Notably missing from its first practices were three key players for the squad: Captain and former MVP Luciano Acosta, breakout star Luca Orellano and Yuya Kubo.

Midfielder Luciano Acosta, forward Luca Orellano and forward Yuya Kubo were absent for training this week, with Orellano arriving Friday afternoon for medical evaluations.

FC Cincinnati on Friday revealed its 2025 preseason schedule, which includes four games and 29 days of training in Clearwater, Florida. The schedule reveal came one day after Kévin Denkey, the largest transfer acquisition in MLS history, and head coach Pat Noonan kicked off the new league year with a string of interviews at MLS Media Day in Miami.