A Return to Form at the Perfect Time
The Columbus Crew head into the 2026 FIFA World Cup break with renewed optimism after securing their second consecutive victory under interim coach Laurent Courtois. Sunday’s 2-0 win over Atlanta United at Scotts Miracle-Gro Field was not just about the three points. It was a statement of identity, a reminder of what this team can be when everything clicks into place.
We were comfortable, we were flowing in our movements, said Crew attacker and USMNT World Cup hopeful Max Arfsten after the match. We dominated and controlled the game, the entire game, in my opinion. It kind of felt like the Crew of old, like we dominated games, created chances, dominated possession.
That description will resonate deeply with Columbus supporters who have endured an inconsistent season. The Crew, three-time MLS Cup champions, had been searching for their identity since the departure of influential head coach Wilfried Nancy. The hiring of Henrik Rydstrom as his replacement did not work out as planned, resulting in a swift change just last weekend.
Courtois Brings Familiarity and Fluidity
Courtois took interim charge with a deep understanding of the club’s fabric. The Frenchman previously led Columbus’s MLS NEXT Pro team and worked within the academy structure before returning as an assistant coach. That institutional knowledge has proven invaluable in the early days of his tenure.
Everybody in the locker room likes how he coaches and how he is as a human being, said defender Mohamed Farsi. The results have backed up that sentiment. Midweek saw Columbus reach the US Open Cup semi-finals, and Sunday’s league victory provided further evidence of a tactical reset taking hold.
Fluidity, joy, said Crew defender Steven Moreira, who will represent Cape Verde at the World Cup. You can tell even the fans, we can tell the atmosphere, they really enjoy too. I think that was a good job the coach put on us. Just joy, play free and enjoy.
Bangoura and Rossi Seal the Deal
The goals that secured the victory came from two of Columbus’s most dynamic attackers. Sekou Bangoura opened his MLS account with a well-taken finish following a rapid counter-attack that involved Diego Rossi and Mohamed Farsi. Rossi added the second with a clinical strike that put the result beyond doubt.
The attacking fluidity that characterised the Crew’s best performances under Nancy has returned. Passes are moving with purpose, runs are being timed with intelligence, and the pressing structure that suffocated Atlanta throughout the contest demonstrated a tactical discipline that had been lacking in recent weeks.
Looking Ahead After the Break
With Sunday’s result, Columbus sit narrowly outside the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs places at tenth in the Eastern Conference with 16 points. There is a long way to go before they can be considered among the title contenders once again. But the signs of what made Columbus so successful are undeniably present.
Time will tell whether Courtois remains Columbus’s head coach long-term. The World Cup break provides the club with an opportunity to evaluate their options. The next match is scheduled for July 22 against New York City FC, giving the squad ample time to build on the momentum generated in these two encouraging performances.
That is who they are. That is what they can do, Courtois said. They have been doing this for a while. I just wanted to help facilitate more than that, but this is something that they were doing before. For Crew supporters, those words carry the promise of better days ahead.
