Venue and Kickoff
ScottsMiracle-Gro Field (also referred to as Lower.com Field in some listings), Columbus, Ohio.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET
Broadcast on (Apple TV).
Current Weather Forecast
Unseasonably warm and humid conditions are expected, with a high chance of showers and thunderstorms. Forecasts project a high near 80–81°F, partly-to-mostly cloudy skies becoming more overcast, showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms (around 70–80% chance of precipitation), especially later in the day/evening. Lows in the upper 50s to around 60°F. West/southwest winds 5–10 mph. Potential for disruptions if storms intensify near or during the match window.
Injury and Availability Reports
Columbus Crew: Wessam Abou Ali (knee/cruciate ligament, out long-term). The squad is otherwise relatively healthy.
Charlotte FC: Nimfasha Berchimas (lower body/foot, out); Archie Goodwin (lower body/foot, out); Aron John (upper body/shoulder, out). Tim Ream was suspended (red card accumulation) for a prior match but status for this midweek game should be confirmed closer to kickoff (reports indicated the ban was for the previous fixture). Idan Toklomati has been listed with a knee issue in some trackers but featured recently (scored in the Oct. 10 win).
Current Player Rosters / Key Personnel
Columbus Crew (key available players): GK Patrick Schulte; defenders Sean Zawadzki (captain), Mohamed Farsi, Malte Amundsen, Steven Moreira, Rudy Camacho; midfielders Dylan Chambost, Taha Habroune, Santiago Rodríguez, Brais Méndez, Anass Zaroury; forwards Josef Martínez, others including Jamal Thiaré. Recent lineups have featured Schulte; Farsi, Moreira/Zawadzki, Amundsen; Zaroury, Chambost, Habroune, Rodríguez; Méndez, Martínez.
Charlotte FC (key available players): GK Kristijan Kahlina; defenders Nathan Byrne, David Schnegg, Henry Kessler, Morrison Agyemang, Harry Toffolo, Brandt Bronico; midfielders Ashley Westwood, Pep Biel (leading scorer with ~12 goals + assists), Luca de la Torre, Djibril Diani; forwards Idan Toklomati (~9–11 goals), Liel Abada, Allan Saint-Maximin, Rodolfo Aloko. Recent form has featured Toklomati’s scoring and Biel’s creativity, with Saint-Maximin adding impact off the wing.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Pep Biel / Idan Toklomati / Liel Abada / Allan Saint-Maximin (Charlotte attack) vs. Columbus back line (Zawadzki, Amundsen, Farsi, Moreira) and Schulte: Charlotte’s attacking trio/quartet has chemistry and recent goal contributions; Columbus must contain transitions and set pieces.
Josef Martínez / Brais Méndez / Santiago Rodríguez (Columbus attack) vs. Charlotte defense (Kessler/Agyemang/Byrne/Schnegg) and Kahlina: Martínez provides veteran finishing; Méndez and Rodríguez create chances against a solid but tested Charlotte unit.
Midfield battle: Westwood/Bronico/Biel (Charlotte) vs. Chambost/Habroune/Rodríguez (Columbus) will dictate possession and tempo. Columbus often enjoys higher possession averages.
Fullback duels: Saint-Maximin or Abada vs. Farsi/Amundsen on the flanks could be decisive for width and crosses.
Recent Team Forms
Charlotte FC: 13-8-7. Strong playoff push—won 3-2 at home vs. FC Dallas on October 10 (comeback from 0-2, Toklomati brace). Prior results include a 0-1 home loss to Chicago, 2-1 away win at D.C. United, 3-3 draw at Cincinnati, and 2-1 away at Montréal. Solid recent away form and ability to score in bunches.
Columbus Crew: 8-15-5. Struggling overall and near the bottom of the East—lost 3-2 at Orlando on October 10. Prior: 2-1 home win vs. Inter Miami, 2-0 away at Montréal, mixed results including losses. Home form has been inconsistent; defensive vulnerabilities persist (higher goals conceded).
Series History
Charlotte holds a recent edge. Key 2026 result: Charlotte won 3-1 at home on August 15 (Bronico, Abada penalty, Biel; Adams for Columbus). Other recent meetings include Charlotte 3-2 home win in 2025, Columbus 4-2 home win in 2025, 1-1 draw in 2024, and Charlotte 2-0 home in 2024. Overall H2H leans Charlotte in the last several encounters (~4 wins to Columbus’s 2, with draws). Games often produce goals.
Betting Trends
Total goals around 2.5–3 (Over leans given both teams’ scoring/conceding rates). BTTS has solid support. Charlotte’s superior form, points total, and prior win over Columbus provide underdog value; home advantage and Columbus’s possession edge support the hosts. High-scoring recent games for both sides factor into totals.
This Eastern Conference midweek match pits a playoff-contending Charlotte side seeking to solidify positioning against a Columbus team fighting to stay relevant and climb from the lower half. Expect an open contest with scoring chances at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.
MATCH ODDS
Charlotte FC + 245
Columbus Crew SC – 111
Draw + 296
Over 3 – 133 Under 3 + 102
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, October 13, 2026
