HOUSTON (Oct. 16, 2026) – Houston Dynamo FC return to Shell Energy Stadium to host in-state rivals FC Dallas in a Texas Derby matchup on Saturday, Oct. 17, on what will be Ring of Honor Night, presented by Heriberto Ramos & Associates. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT, and fans can secure their tickets to the match and festivities via Tixr HERE.
The Dynamo can clinch a spot in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs this weekend through one of the following five scenarios:Â
- Houston win vs. Dallas or...
- Houston draw vs. Dallas AND San Diego draw at LA AND Portland lose/draw vs. Colorado or...
- Houston draw vs. Dallas AND San Diego lose at LA AND Portland lose/draw vs. Colorado AND Salt Lake lose/draw at Kansas City or...
- San Diego lose/draw at LA AND Portland lose vs. Colorado AND Salt Lake lose at Kansas City or...
- San Diego draw at LA AND Portland lose vs. Colorado AND Salt Lake draw at Kansas City
The Club has named Dynamo legend and three-time MLS Cup Champion Brian Ching as the inaugural inductee to the **Houston Dynamo Ring of Honor**, which will recognize former Dynamo players, staff and executives that have made significant impact on the Club and the city of Houston. The former goalscorer will be officially presented with the honor during a special halftime ceremony on Saturday's Texas Derby. The recognition celebrates Ching's stellar career in Houston that embodied what the city is all about – grit, hustle and resiliency.
With five regular season matches remaining, Houston currently sits fifth in a tightly contested Western Conference table, just five points shy of the top three. The Dynamo hold a 13-9-7 (W-L-D) record on 46 points, the third-highest total through 29 matches in team history. The team has also avoided defeat in 12 of 15 matches since returning from the World Cup break.
Saturday's home match will mark the 51st regular season meeting between the two Texas sides. Houston currently holds a strong home record against FC Dallas, with a 10-5-11 (W-L-D) mark. Notably, Dynamo President of Soccer, and then goalkeeper, Pat Onstad still holds several regular season individual series records over the Texas rival, including seven victories, four clean sheets and 38 saves. Dallas does not hold an individual regular season series record other than losses and goals allowed.
Additionally, Houston won the 2025 Copa Tejas, finishing first ahead of Dallas and Austin FC with three points to claim El Capitán.
The Dynamo are coming off a 3-3 road draw at San Diego FC on Wednesday night. The high-scoring affair featured attacker Guilherme's second brace with the Dynamo and attacker Mateusz Bogusz's seventh goal of the season. All three of Houston's goals came in the first half, marking the first time the team has scored three goals in a half since July 25, when they earned a 3-0 home victory over Austin FC.
Notably, Guilherme’s performance earned him MLSSoccer.com Team of the Matchday honors for Matchday 30. His display also made him the first Dynamo player in team history to record three goal contributions in a half multiple times in a single season (at FC Dallas and versus Austin FC). Additionally, Guilherme has now contributed to 25 of Houston’s 39 goals this season (64.1%), one of the highest rates in MLS so far, and became the second Brazilian player in MLS history to record at least 25 goal contributions in their debut season (Gabriel Pec, 2024).
Goalkeeper Jonathan Bond currently ranks among the league's top five in clean sheets this season with ten. The English shot stopper is just two shutouts shy from tying former Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall's Club record of 12 clean sheets in a single season. Bond also recently helped Houston tie a league-record with a five-match shutout victory streak and held opponents scoreless for an impressive 485 minutes, the second-longest run over the last decade for the Dynamo.
Dallas enters this weekend's match in third place in the Western Conference with 50 points and a 14-7-8 (W-L-D) record. The team has already secured their spot in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs after defeating Seattle Sounders FC 1-0 at Toyota Stadium. Dallas has won five of their last seven matches, while Petar Musa leads the team's attack with 19 goals and ranks second in the MLS Golden Boot race. Joaquin Valiente leads the squad with 13 assists.
Houston has a former FC Dallas player on their roster in goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer, who was signed by the Dynamo ahead of the 2025 season. The veteran keeper spent eight seasons with Dallas, making 75 appearances in all competitions for the club. Maurer made his Dynamo debut versus Real Salt Lake on March 15, 2025.
The Dynamo also faced Dallas in this year's preseason, defeating them 2-1 in a **Torneo de Tejas** match. Houston went on to win the tournament after securing a 3-2 victory over Red Bulls New York at Shell Energy Stadium during the 2026 Season Kickoff Fan Fest, behind a hat trick from Guilherme. The Dynamo finished atop the four-team table with eight points and a 2-0-1 (WLD) record, also earning points versus Eastern Conference opponent Atlanta United FC.
Houston continues a two-match homestand on Saturday, Oct. 24, hosting Minnesota United FC on Space City Night, presented by DUDE WIPES. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT, and fans can secure tickets to the match via Tixr HERE.
