HOUSTON (Aug. 28, 2026) – Houston Dynamo FC return to Shell Energy Stadium to host the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, Aug. 29, on what will be Kick Cancer Night, presented by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT at Shell Energy Stadium, and fans can secure their tickets for the match via Tixr HERE.
Houston remains one of the hottest teams in the Western Conference and will look to retake top spot in the table after posting a 10-3-2 (WLD) record over the past 15 matches for 32 points. Notably, the team recorded an impressive 485-minutes shutout streak from July 25 to Aug. 22, the second-longest run over the last decade for the Dynamo. Houston also recently tied a league record with five consecutive shutout victories during that run.
The Dynamo hold the upper hand in the all-time regular-season series versus San Jose, with a 19-11-5 (WLD) record. Notably, Houston also holds a 13-3-1 (WLD) home record against the Earthquakes and has won three of the last five matches against the Earthquakes, home and away.
One lineup note for this match is that defender Lucas Halter will serve a one-match suspension due to yellow card accumulation.
On Saturday night, the Dynamo will transform the stadium in support of UT MD Anderson’s mission to end cancer through exclusive pregame programming and concourse activations. There will be dynamic in-stadium takeovers, including survivor cam live hits and fan-submitted photos featuring customizable "I Kick Cancer for" signs for display on the stadium videoboard. Additionally, as part of the inspiring evening, Dynamo players and local artists have worked together leading up to the match on a "Cleats for a Cause" project to design customized and personalized cleats to wear on Saturday to honor family members and close friends who have been diagnosed with cancer. Additionally, fans are encouraged to arrive early for a special cooling scarf gate giveaway while supplies last.
The Dynamo are coming off a hard-fought 2-1 defeat to St. Louis CITY SC on Saturday at Energizer Park, bringing to an end the team's eight-match unbeaten streak. Forward Aliyu Ibrahim was Houston's lone goalscorer, netting his second goal of the season. The fixture also saw defender Marcelo Saracchi make his first start in orange after joining the Dynamo on a full transfer from CA Boca Junior earlier this month. Additionally, forward Lawrence Ennali and midfielder Jack McGlynn made their 50th Dynamo appearance during the match.
San Jose is coming off a 5-1 home defeat to Minnesota United FC on Aug. 22 and is currently on a four-match losing streak to start August. However, the Quakes remain near the top of the West, sitting fourth in the conference standings with 33 points and a 10-8-3 (WLD) record. Preston Judd leads the team's attack with 11 goals, while Timo Werner and Niko Tsakiris each have seven assists.
This week, the Quakes announced the acquisition of German international midfielder Eduard Löwen in a trade with St. Louis CITY SC, joining fellow German star forward Werner on San Jose’s roster.
Dynamo attacker Guilherme has now scored or assisted on 63.3% of Houston's goals this season, one of the highest rates in MLS so far, and he is pursuing the all-time single-season record set by Sebastien Le Toux in 2010 for the Philadelphia Union at 71.4%. Additionally, the Brazilian has scored seven goals in the last 11 MLS matches, which included a goal in four consecutive matches, just one short of the Club’s all-time record, as forward Mauro Manotas managed five in 2019.
Earlier this week, the Dynamo named Club 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 a significant impact on the Club and the city of Houston. The first MLS player to be honored with a testimonial match in 2013, Ching now receives this honor following a stellar career in Houston that embodied what the city is all about – grit, hustle and resiliency – and will be presented with the honor on Ring of Honor Night, presented by Heriberto Ramos & Associates, on October 17, when the Dynamo host in-state rivals FC Dallas in a Texas Rivalry. Tickets are available via Tixr HERE.
Houston next travels to face Charlotte FC in an inter-conference matchup on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Bank of America Stadium, with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. CT. Fans can watch the match live via Apple TV.
