The Portland Timbers are underway with their current season, which began on Feb. 21 and ends on Nov. 7, featuring several new faces on the roster. New additions to the Portland Timbers for the 2026 season include midfielders Cole Bassett from the Colorado Rapids and José Caicedo from Pumas UNAM, along with veteran defender Brandon Bye. The Portland soccer team has also broadened its bench with 2026 Major League Soccer SuperDraft picks Justin McLean, Colin Griffith, and Lucas Fernandez-Kim. Players are picked based on their play in their careers and their statistics in games. For example, Cole Bassett was chosen for the team, being known to make consistent forward runs towards strikers further up the field, for his teammates to score.

Every year, the Timbers recruit new players in hopes of making the team stronger. Over the past couple of years, the team’s standings have remained in tenth place out of 14 teams. Overall, in this season, the team has been improving, with them being known for starting games relatively strong in the first half, then experiencing defensive breakdowns in the final 30 minutes. This season, with the new players, the team secured an exciting win against Los Angeles FC, including a goal for LA that was overturned after video review due to an offside call during the build-up.

For Timbers fans, one of the most loved players is Diego Chará. He is well known for his smile on the field. He has been on the Timbers for 16 consecutive seasons, continuing to make an impact. However, as his years with the team increase, fans are beginning to see him play fewer minutes.  In the game against Los Angelos Football club, he was subbed on late after the Timbers scored, appearing for the final moments before the end-of-game whistle. Timbers fans cheered Chará onto the field, knowing that he had inspired many of the team’s younger players.

Many people, however, have never experienced the Timbers atmosphere in person. Mark Valentine, a geometry teacher at Ida B. Wells-Barnett High School, said, “I’ve never actually been to a game at Providence Park and don’t know much about the current players, but I hear my students talk about it, maybe I’ll go with my wife sometime.” 

Additionally, Marrla Wilkinson, an English teacher at IBW, added that she has attended a Portland Thorns FC game in the past but does not remember attending a Timbers game. Fans of the Timbers would say it is unfortunate that they have never experienced the energy of the Timbers Army and the thrill of a live match, as it is a completely different experience than watching a game on television from home.”  

The Timbers have been a Major League Soccer team since 2011 and will continue to represent Portland’s soccer hopes, as the club and its fanbase will continue to grow for years to come.