Cade Cowell has emerged as one of Chivas’ key departures ahead of Clausura 2026. The striker, who joined the club ahead of Clausura 2024, has clearly seen a decline in his playing time, a situation that has sparked interest from several MLS teams looking to bring the American attacker back home.
Cowell’s limited participation in tournaments has been a deciding factor. After just 489 minutes, the Cowboys were left out of the final few teams by head coach Gabriel Milito and haven’t played since Game 14. This lack of continuity led the player to seriously consider returning to his home league.
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Cade Cowell’s possible MLS teams
The striker has been a target in MLS since last term, with New York Red Bulls in particular increasing the pressure. Sources close to Medio Tiempo say the club were the most determined to sign the player and were closely monitoring his every move.
The appeal of the New York plan is not just in terms of sports. Cowell has been considering housing options in New York with his wife and future children, indicating strong interest in the project.
Meanwhile, New York Red Bulls are part of a brand with a strong presence in European football (Austria), which could open up a potential entry point into Old World football for Cowell, making him even more eager to leave Liga MX and return to his home country.
Cade Cowell’s World Cup dream
For Cowell, the main motivation to return to MLS is to regain his spot on the U.S. national team. After a difficult year in which he played less than 900 minutes with Chivas, the player believes the American League is the ideal place to rediscover his level and be reconsidered by Mauricio Pochettino’s coaching staff, but the task ahead of the next World Cup looks complicated.
Cowell must urgently earn playing time if he is to have any hope of making it to the World Cup, but he knows that won’t happen at Chivas. The player is hoping to star in MLS and be as close as possible to attract Pochettino’s attention and earn him a call-up to the national team.
Cowell’s list of suitors also includes his old team, the San Jose Earthquakes, and Cowell maintains a buy-back clause in his contract with Chivas, providing another possibility for Cowell’s departure. A final decision has not yet been made, but one thing is certain: Given his reputation, Cowell will have to find a new destination.
