Matchup: Houston Dynamo FC (7–10–5) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (11–5–5)
Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Time: 8:30 PM ET / 5:30 PM PT
Venue: Shell Energy Stadium — Houston, TX
Broadcast: Apple TV (MLS Season Pass)
Western Conference Standings Snapshot
| Team | Record | Points | Standing |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 11–5–5 | 38 | 3rd |
| Houston Dynamo FC | 7–10–5 | 26 | 10th |
Vancouver trails San Diego FC by 4 points for the top spot
Houston sits just 1 point outside the playoff line, with a chance to climb into the top nine
Venue Advantage: Shell Energy Stadium
Houston is unbeaten in their last 3 home matches vs. Vancouver (2W, 1D)
Dynamo have won 4 of their last 8 home games across all competitions
Vancouver has lost 4 of their last 6 away matches, conceding 2+ goals in each
Recent Form Guide
| Team | Last 5 Matches | Goals Scored | Goals Conceded |
| Houston Dynamo FC | W-W-L-L-L | 7 | 8 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | W-L-L-L-W | 6 | 9 |
Houston fell 1–0 to Real Salt Lake last weekend
Vancouver suffered back-to-back 3–0 losses to LA Galaxy and Colorado Rapids
Key Players to Watch
Houston Dynamo FC
Ezequiel Ponce — 9 goals in all competitions; scored twice vs. San Diego FC
Amine Bassi — 4 assists; creative engine in the No. 10 role
Franco Escobar — 2 goals, 2 assists; veteran fullback with attacking flair
Jonathan Bond — Starting goalkeeper; 3 clean sheets in last 6 home games
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Brian White — 15 goals in all competitions; 10 goals in 13 MLS matches
Pedro Vite — 4 goals, 3 assists; scored in 3 of last 5 away games
Emmanuel Sabbi — 3 goals, 2 assists; dangerous on the counter
Yohei Takaoka — 6 clean sheets; will be tested by Houston’s wing play
Tactical Breakdown
Houston Dynamo (4-2-3-1)
GK: Bond
DEF: Andrade, Bartlow, Ortiz, Escobar
MID: Artur, Kowalczyk; McGlynn, Bassi, Holmes
FWD: Ponce
Focus on quick transitions and wide overloads
Bassi and Holmes operate between the lines to feed Ponce
Vancouver Whitecaps (4-3-3)
GK: Takaoka
DEF: Laborda, Veselinovic, Blackmon, Johnson
MID: Berhalter, Priso-Mbongue, Ngando
FWD: Vite, White, Sabbi
High press and vertical passing
White leads the line with Sabbi and Vite exploiting space behind Houston’s fullbacks
Injury Report
Houston Dynamo
Nelson Quinones, Andrew Tarbell, Erik Sviatchenko — OUT
Daniel Steres — Doubtful (leg)
Vancouver Whitecaps
Ryan Gauld, Sam Adekugbe, Ali Ahmed, Giuseppe Bovalina, Andres Cubas — OUT
Gauld’s absence is a major blow to midfield creativity
MATCH ODDS
Houston Dynamo FC + 120 Draw + 235 Vancouver Whitecaps FC + 200
Over 2.5 – 115 Under 2.5 – 110
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, July 15, 2025
