St. Louis CITY's Marcel Hartel scores first goal of 2026 MLS season

German midfielder's strike opens scoring in season opener against Charlotte FC

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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In the 2026 MLS season opener, Marcel Hartel of St. Louis CITY SC scored the first goal of the new campaign, breaking the deadlock in the 60th minute against Charlotte FC. Hartel latched onto a through ball from teammate Simon Becher and beat the goalkeeper with a classy first-time finish. Charlotte's Pep Biel equalized 13 minutes later, setting up a nail-biting finish at Energizer Park.

Why it matters

The start of a new MLS season is always an exciting time, as fans eagerly await the return of their favorite teams and players. Hartel's early goal set the tone for what promises to be another thrilling year of top-flight soccer in the United States and Canada.

The details

In the 60th minute, St. Louis CITY SC midfielder Marcel Hartel received a through ball from teammate Simon Becher and beat Charlotte FC goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina with a classy first-time finish to open the scoring. Charlotte's Pep Biel, assisted by Wilfried Zaha, equalized in the 73rd minute, setting the stage for a dramatic finish at Energizer Park.

  • The match took place on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
  • Hartel scored the opening goal in the 60th minute.
  • Biel equalized for Charlotte in the 73rd minute.

The players

Marcel Hartel

A German midfielder playing for St. Louis CITY SC, he scored the first goal of the 2026 MLS season.

Simon Becher

A teammate of Hartel's at St. Louis CITY SC, he provided the assist for the opening goal.

Kristijan Kahlina

The goalkeeper for Charlotte FC, he was unable to stop Hartel's first-time finish for the opening goal.

Pep Biel

A Charlotte FC player who scored the equalizing goal in the 73rd minute.

Wilfried Zaha

The Charlotte FC player who provided the assist for Biel's equalizing goal.

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What they’re saying

“It was a great ball from Simon and I'm just glad I was able to finish it off. The first goal of the season is always special.”

— Marcel Hartel (mlssoccer.com)

“We knew St. Louis would come out strong, but we showed good character to fight back and get the equalizer. It's a long season, but this was a good start for us.”

— Pep Biel (mlssoccer.com)

What’s next

St. Louis CITY SC and Charlotte FC will both be in action again next weekend as the 2026 MLS season continues.

The takeaway

The 2026 MLS season is off to an exciting start, with Marcel Hartel's early goal for St. Louis CITY SC setting the tone for what promises to be another thrilling year of top-flight soccer in North America.