2023 D.C. United season

The 2023 season was D.C. United's 28th in existence and its 28th consecutive season in the top division of American soccer, Major League Soccer. In addition to MLS, D.C. United participated in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup and 2023 Leagues Cup, the latter their first international club tournament since 2016. The season was the first full season with Wayne Rooney as head coach. The season covered the period from November 1, 2022, to October 31, 2023.

This was the first season since 2008 where long-time United goalkeeper, Bill Hamid, is not on the roster.

Background
The 2022 season was a tumultuous season for United. The club finished at the bottom of the MLS table and saw the firing of then-head coach Hernán Losada early in the season, followed by their interim manager, Chad Ashton being removed from interim duties halfway through the season, prior to Wayne Rooney's arrival. The club set a record in the number of goals conceded (75) and the largest losses in club history, both to Philadelphia Union, a six-goal home loss, and a seven-goal away loss. Midseason acquisition, Taxiarchis Fountas lead United in goals during the season, scoring 12 goals in 21 appearances, being United's lone player selected for the 2022 MLS All-Star Game. Outside of MLS, United were eliminated in the fourth round proper of the U.S. Open Cup by their longtime rivals, the New York Red Bulls.

The offseason saw Lucy Rushton fired as general manager. Head coach Wayne Rooney and sporting director Dave Kasper retained their roles.

Appearances and goals
Numbers after plus-sign(+) denote appearances as a substitute.



!colspan="14"|Players who left during the season

!colspan="4"|Total !39!!47!!34!!45!!2!!1!!3!!1

Top scorers
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 100%; text-align: center;" ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:35px;" scope="col"|Rank ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:35px;" scope="col"|Position ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:35px;" scope="col"|No. ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526;" scope="col"|Name ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:75px;" scope="col"|MLS ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:75px;" scope="col"|U.S. Open Cup ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:75px;" scope="col"|Leagues Cup ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:75px;" scope="col"|Total !colspan="4"|Total !44!!1!!1!!46
 * 1 || FW || 20 ||align="left"| Christian Benteke || 14 || 0 || 0 || 14
 * 2 || FW || 11 ||align="left"| Taxiarchis Fountas || 6 || 0 || 0 || 6
 * 3 || MF || 21 ||align="left"| Ted Ku-DiPietro || 5 || 0 || 0 || 5
 * 4 || MF || 43 ||align="left"| Mateusz Klich || 4 || 0 || 0 || 4
 * rowspan="2"| 5 || DF || 23 ||align="left"| Donovan Pines || 3 || 0 || 0 || 3
 * MF || 8 ||align="left"| Chris Durkin || 3 || 0 || 0 || 3
 * 7 || FW || 12 ||align="left"| Cristian Dájome || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2
 * 8 ||colspan=7| 9 players with 1 goal
 * rowspan="2"| 5 || DF || 23 ||align="left"| Donovan Pines || 3 || 0 || 0 || 3
 * MF || 8 ||align="left"| Chris Durkin || 3 || 0 || 0 || 3
 * 7 || FW || 12 ||align="left"| Cristian Dájome || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2
 * 8 ||colspan=7| 9 players with 1 goal
 * 7 || FW || 12 ||align="left"| Cristian Dájome || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2
 * 8 ||colspan=7| 9 players with 1 goal
 * 8 ||colspan=7| 9 players with 1 goal
 * 8 ||colspan=7| 9 players with 1 goal

Top assists
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 100%; text-align: center;" ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:35px;" scope="col"|Rank ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:35px;" scope="col"|Position ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:35px;" scope="col"|No. ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:150px;" scope="col"|Name ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:75px;" scope="col"|MLS ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:75px;" scope="col"|U.S. Open Cup ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:75px;" scope="col"|Leagues Cup ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #E32526; width:75px;" scope="col"|Total !colspan="4"|Total !28!!0!!0!!28
 * 1 || MF || 43 ||align="left"| Mateusz Klich || 7 || 0 || 0 || 7
 * 2 || DF || 2 ||align="left"| Ruan || 5 || 0 || 0 || 5
 * rowspan="2" | 3 || FW || 20 ||align="left"| Christian Benteke || 3 || 0 || 0 || 3
 * MF || 21 ||align="left"| Ted Ku-DiPietro || 3 || 0 || 0 || 3
 * rowspan="2" | 5 || MF || 8 ||align="left"| Chris Durkin || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2
 * MF || 44 ||align="left"| Victor Pálsson || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2
 * 7 ||colspan=7| 6 players with 1 assist
 * MF || 21 ||align="left"| Ted Ku-DiPietro || 3 || 0 || 0 || 3
 * rowspan="2" | 5 || MF || 8 ||align="left"| Chris Durkin || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2
 * MF || 44 ||align="left"| Victor Pálsson || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2
 * 7 ||colspan=7| 6 players with 1 assist
 * MF || 44 ||align="left"| Victor Pálsson || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2
 * 7 ||colspan=7| 6 players with 1 assist
 * 7 ||colspan=7| 6 players with 1 assist