DC United vs Columbus Crew preview: match details and prediction
The next DC United match in the 2026 Major League Soccer season sees them host Columbus Crew at Audi Field in Washington. This Eastern Conference clash is scheduled for 9 September 2026, with kick-off at 23:30 UTC, and offers both sides a chance to climb the conference standings after inconsistent runs of form. Fans searching for when DC United play next will have this home fixture firmly circled.
This DC United vs Columbus Crew preview comes with both teams sitting in the lower half of the Eastern Conference. DC United are just ahead in the table but struggling for wins, while Columbus Crew arrive on the back of a loss-heavy stretch despite a recent victory. With only two points separating the sides, this regular season Round 24 meeting could be important in shaping their push up the conference.
Match details: date, kick-off & venue
- Competition: Major League Soccer, Regular Season - 24
- Date / Kick-off: 2026-09-09 23:30 UTC
- Venue: Audi Field, Washington
- Status: Not Started (Fixture has not started yet)
Standings & form
DC United come into this game ranked 12th in the Eastern Conference with 25 points from 22 matches. Their overall record stands at 5 wins, 10 draws and 7 losses, with a goal difference of -8 (28 scored, 36 conceded). At Audi Field, DC United have played 11 times, recording 3 wins, 4 draws and 4 defeats, scoring 15 and conceding 22. Their recent conference form reads DLLDD, underlining a run of five matches without a win but with plenty of draws keeping them in touch.
Columbus Crew sit just behind in the Eastern Conference in 13th place, on 23 points from 23 matches. Their record is 6 wins, 5 draws and 12 losses, with a goal difference of -5 (34 for, 39 against). Away from home, Columbus have struggled: in 11 road fixtures they have managed 1 win, 3 draws and 7 defeats, scoring 17 and conceding 25. Their current form string of WLLLL shows one win followed by four straight losses, highlighting the pressure they are under coming into this trip to Washington.
From the season statistics, DC United have registered 5 clean sheets and have failed to score in 7 of their 22 league games. Columbus Crew have kept 4 clean sheets and failed to score only 3 times in 23 matches. DC United have converted all 4 penalties awarded to them so far, while Columbus have scored 3 of their 4 penalties. In terms of discipline, both sides pick up a notable number of yellow cards, particularly in the second half, which could influence how this contest is managed.
Head-to-head
- 2025-07-19: Columbus Crew 2–1 DC United (Major League Soccer)
- 2025-03-29: DC United 1–2 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
- 2024-09-28: DC United 2–2 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
- 2024-04-06: Columbus Crew 1–1 DC United (Major League Soccer)
- 2023-04-08: DC United 0–2 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
- 2023-03-05: Columbus Crew 2–0 DC United (Major League Soccer)
- 2022-07-14: DC United 2–2 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
- 2022-04-30: Columbus Crew 3–0 DC United (Major League Soccer)
- 2021-10-31: DC United 1–3 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
- 2021-08-04: Columbus Crew 2–4 DC United (Major League Soccer)
The head-to-head record between DC United and Columbus Crew in these ten listed MLS meetings leans towards the Crew. Columbus have collected multiple home wins, including 2–1 in 2025 and 3–0 in 2022, and have also enjoyed several strong results away, such as 2–0 and 3–1 victories in Washington. DC United’s standout result in this sequence is a 4–2 away win in 2021, while Audi Field has also seen a number of tight encounters, including three draws at 2–2 and 1–1 across recent seasons. Overall, the pattern suggests Columbus have often had the edge, but close scorelines indicate this fixture can be competitive.
Team news & absences
For DC United, G. Segal is listed as a Missing Fixture due to a leg injury. Defender K. Rowles is marked as Questionable with a thigh injury, so his availability will be subject to late assessment.
Columbus Crew have several confirmed absences. W. Abou Ali (knee injury), S. Bangoura (ankle injury) and R. Camacho (foot injury) are all listed as Missing Fixture. In addition, J. Thiare is Questionable with a leg injury, which could further limit Columbus’ options depending on his fitness.
Key players to watch
- T. Baribo (DC United) — 12 goals in the 2026 Major League Soccer season, making him a major attacking threat for the hosts.
Prediction
The data-driven model for this DC United vs Columbus Crew prediction leans slightly towards the visitors avoiding defeat. The forecast gives DC United a 10% chance of winning, with both the draw and a Columbus Crew win rated at 45% each. The stated advice is a “Double chance: draw or Columbus Crew”, reflecting Columbus’ stronger historical head-to-head record and attacking output, balanced against their poor recent form and away struggles. With both sides under pressure in the Eastern Conference standings, a tight, low-margin contest is anticipated.
