MLS Match Preview: Austin FC (9-8-7) vs, FC Dallas (7-11-7)

Venue: Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas
Kickoff: 8:30 PM ET / 7:30 PM CT
Broadcast: MLS Season Pass (Apple TV+)

Match Context

The Lone Star Derby returns with playoff implications and regional pride on the line. Austin FC sits 8th in the Western Conference with 35 points, unbeaten in their last five matches (W2, D3). FC Dallas, meanwhile, is 11th with 28 points and fighting to stay in the postseason hunt. Austin has struggled to convert home draws into wins, while Dallas has been inconsistent on the road, winning just once in their last six away matches. The last five head-to-head meetings favor Dallas (4 wins), but Austin won the most recent clash at Q2 Stadium 2–1 in March.

Key Players to Watch

Austin FC

Diego Rubio – 7 goals, 4 assists; clinical finisher and focal point of attack

Osman Bukari – Ghanaian winger with pace and 5 assists in his last 10 matches

Owen Wolff – Young midfield engine with growing influence in transitions

FC Dallas

Petar Musa – 8 goals; physical striker with strong hold-up play

Bernard Kamungo – 5 goals, 3 assists; dangerous in wide spaces

Sebastian Lletget – Veteran playmaker with 4 assists; key to Dallas’s buildup

Team Form & Stats

Team	Record	Goals For	Goals Against	Last 5 Matches
Austin FC	9-8-7	34	30	D-W-D-W-D
FC Dallas	7-11-7	32	38	W-L-W-D-L

Austin FC is unbeaten in five but winless in last three home matches

FC Dallas has conceded 8 goals in their last five matches

Both teams average over 1.3 goals scored per match

Tactical Breakdown

Austin FC plays a possession-based 4-2-3-1 with Rubio leading the line and Bukari stretching defenses wide.

FC Dallas uses a flexible 4-3-3, relying on Musa’s physicality and Kamungo’s pace to break lines.

Expect Austin to dominate midfield and press high, while Dallas will look to counter through wide channels and set pieces.