track for minutes in RSL’s season opener, and he plans to meet the club in the Bay Area after training with Real Monarchs through the week.
Philip Quinton also won’t travel with the team to Costa Rica after suffering a lower-body injury during preseason. He previously aggravated his hamstring as late as October of last year, though the club does not believe his ailment will keep the versatile center back out for a sustained period of time.
Champions Cup play will also provide plenty of opportunities for RSL players, with the tournament having previously unearthed plenty of talent for teams in MLS and beyond in previous years — including newcomers.
“To be honest, I’m so excited. I’ve played in Libertadores, in (UEFA) Champions League, so the Champions (Cup) of CONCACAF is another opportunity for me,” Cabral said. “I’m so happy and of course, we have to show it on the pitch and try to go as far as possible.”
RSL’s CONCACAF home opener follows Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at America First Field in Sandy, Utah.
