The 2023 FC Cincinnati season was the club's fifth season in MLS, and the eighth season overall for the team including their first three years in the lower-division USL Championship. The club entered 2023 on a high note, having notched their first playoff appearance and first playoff win in 2022 after languishing at the bottom of the standings for their first three seasons in MLS. On September 30, FC Cincinnati clinched the Supporters' Shield, the award given to the team that finishes with the most points in the regular season.
FC Cincinnati home matches were played at TQL Stadium. 2023 was the second season with the club for general manager Chris Albright and head coach Pat Noonan.
The Orange and Blue started the regular season with 5 wins, 2 draws, and no losses. They reached 1st place on the Supporters' Shield standings on Matchday 7, and were the last remaining undefeated team in the Eastern Conference until their loss at St. Louis City SC on Matchday 8. After a 3âÂÂ0 victory on Matchday 12 at TQL Stadium against CF Montreal, the club became only the 4th team since 2000 to start the MLS season with seven straight wins (7âÂÂ0âÂÂ0) at home.
FC Cincinnati won the first Hell is Real match of 2023 on May 20, with a scoreline of 3âÂÂ2; it was the first win against rival Columbus Crew since October 2020. The result also extended the club's home winning streak to eight matches in league play and ten overall. By the end of the month, FC Cincinnati had set the record for most points (36) through the first 15 games of a season in MLS history, excluding the shootout era. The home winning streak was extended to ten MLS matches in June, tying a record set in 2002 by the San Jose Earthquakes.
With a 1âÂÂ0 victory over Chicago Fire FC, FC Cincinnati made history and became the first club to reach 39 points in their first 16 matches of a season (excluding shootout era). After a 3âÂÂ0 victory over Toronto FC, FC Cincinnati became the fourth team in MLS history to win 10 consecutive home matches, tying the 2002 San Jose Earthquakes for longest single-season home winning streak. After a 2âÂÂ1 win on the road at New York Red Bulls, the club became just the third team in MLS history to win 11 of their first 22 matches by a one-goal margin â excluding the shootout era. With a 3âÂÂ1 win at home against Nashville SC, the club tied Los Angeles FC (2019 and 2022) for the fastest team in MLS history to reach 50 points in a season, doing so in just 23 matches. With a 3âÂÂ0 win against New York City FC, the club reached 37 points in their first 13 regular season games at TQL Stadium, tying the 2002 San Jose Earthquakes for the best home start to a season in league history through the first 13 games.
After a come from behind 2âÂÂ1 victory at Atlanta United FC, FC Cincinnati became the first team to clinch a 2023 playoff berth. They also became the second fastest club in MLS history to secure their playoff position in only 26 matches.
Three players were named to the 2023 MLS All-Star roster, Luciano Acosta was selected for the 2nd time, and ÃÂlvaro Barreal and Matt Miazga both with their first selection. The game was played on July 19, 2023, against Arsenal FC of the English Premier League at Audi Field, home of D.C. United. Acosta was also chosen by an online fan vote to serve as team captain for the MLS All-Stars and was included as part of the All-Star Skills Challenge. All 3 players played 45 minutes, with Acosta and Barreal (yellow card â 18') named to the starting lineup and subbing off at halftime. Miazga was inserted into the lineup at the start of the second half, playing the remainder of the match.
On January 9, FC Cincinnati announced a slate of five preseason games to be played during their 26-day preseason camp in Clearwater, Florida.
As a Major League Soccer club, FC Cincinnati enters the U.S. Open Cup in the third round. The third round pairings were announced on April 6.
FC Cincinnati was regionally placed into group 5 with New York City FC, Columbus Crew SC and Loudoun United for the draw in the Round of 32. On April 27, FC Cincinnati was drawn to host New York City FC.
After defeating NYCFC 1âÂÂ0 at TQL Stadium on May 10, FC Cincinnati was placed in the Northeast Group for the round of 16 draw, which will be held on May 11, 2023. The other three clubs in the group are MLS clubs Columbus Crew and New York Red Bulls, and USL Championship team Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. FC Cincinnati was drawn to visit the New York Red Bulls.
After defeating the New York Red Bulls on penalties, FC Cincinnati hosted their quarterfinals matchup with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on June 6, winning 3âÂÂ1.
FC Cincinnati hosted Inter Miami CF in the semifinals on August 23 and after a 3âÂÂ3 tie a.e.t, fell 4âÂÂ5 in penalty kicks to end their Cup run.
Both knockout stage games were hosted by FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium. Led by Brandon Vazquez with 4 goals, the club advanced to the knockout stage of the Leagues Cup after securing a penalty shootout win against Sporting Kansas City and a two-day victory against Club Deportivo Guadalajara. The Chivas game was initially played on Thursday, July 28, but was halted in the 60th minute for a lengthy severe weather delay. When the game finally resumed 18.5 hours later, the calendar read Friday, July 29. The final wrinkle was that it was decided to finish the final 30 minutes "behind closed doors" as a safety precaution for staff, players and fans.
The Orange and Blue hosted Nashville SC in their Round of 32 matchup at TQL Stadium on August 4, 2023. The game ended tied 1âÂÂ1 after 90 minutes with goals from Anibal Godoy of Nashville SC and Brandon Vazquez via penalty kick, his 5th in Leagues Cup play, of FC Cincinnati. Nashville advanced to the Round of 16 via penalty kicks (5âÂÂ4).
Numbers after plus-sign(+) denote appearances as a substitute.
|- ! colspan=16 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|Goalkeepers |-
|- ! colspan=16 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|Defenders |-
|- ! colspan=16 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|Midfielders |-
|- ! colspan=16 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|Forwards |-
|- |- ! colspan=16 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|Players who have played for FC Cincinnati this season but have left the club: