The east coast soccer fan at least gets the morning free to run errands, do chores, or perform whatever non-beautiful game tasks they must before the opening whistle.
Matchweek 10 kicks off at 1pm ET / 10am PT and has games scheduled for the next eleven hours, featuring 28 of the league’s 30 teams. There is a lone Sunday fixture as well, to ensure everyone gets to play.
Last week’s bevy of Wednesday matches threw the tables, conference and Supporters Shield, for a loop. So this weekend must inevitably answer the question whether the current rankings reflect reality, or some fluke. In a departure from our usual ordering by kickoff time, we’re instead going to discuss each match based on the position of one of the two teams in the Supporters Shield standings. Teams are listed with their respective position in parentheses.
All matches are streaming on AppleTV+
St. Louis CITY (26) vs. San Jose Earthquakes (1)
Kickoff: 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT
Energizer Park, St. Louis, Missouri
The Quakes have demolished nearly everyone so far. Even in their only loss, they outplayed Seattle and were unlucky not to score. They’re the first team since the shootout era (which ended in 2000) to win 8 of their first 9 games. The superlatives can go on and on. Truly the only question is whether St. Louis can muster enough to give them a pause. I’d caution CITY from scoring first, however. When Austin did that on Wednesday it just made San Jose angry. They then put five up in the second half.
Vancouver Whitecaps (2) vs. Colorado Rapids (12)
Kickoff: 10:30pm ET / 7:30pm PT
BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Whitecaps have the highest average xG in the league: 2.77. They’re tied for second least goals conceded: 4. They’re tied for most goals scored: 22. But this should be more shootout than slam-dunk. The Rapids have scored only one goal fewer, but conceded 11 more. If their defense can have a good day (and that’s a big ask), they could surprise last season’s finalists.
Nashville SC (3) vs. Charlotte FC (11)
Kickoff: 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT
GEODIS Park, Nashville, Tennessee
Surridge, Mukhtar, Espinoza. There are few trifectas as dangerous, with one of those three contributing in every one of Nashville’s 17 goals. Defensively they equal San Jose and Vancouver with four goals conceded. Charlotte are no pushovers and have a dangerous creator in Pep Biel. Their issue lies in stopping goals: 14 shipped puts them squarely in the middle of the league.
Inter Miami CF (4) vs. New England Revolution (9)
Kickoff: 7:30pm ET / 4:30pm PT
Nu Stadium, Miami, Florida
Inter Miami wins, yes. They’ve got all the glow and star power too. But they simply ain’t all that and a bag of chips. The defense is porous, and the team far too reliant on last gasp saves. The only difference between them and the Revs is in spend per player, and that individual brilliance pools of cash can buy. Otherwise they have the same total of clean sheets (2) and a better conceded goals per game (1.4 to 1.6). They do stink on the road, though, only winning 1 of 4 this season.
Minnesota United FC (6) vs. LAFC (5)
Kickoff: 4:45pm ET / 1:45pm PT
Allianz Field, Saint Paul, Minnesota
I love that this fixture is getting a national broadcast on FOX. Much like last Sunday’s LAFC battle against San Jose was a defining moment, this one could also prove important. LAFC have seven clean sheets in nine games, more than any other side, but with two back-to-back losses and a 0-0 draw this game has to be a “stop the bleeding” moment. The Loons, however, are on the opposite tack. Undefeated in their last five, with four wins, they’re still an anomaly sitting in 6th overall with a -2 goal differential.
Seattle Sounders FC (7) vs. FC Dallas (13)
Kickoff: 10:30pm ET / 7:30pm PT
Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington
This is truly a battle between FC Dallas’ Petar Musa and Seattle’s soul-sucking defense. Musa has scored only one fewer goal than the entire Seattle team combined, whose statistics are helped by them playing one or two fewer games than everyone else. Still, it will be intriguing to see who comes out on top.
LA Galaxy (20) vs. Real Salt Lake (8)
Kickoff: SUNDAY 7:00pm ET / 4:00pm PT
Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California
Real Salt Lake’s outstanding start fell apart under Inter Miami’s relentless assault last Wednesday, but it took until the final ten minutes for them to concede. They might be 6th in the West, but if they were in the East they’d sit in 2nd. This team has grit, and no shortage of talent. The same cannot be said for LA Galaxy, however. That they’re as high as 20th in the Shield standings is shocking to me.
Chicago Fire FC (10) vs. Sporting Kansas City (30)
Kickoff: 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT
Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
It would be mendacious of me to imply that anything other than a Chicago win was likely here. To speak plainly: Sporting Kansas City sucks. They’re tied in last for points (4), goals scored (7) and the worst in xG (0.66). Chicago might not be terribly consistent, but they’re good enough to win this contest.
Toronto FC (14) vs. Atlanta United FC (29)
Kickoff: 1:00pm ET / 10:00am PT
BMO Field, Toronto, Canada
Another surprising side this season is Toronto. They only have two losses, and have been stubborn opposition for anyone they face. They’ll be salivating at the opportunity Atlanta presents. The Five Stripes have the most losses (7) lowest points (4, tied) and fewest goals scored (7).
CF Montréal (27) vs. New York City FC (15)
Kickoff: 2:30pm ET / 11:30am PT
Stade Saputo, Montreal, Canada
Last Saturday’s 4-1 blowout of Red Bull New York was Montréal’s second win from their first home game of the season. Supporters will be hoping that lightning can strike twice as they host New York’s OTHER side. Not much separates NYCFC from Red Bulls. While NYCFC and Red Bulls are both 3W 3D 3L, that’s where the similarities end. FC have a more resilient defense, conceding 8 fewer goals. That shifts this match far more in favor of the visitors.
Austin FC (23) vs. Houston Dynamo FC (16)
Kickoff: 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT
Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas
Both sides are desperate to get any semblance of consistency, but Houston have the momentum after last Wednesday’s sloppy 1-0 victory over San Diego.
FC Cincinnati (22) vs. Red Bull New York (17)
Kickoff: 7:30pm ET / 4:30pm PT
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
There is no denying that FC Cincinnati is fun to watch. That two-goal stoppage time comeback against NYCFC to gain a draw last Wednesday was amazeballs. They have the 5th highest goals scored (17), but the 2nd most conceded (23). Julian Hall, Red Bull’s 17 year-old phenom, is still driving their offensive attack with 6 of their 16 goals. Two teams with some of the worst defenses and most potent offenses in the league playing one another? Sign me up!
San Diego FC (18) vs. Portland Timbers (24)
Kickoff: 9:30pm ET / 6:30pm PT
Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, California
Few stories this season have been as enigmatic as San Diego FC. Last year’s debutantes and surprise Western Conference winners appear to be in a major sophomore slump, sitting in 10th place after winning their first three, drawing the next two and then losing every game since. This time last year, they were 6th. One big factor is discipline: SDFC have a league-high four red cards already, double their total for 2025.
Columbus Crew (19) vs. Philadelphia Union (28)
Kickoff: 7:30pm ET / 4:30pm PT
ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, Columbus, Ohio
After suffering the worst season start for a Supporters Shield winner in league history, Philly won their first match back on Apr. 11. They’ve drawn their last two. It’s a recovery, but you get the feeling this won’t be their year. Columbus are a true yo-yo team, good some weeks, terrible some others. They should be winning this handily.
D.C. United (21) vs. Orlando City SC (25)
Kickoff: 7:30pm ET / 4:30pm PT
Audi Field, Washington, District of Columbia
Tai Baribo’s hat trick wasn’t enough to give D.C. three points, though his final 80th minute goal did secure a valuable draw. Orlando City bucked their recent woes with an unexpected 4-1 shellacking over Charlotte. Neither side is worth watching when they play better opposition; it’s doubly worse when they face off.
