HOUSTON (Oct. 23, 2026) – After clinching their place in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs last weekend, Houston Dynamo FC will look to climb the Western Conference standings on Saturday, Oct. 24, hosting Minnesota United FC on what will be Space City Night, presented by DUDE Wipes. Kickoff at Shell Energy Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT, and fans can secure their tickets to the match via Tixr HERE.
Last weekend, Houston earned their place in the postseason for the third time in four seasons following a 2-2 Texas Derby home draw versus FC Dallas and some additional results around the league. With four regular season matches remaining, Houston sits fifth in a tightly contested Western Conference table, just two points shy of the top four and home-field advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. The Dynamo hold a 13-9-8 (W-L-D) record on 47 points, the fourth-highest point total in Club history through 30 matches, while remaining above the playoff line since May. Notably, the team has avoided defeat in 13 of 16 matches since returning from the World Cup break and holds a strong 8-3-4 (W-L-D) home record so far this season. Houston's 2026 playoff run is powered by Shell Energy.
During the Texas Derby draw, midfielder Héctor Herrera and attacker Mateusz Bogusz scored for the Houston, while attacker Guilherme recorded his 10th assist of the season, becoming just the second player in Dynamo history to record 10 goals and 10 assists in the same season (Alberth Elis, 11 goals and 10 assists in 2018). Notably, Herrera's performance earned him MLSSoccer.com Team of the Matchday honors for Matchday 31.
This week, the Dynamo also announced a contract extension for head coach Ben Olsen through the 2027-28 season. Under his leadership, the Club has lifted 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, qualified for the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup for the first time since 2019, reached the 2023 Western Conference Final, set a Club single-season points record in 2024, while securing a second consecutive MLS Cup Playoffs berth. The American is one of three active MLS head coaches to lead a team to the playoffs eight or more times and ranks second in Club history for the most playoff appearances. Olsen sits seventh all-time amongst MLS head coaches with 164 regular season wins, while his 51 regular season wins with the Dynamo is the second-most in Club history. Among full-time head coaches for the Dynamo, Olsen owns the second-highest winning percentage across all competitions (39.5%). Additionally, Olsen has been a key contributor in Houston’s rise as one of the most productive player development clubs in MLS, advancing the careers of players like Matthew Arana, Felipe Andrade, Micael dos Santos, Jack McGlynn, Brooklyn Raines and Resch.
This weekend’s fixture marks the second meeting between Houston and Minnesota this season, with Houston having visited Minnesota earlier this month and earning a 2-2 comeback draw. Forwards Lyle Foster and Duncan McGuire each scored their first goals for the Club in the match. Notably, the game marked the 16th time in Club history that two players scored their first MLS goals for Houston in the same match, as defender Andrade and former Dynamo player Pablo Ortiz last achieved the feat in a 2-0 home victory over Minnesota on May 14, 2025.
One lineup note for Saturday is that defender Agustin Resch will serve a one-match suspension due to yellow card accumulation.
From an individual perspective, Guilherme has now contributed to 26 of Houston’s 41 league goals this season (63.4%), one of the highest rates in MLS so far, and recently became the second Brazilian player in MLS history to record at least 25 goal contributions in their debut season (Gabriel Pec, 2024). Additionally, he has recorded at least a goal and one assist in seven MLS matches this season.
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.
Minnesota enters Saturday's match sitting 13th in the Western Conference with 34 points and a 8-12-10 (W-L-D) record. The Loons recorded one draw and one win since last facing the Dynamo on Oct. 10 at Allianz Field. Minnesota's most recent match came on Oct. 17, against St. Louis CITY SC, where they earned a 3-2 home victory. Marcus Caldeira, Aziel Jackson and Kelvin Yeboah scored for the Loons in that match. Yeboah leads the team's attack with 17 goals, while Joaquin Pereyra leads the team with 13 assists.
Off the field, Saturday's Space City Night will feature tailgating fun with supporters, Space Center Houston concourse interactive activations, fun space facts on videoboard, photo opportunities on the stadium's North Plaza with Deuce, the DUDE Wipes mascot, and a "Race to Space" relay race with mascot Diesel the Fox during halftime.
The Dynamo open a two-match road trip on Wednesday, Oct. 28, first visiting Seattle Sounders FC before facing off against the Timbers on Sunday, Nov. 1. Fans can follow both matches live via MLS on Apple TV.
