Crew's Abou Ali Eyes Season Opener After Ankle Injury

Striker Wessam Abou Ali looks to return from right ankle fracture in Columbus Crew's MLS season debut against Portland Timbers.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 11:03am

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After missing the end of the 2025 season due to a right ankle fracture, Columbus Crew striker Wessam Abou Ali is nearing a return and hopes to play in the team's season opener against the Portland Timbers on February 21. Abou Ali, who signed with the Crew as a designated player last summer, is taking a cautious approach to his recovery but feels physically ready to contribute.

Why it matters

Abou Ali's return is crucial for the Crew as they look to build on a promising 2025 campaign that was cut short by his injury. The 27-year-old forward made an immediate impact, scoring three goals in his first three games before going down with the ankle issue. His availability for the season opener will be a key storyline as the Crew aim to get off to a strong start in 2026.

The details

Abou Ali signed with the Crew during the 2025 MLS summer transfer window and made his debut on August 23 against the New England Revolution. In his third appearance, he notched his first goal, starting a three-game scoring streak. However, his season was cut short on September 15 when he suffered a right hairline ankle fracture in a collision with Toronto FC defender Kosi Thompson. Abou Ali was originally given a six-week timeline to return, but never got back on the field during the 2025 season. This offseason, he has worked extensively with his personal coaches and also visited family, which helped with the mental aspect of dealing with the injury. Abou Ali entered preseason training camp physically fit, but the Crew have taken a cautious approach, limiting his minutes in preseason scrimmages.

  • Abou Ali signed with the Crew during the 2025 MLS summer transfer window.
  • Abou Ali made his Crew debut on August 23, 2025 against the New England Revolution.
  • On September 15, 2025, Abou Ali suffered a right hairline ankle fracture in a match against Toronto FC.
  • Abou Ali was originally given a six-week timeline to return from the ankle injury, but never played again in the 2025 season.
  • The Crew's 2026 MLS season opener against the Portland Timbers is scheduled for February 21, 2026.

The players

Wessam Abou Ali

A 27-year-old striker who signed with the Columbus Crew as a designated player during the 2025 MLS summer transfer window.

Henrik Rydstrom

The head coach of the Columbus Crew, who previously coached against Abou Ali when he played for IK Sirius in Sweden.

Kosi Thompson

A defender for Toronto FC who was involved in the collision that led to Abou Ali's ankle injury in 2025.

Mo Farsi

A midfielder for the Columbus Crew who is still recovering from an offseason sports hernia surgery and will miss the season opener.

Rudy Camacho

A defender for the Columbus Crew who had a similar injury and surgery to Farsi last year, but is ready for the season opener.

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What they’re saying

“Coming in, we knew the load couldn't be as high as it's supposed to be. You can't compromise, you can't compensate, but get injured some other places. So, we took it step-by-step, and now I feel ready.”

— Wessam Abou Ali, Crew Striker (dispatch.com)

“It was difficult. It was the beginning of my journey in Columbus. I was by myself, luckily I had good teammates, good staff around me, but it was difficult, especially not being able to walk anywhere, being stuck at home.”

— Wessam Abou Ali, Crew Striker (dispatch.com)

“How much do we want to gamble in the first game? It's like a marriage, and the first game is the wedding. The wedding is not more important than the marriage. So, we have to think about the whole marriage. We can't risk everything to have a good wedding.”

— Henrik Rydstrom, Crew Head Coach (dispatch.com)

What’s next

Crew coach Henrik Rydstrom will decide how much Wessam Abou Ali plays in the season opener against the Portland Timbers on February 21, 2026, balancing Abou Ali's readiness with the need to manage his workload and avoid re-injury.

The takeaway

Abou Ali's return from injury is a crucial storyline for the Crew as they look to build on their 2025 campaign. While the team is taking a cautious approach, Abou Ali's availability for the season opener will be a key factor in determining whether the Crew can get off to a strong start in 2026.