"What's in a number?"
FC Dallas kicks off its 2026 season this Saturday, Feb. 21 against Toronto FC at Toyota Stadium. Before the ball gets rolling on a new campaign, let's find out why each FC Dallas player picked (or didn't) the number they'll wear on the back of their shirts.
Some numbers carry personal sentiment for their wearers, some are just standard for the player's position, and some are completely random. Regardless, here are the players' explanation for their choices.
#2 - Geovane Jesus
Brazilian defender Geovane Jesus (who's entered first team training after a two-year injury layoff) wears the #2 jersey in honor of his idol, Cafu. A retired legend of the game, Cafu was a world-class right back known for his contributions to the attack. He won two World Cups with Brazil and was a mainstay in the great AC Milan teams of the mid 2000s. As far as idols go, Geovane picked a good one.
#3 - Osaze Urhoghide
Defender Osaze Urhoghide joined FC Dallas in 2025 and chose the number three to mark his new North American adventure.
"Three was a new number for me. Dallas was a new experience for me so I wanted to create a new history and new memories with #3 so that's it really."
#5 - Lalas Abubakar
Lalas Abubakar chose the number 5 when he joined FC Dallas last year after spending six seasons with the Colorado Rapids.
"It's a center back's number. I used to wear #6 but it wasn't available and the closest one was number 5 so I went with that."
#6 - Ran Binyamin
Newly-signed midfielder Ran Binyamin will wear No. 6 in his first year in Dallas. The Israel youth international wore 8 at his previous club but, since 8 was taken for FCD (by Patrickson Delgado who swapped 6 for 8 this year), he chose the next closest number that corresponds to his midfield position: 6.
"Eight was occupied so we just went with six, and I like this number also."
#7 - Don Deedson Louicius
Haiti international Deedson inherited the No. 7 jersey after joining the club midway through the 2025 season. He chose to stick with it for his first full campaign and his reasoning is simple:
"Because I like Cristiano Ronaldo."
Feel free to refer to Deedson as DDL7 from here on out.
#8 - Patrickson Delgado
Midfielder Patrickson Delgado will don a new number in 2026. The Ecuadorian swapped his previous No. 6 jersey for the No. 8, citing legendary Spain and Barcelona midfielder Andrés Iniesta (who wore 8) as the inspiration for the change.
#9 - Petar Musa
Petar Musa will once again sport the No. 9 jersey, the customary number for a club's first-choice striker. The Croatian wore it to great effect across his first two seasons, scoring 34 league goals - the most of any player in his first two years with the club.
#11 - Anderson Julio
Forward Anderson Julio was able to snag his first-choice number 11 last year after previously wearing #29 at Real Salt Lake. The number is special to the Ecuadorian because he was told to wear it at his first team L.D.U. Quito by Franklin Salas, his head coach and a club legend.
#12 - Christian Cappis
The No. 12 has no distinct meaning for Christian Cappis. The number was available when he joined the club midway through 2025 and the midfielder saw no reason to change it now. Considering Cappis wore both 18 and 23 at previous clubs, it seems - for Cappis - numbers are just...numbers.
#14 - Herman Johansson
Unlike Cappis, new signing Herman Johansson has a certain affinity for his number 14, and for a few reasons.
"I've always had it. Growing up, a coach told me I should wear it since Johan Cruyff wore it. And then when I moved to Mjällby, I had it. It's also a family number. It's the date of my parents' wedding day and some other things in the family. It's a family number so I picked it for them and now it's my lucky number."
#15 - Ricky Louis
Ricky Louis, the second overall selection in this year's SuperDraft, was handed the No. 15 jersey upon his arrival in Dallas. Although he didn't choose it himself, the rookie is excited to wear the number.
"I'm looking forward to showing out and showing why 15 is a great number to wear and inspire the kids."
#16 - Nick Simmonds
Forward Nick Simmonds, who was chosen one spot after Louis in the SuperDraft at third overall, selected the available No. 16 since it includes a number that's special to him.
"Six is big family number for me. Six corresponds to my dad's birthday and there are six people in my family so it worked out."
#17 - Ramiro
Versatile midfielder Ramiro will once again wear No. 17 for his second MLS season. After joining in 2025, he was originally given #22 but decided to switch to #17 once it was vacated by Nkosi Tafari later in the preseason.
"I played with this number at my last three clubs. It's a sentimental number because I had it at my first professional club and whenever I can wear #17 I choose it."
#18 - Shaq Moore
Defender Shaq Moore joined FCD in the 2025 offseason via a trade from Nashville SC. The 28-year-old right back decided to take #18 as a nod to his career with the U.S. Men's National Team.
"For the National Team I played a lot with the number 18 so I thought it would be nice if my club number was the same. Having the same for club and country sounded nice."
#19 - Paxton Pomykal
The number 19 is special in Dallas. It's the number late club legend Bobby Rhine wore during his decade playing for the club. The number was quasi retired following Bobby's tragic passing in 2011 but Paxton Pomykal asked the Rhine family if he could wear the number in Bobby's memory after signing his first pro deal.
#20 - Jaidyn Contreras
Midfielder Jaidyn Contreras signed a Homegrown contract this offseason after featuring 26 times for North Texas SC last year. Like many Homegrowns, Contreras didn't have the opportunity to choose his own number but is excited to wear the No. 20, although it doesn't yet have any special meaning to him.
#21 - Joaquín Valiente
One of FC Dallas' most recent arrivals, midfielder Joaquín Valiente will wear #21, a number he knows well. The 24-year-old Uruguayan wore 21 at his previous two clubs, a nod to the year in which he made his professional debut, 2021.
#22 - Álvaro Augusto
Defender Álvaro Augusto will once again suit up in the No. 22 jersey during his second season in Dallas. As he explains, in his homeland of Brazil, the number refers to a certain type of personality.
"In Brazil, the #22 is for the crazy guy. And on the field, I'm crazy. So 22 is perfect for me.
#23 - Logan Farrington
Once the third overall SuperDraft pick, Logan Farrington didn’t have many numbers to choose from when he arrived in Dallas in 2024. Still, he wound up with an iconic one: #23.
“Out of the options I had, I liked it the best. Michael Jordan’s number, so that’s basically the reason.”
#24 - Josh Torquato
Homegrown defender Josh Torquato will wear No. 24 in his second pro season, a number made famous in Dallas by Matt Hedges. Not only did Torquato wear 24 throughout his days in the FC Dallas Academy, the 18-year-old was also born on the 24th of July.
#25 - Sebastien Ibeagha
Sebastien Ibeagha will once again wear his second-choice number, #25. Although he'd prefer #5, Ibeagha did wear #25 to good effect when he played for LAFC and won the 2022 MLS Cup.
#26 - Slade Starnes
Although Homegrown Slade Starnes may have been assigned No. 26, the defender took no time in finding extra meaning behind it. Twenty-six was the number worn by legendary England and Chelsea center back John Terry, a player Starnes hopes to model his game after.
#27 - Caleb Swann
Much like Starnes, midfielder Caleb Swann has found meaning in his given number.
"Twenty-seven is my best friend's favorite number. So shoutout to him."
#28 - Sam Sarver
Forward Sam Sarver will wear No. 28 once again, the number assigned to him upon signing midway through 2025. Originally the 41st pick in the 2025 SuperDraft, Sarver starred for North Texas SC (winning MLS NEXT Pro MVP) before signing for FC Dallas midway through the season.
"If I could pick a new number, I'd change to 40 because that's how many draft picks were taken before me."
#29 - Enzo Newman
Enzo Newman was given his No. 29 (previously worn by fellow fullback Sam Junqua) after joining Dallas from the 2025 SuperDraft.
"It's my first number in the league so I'm excited to have it, no matter what."
#30 - Michael Collodi
Goalkeeper Michael Collodi will wear No. 30 for his second season with FC Dallas.
"I was number 30 back at North Texas SC as well and I know Maarten (Paes) wore it before and he kind of made the number what it is, so it's an honor of mine to be able to wear it."
#32 - Nolan Norris
Homegrown defender Nolan Norris will wear #32 in his fourth pro season, a number he's worn many times in FCD colors:
"When I joined the Academy, they gave me number 32 and I had it all the whole way through. So, when I signed with the First Team I chose to keep 32."
Norris also noted that he'll likely keep 32 for the rest of his FC Dallas career in order to keep the tradition going.
#34 - Kaka Scabin
Homegrown defender Kaka Scabin was assigned No. 34 but that doesn't mean it's just a random number to him.
"Growing up my granpa's number was 34 and he's always been a big inspiration to me, he's why I got into the sport. I didn't pick it but everything kind of fell into place and I have a reason why I really love the number."
#36 - Daniel Baran
Another Homegrown, Daniel Baran wore #33 in the Academy but was given the #36 after signing his first pro contract.
#40 - Jonathan Sirois
Goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois, who recently joined Dallas from CF Montréal, chose 40 upon his arrival during preseason.
"I've used 40 at Montréal and all my time in MLS. When I signed for Montréal, I was the fourth keeper and numbers were very limited but I thought 40 looked cool for a goalkeeper and it's just stuck ever since."
#50 - Diego Garcia
Diego Garcia decided to "stick with" the #50, a number he's worn for various clubs over his youth career.
#55 - Kaick
Brazilian midfielder Kaick will wear No. 55 once again for his second season in Dallas. It's a nod to the number he wore when he made his pro debut in Brazil with Grêmio.
#77 - Bernard Kamungo
Bernard Kamungo's journey to the pro level is widely agreed to be the best story in Major League Soccer. The story behind his jersey number is a little less exciting, though. Bernie wears #77 because his first-choice, the #7, was taken by originally by Paul Arriola, Dallas' captain at the time.
