Austin FC, a member of the Austin Chronicle, has been criticized by fans for their lack of identity in the first quarter of the 2026 season. The club has conceded 14 goals in this period, tied for fifth-most in the Western Conference. The team's identity is crucial to establishing a team's capabilities and maintaining this identity. Nico Estévez, who took over as head coach from FC Dallas prior to 2025, has emphasized the importance of defense organization and commitment and has put more emphasis on getting players forward in attack this season, at the expense of the defense. However, results have been mixed, with 11 goals scored, 10.38 expected goals created, and 36 shots on target all ranked in the league for the season.