Minnesota United at Austin FC
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas
Stream: Apple TV
Radio: KSTP-AM 1500
Weather: 61 degrees, clear skies, 13 mph south wind
Betting line: MNUFC plus-220; draw plus-240; Austin plus-125
Recent matchups: MNUFC went 1-1-1 against Austin in 2025, but the most painful game came in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal in September. The Loons allowed a goal in the 120th minute and the 2-1 loss ruined the club’s best chance to win its first trophy.
Scouting report: Austin finished sixth in the West last season but was dead last in MLS with only 37 goals scored. Austin forward Brandon Vazquez will be sidelined with an ACL injury suffered in July, but Verde signed Facundo Torres from Palmeiras in Brazil for a $9.5 million transfer fee.
Torres will test the Loons’ back line and coach Nico Esteves might see an area to exploit at right back, where MNUFC had a rotation of players in preseason and then signed Kyle Duncan.
Big question: When will James Rodriguez play? Short answer: not on Saturday. The Colombian star just received his work visa on Wednesday and is back in Minnesota working out. His first full week of practice with the first team will be next week.
“It’s hard to put a fixed timeline on any one player because they are all different,” head coach Cameron Knowles said. “But he’s been working hard, and he has a great attitude and he’s been a really good teammate.”
Note: MNUFC has terminated its loan with 21-year-old midfielder Alexis Farina, a source said. He joined in August and didn’t appear for the first team.
Top storyline: Former Loons left back Joseph Rosales was traded to Austin in December and Rosales has this game circled after how he apparently felt wronged Minnesota didn’t complete his transfer to Mexican club Tigres last season.
Absences: Rodriguez (fitness) is out. Diaz (U.S. Green Card) is questionable.
Predicted starting lineup: FW Kelvin Yeboah; AM Tomas Chancalay, AM Joaquin Pereyra, AM Bongi Hlongwane; CM Nectar Triantis, CM Wil Trapp; LB Anthony Markanich, CB Morris Duggan, CB Michael Boxall, RB Carlos Harvey; GK Drake Callender.
Prediction: Knowes’ first game as interim head coach in 2024 — before Eric Ramsay took over weeks later — was a 2-1 win at Austin. Now as the permanent head coach, he can build on the same result. Minnesota, 2-1.
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