The latest international window has presented Red Bull New York with a shorthanded squad ahead of Wednesday’s meeting with red-hot St. Louis CITY SC.
With nine players away on international duty, combined with the uncertain status of defenders Justin Che, Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty and winger Cameron Harper, the eighth-place Red Bulls face a challenging matchup against a St. Louis team that has won three of its last four matches and is currently on a 16-match undefeated streak.
UPDATE: 6:40 PM:
Che, Marshall-Rutty and Harper have been ruled out for the match.
“In an ideal world, you’d play every game and have a full complement of players to choose from and go into a game with,” Red Bull New York head coach Michael Bradley said. “It’s the reality. So it is what it is for [this match].”
MLS on Apple TV match analyst Kacey White joined South Ward Central to preview Wednesday’s match, which features the return of former Red Bull favorite Daniel Edelman.
Edelman Returns to Sports Illustrated Stadium With Visiting St. Louis
In his first season with St. Louis, Edelman has scored four goals and recorded four assists through 25 MLS matches. The 23-year-old midfielder has demonstrated increased attacking aptitude for his new club after he performed a deeper-lying role with the Red Bulls.
“I think there’s some freedom that he’s experiencing having a starting position in a double pivot role,” White explained. “But he has that ability to get a little bit more forward, especially with St. Louis, who likes to control the ball. So it allows them to get into some higher positions, and we’re starting to see where he can contribute more on the attacking side of the ball as well.”
Edelman scored three goals in 118 appearances across all competitions for the Red Bulls across four seasons. The former Watchung Hills Regional High School standout and Red Bull New York Academy product will have plenty of family and friends in the crowd on Wednesday.
Yoann Damet Has Masterminded St. Louis’ ‘Unpredictable Attack’
First-year head coach Yoann Damet has elevated St. Louis to fifth in the Western Conference after the club finished 24th overall last season.
Forward Simon Becher leads the club with eight goals while midfielder Conrad Wallem has contributed a team-best eight assists.
“They look even more dangerous than they’ve ever looked,” White said. “I think so much of that is multiple pieces that have been a part of it the entire year, now supplemented by so many options in the attacking third. That’s what makes them incredibly unpredictable from an attacking standpoint.
“They have a structure that the players look like they want to play with it and they’re excited to play with it. So that’s a big part of a team continuing to come into form is a coach that casts the vision and then also believes in the vision even through the hard times. I think we’re seeing that consistent output from the staff and then now we’re seeing the players continue to show that consistency as well.”
Wallem Emerging in Second Year With St. Louis CITY SC
White highlighted Wallem’s growth and influence in his second season with the club.
“An underrated player that has started to stick out to me is Conrad Wallem,” White stated. “I think that he has had to develop a different type of attacking role, whereas his team has become more fluid. He has become more fluid and not just your typical wing-back.
“The way he works from a defensive standpoint can make it really difficult on opponents. He does get a very high positioning. He’s continuing to get more involved in the attack, layering some assists into his game. So he’s played well on both sides of the ball all year, but the reality is now he’s becoming more impactful.”
Emil Forsberg, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting Expected To Return To Red Bull New York Starting XI
Red Bull New York captain Emil Forsberg was recently an unused substitute in consecutive 1-0 victories over the Columbus Crew and Hudson River Derby rivals New York City FC.
Given the Red Bulls’ numerous absences, the 34-year-old creative midfielder is poised to rejoin the starting XI on Wednesday. The same can be said about experienced forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who has only started two MLS matches in 2026 after he scored 17 goals in 33 MLS matches last season.
“If they’re called on in this game, I believe it’s a different challenge for St. Louis CITY, but it’s a challenge that nonetheless, with just the quality that they bring, both in the midfield and pulling the strings in someone like Emil Forsberg, and then Choupo-Moting, who is a prolific goal scorer,” White said. “So it’s going to be quite the challenge if those two come into the game.”
Red Bull New York and St. Louis CITY SC Lineup and Injury News Ahead of Wednesday’s Match
The Red Bulls could have as many as 12 absences on Wednesday, forcing Bradley to dip deep into Red Bull New York II‘s roster.
On Wednesday afternoon, Red Bull New York II midfielders Sekou Kone and Nate Worth, winger Pedro Castro and defender Connor Faello were added to the first-team roster on short-term agreements ahead of tonight’s match against St Louis CITY SC.
UPDATE: 6:40 PM:
Red Bull New York announced the following starting XI vs. St. Louis:
Horvath, Nealis, Parker, Bazan, Padelford, Sofo, Kone, Forsberg (C), Ruvalcaba, Choupo-Moting, Cowell.
Subs: Pedro Castro, Faello, McCarthy, Rojas, Rosborough, Volode, Worth.
OUT: Ronald Donkor (international duty), Matthew Dos Santos (international duty), Julian Hall (international duty), Mijahir Jimenez (international duty), Adri Mehmeti (international duty), Rafael Mosquera (international duty), Dennis Nelich (international duty), David Ruiz (international duty), Omar Valencia (international duty)
QUESTIONABLE: Justin Che (ankle), Cameron Harper (hamstring), Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty (hamstring)
St. Louis midfielder Damion Downs is away with the United States on international duty while defender Kyle Hiebert will miss out due to a hip injury and midfielder Célio Pompeu is out for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury.
UPDATE: 6:25 PM:
St. Louis announced the following starting XI vs. Red Bull New York:
Bürki, Polvara, Baumgartl, Fall, Wallem, Durkin, Edelman, Totland, Holse, Navarro, Mățan
Subs: Orozco, MacNaughton, Becher, Perez, Joyner, Santos, Lundt, Ostrak, Sang-bin
OUT: Damion Downs (international duty), Kyle Hiebert (hip), Célio Pompeu (knee)
How To Watch and Listen To Red Bull New York vs. St. Louis CITY SC
Kickoff for Wednesday’s contest is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Jonathan Yardley will call English play-by-play on Apple TV alongside match analyst Kacey White. Pablo Ramirez will provide Spanish play-by-play with Jesus Bracamontes joining him.
Matt Harmon and Steve Jolley will bring you all the action on Red Bulls Radio, starting with “Countdown to Kickoff” at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
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