Red Bull New York left-back Matthew Dos Santos is ready to continue impressing when Major League Soccer resumes after the 2026 FIFA World Cup break.
The Red Bulls will be back in action two weeks from now, on July 22, when they visit Philadelphia to face the Union at Subaru Park.
Dos Santos, who has appeared in 14 of New York’s 15 MLS matches, credits head coach Michael Bradley for trusting him to play a significant role in his rookie season.
Dos Santos Credits Bradley’s Influence
“The start of the season was good for me, starting a lot of games, being able to play in the MLS, it’s a big upgrade from playing MLS NEXT Pro,” Dos Santos told South Ward Central after Tuesday’s training session at RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center in Morris Township, New Jersey.
“I give all the thanks to Michael for trusting me with that, and that’s what I’m trying to continue to do in the second part of the season, especially when the games get important.”
It wasn’t long ago that Dos Santos signed an MLS Homegrown contract on March 6. He played each of his first 14 MLS games as a 17-year-old. The 5-foot-9 defender recently turned 18 on June 5.
During Tuesday’s interview, Dos Santos gazed around at the impressive surroundings of the Red Bulls’ state-of-the-art training facility.
The 80-acre complex features eight full-size outdoor soccer pitches, multiple gyms including a 4,635-square-foot pro gym, a dining hall that includes a professional chef and aquatic therapy spaces that include hot/cold plunge pools, a temperate treatment/physical therapy pool and sauna.
Dos Santos on RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center: ‘A Big Upgrade’
“A big upgrade from what we had before,” Dos Santos said of the ultramodern facility that opened in April. “Being able to come here, train every day, really take time here, recover, and take time with the staff, being able to do video more comfortably, recover more comfortably, it’ll all affect what happens on the field.”
Dos Santos Keeping a Close Eye on Red Bull New York’s Next Wave
He is appreciative of all the support that the Red Bull New York organization has given him throughout his journey. Dos Santos joined the Red Bulls as a nine-year-old in 2017 and worked his way up the ranks to the first team, starting with his early steps for the pre-academy team.
Dos Santos continues to closely follow the progress of his former Red Bull New York II teammates and often attends MLS NEXT Pro games at MSU Soccer Park, cheering on his close friends as they push for an opportunity to break through into the Red Bull New York first team.
“I’ve been trying to go to the second team’s games as much as possible,” he said. “I’ve been able to see the last two at home. Those are my friends, the guys that I’ve been in the academy with, was in the second team with last year, so it’s good to see them doing as well as they are in NEXT Pro.”
Alongside MLS All-Star forward Julian Hall, high-potential midfielder Adri Mehmeti and promising forward Tanner Rosborough, Dos Santos represents the success of the Red Bulls’ academy-to-MLS pipeline.
Given the strides that Red Bull New York II talents are making under reserve head coach Dominik Wohlert, it won’t be long before more young faces will be making the leap to play at the MLS level alongside Dos Santos.
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