HOUSTON (Aug. 22, 2025) – Houston Dynamo FC return to Shell Energy Stadium to host the San Jose Earthquakes in a Western Conference clash on Saturday, Aug. 23. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT, and fans can secure their tickets HERE.
Houston has eight regular season matches remaining in their push for the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, including four home matches and four road matches. Notably, San Jose currently sits ninth in the final Western Conference playoff spot and is just three points ahead of Houston with 32 points and an 8-11-8 (WLD) record.
Saturday’s match will also feature **Kids Night** at Shell Energy Stadium, presented by SeatGeek. Young fans can look forward to a special Houston Mascot Takeover featuring Orbit from the Astros, Clutch from the Rockets, Toro from the Texans, Scratch from the SaberCats, Orion from the Sugar Land Space Cowboys and the Dynamo’s own Diesel the Fox. Additionally, there will be a giant pregame Bubble Zone Fun on the North Plaza, free popsicles for the first 150 kids and a post-match Parade of Champions, where every kid under 12 can take a lap around the pitch like their Dynamo favorites.
Head coach Ben Olsen remains on the verge of a major career milestone, sitting one victory away from 150 career MLS regular season wins. The veteran has been a part of the league since 1998 as a player and a coach since 2010, and Olsen currently ranks third among active MLS coaches in career wins and seventh all-time.
One lineup note for this week is that midfielder Brooklyn Raines will miss Saturday’s match after receiving a red card on Sunday versus Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Forward Ezequiel Ponce leads the team’s attack with nine goals across all competitions, including seven in regular season play, while midfielder Jack McGlynn sits second with six goals in all competitions. Defender Griffin Dorsey leads the team in distribution with six assists, followed by McGlynn with five.
The Dynamo are coming of a hard-fought 1-1 road draw at Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Sunday night, scoring their second late equalizer in as many matches. The breakthrough came off the right foot of captain and midfielder Artur in the 91st minute after forward Lawrence Ennali beat a defender along the left side, cut along the endline and found forward Amine Bassi near the top of the box. Bassi laid the ball off to Artur, whose first-time hit from 25 yards out snuck just inside the post for the goal Houston needed. The performance earned the Brazilian a spot on the MLSSoccer.com Team of the Matchday for Matchday 29.
San Jose enters Saturday’s match following a 2-1 home loss in-state rivals San Diego FC. The Earthquakes opened the scoring in the 72nd minute when José Martínez capitalized on a loose ball in the box, before San Diego equalized in the 81st minute on a header from Marcus Ingvartsen and netted the game-winner in the 84th minute with a goal from Anders Dreyer. Martínez leads the team’s attack with 12 goals, followed by Cristian Arango with 11. Cristian Espinoza has tallied 12 assists on the season.
Houston holds the upper hand in the all-time regular-season series versus San Jose with a 19-10-5 (WLD) record. Notably, the Dynamo are unbeaten in their last four matches against the Earthquakes. Earlier this year, the two sides played to a 3-3 draw at PayPal Park. Ponce opened the scoring in the 31st minute on a header assisted by Dorsey. Defender Felipe Andrade doubled Houston’s lead in the 50th minute with a header of his own, but San Jose rallied to take a 3-2 lead by the 76th minute. Dorsey then leveled the match at 3-3 in second half stoppage time with a strike from outside the box after a buildup play from McGlynn and defender Franco Escobar.
Houston next travel to face St. Louis City SC on Saturday, Aug. 30, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT at Energizer Park. Fans can follow the action live via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
