Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET.
The match airs on Apple TV.
Both teams are eliminated from playoff contention, so this serves as a season finale focused on pride, form, and finishing positions (NYCFC around 11th in the East with 39 points; D.C. United near 13th/14th with 33 points).
Venue and Weather
Audi Field (Washington, D.C.; capacity around 20,000). Forecast for Saturday: Mostly sunny and clear with highs around 57–59°F (14–15°C), lows in the mid-to-upper 40s°F, northwest winds 10–15 mph (gusts up to 20–30 mph possible), and dry conditions with very low precipitation chances. Pleasant late-fall weather for outdoor soccer.
Current Records and Context
New York City FC: 9-12-12 (39 points), 11th in the Eastern Conference. Playoff hopes ended with a late draw in their prior match. Unbeaten in their last four (1 win, 3 draws).
D.C. United: 7-14-12 (33 points), near the bottom of the East. On a five-game losing streak and struggling with a poor goal difference (around -21).
This is the second meeting of 2026; D.C. United won the first 2-0 earlier in the season.
Recent Form
NYCFC: Mixed but more stable lately. Recent results include a 1-1 home draw with CF Montréal (Oct. 31, ending playoff hopes on a late goal), 2-1 home win over Atlanta United, 2-2 draw at Orlando City, and 1-1 draws. They have shown resilience in draws but limited winning form.
D.C. United: Very poor. Five straight losses, including 0-3 at Columbus Crew (Oct. 31), 1-2 at Toronto, 0-2 home loss to FC Cincinnati, and other defeats. Scoring has been limited amid the skid.
Injury Reports
D.C. United: Significant absences—Sean Johnson (knee; Alex Bono expected in goal), Hosei Kijima (lower body/leg), Louis Munteanu (lower leg), Gabriel Segal (ankle/lower leg), and Kye Rowles (suspended or injured in some reports). Tai Baribo (top scorer, ~16 goals) listed as questionable (hip) in some updates or out in others.
New York City FC: Several out—Arnau Farnós (leg), Drew Baiera (leg/knee), Alonso Martínez (leg/thigh), Kai Trewin (leg/ankle), Maxi Moralez (leg/knee). Aiden O’Neill questionable (leg/ankle) in some reports.
Current Rosters / Expected Key Players and Predicted Lineups
D.C. United (coach René Weiler; often 4-4-2 or similar): Goalkeepers Alex Bono, Sean Johnson (out); defenders Lucas Bartlett, Kye Rowles (status issues), Silvan Hefti, Keisuke Kurokawa, Kimito Nono, Sean Nealis, Matti Peltola, Conner Antley; midfielders Jared Stroud, Andre Dozzell, Jackson Hopkins, Hosei Kijima (out); attackers Tai Baribo (status fluid, ~16 goals), Peglow, Nathan Ordaz, Louis Munteanu (out).
Predicted XI examples: Bono; Kurokawa, Bartlett/Nealis, Hefti; Stroud, Dozzell, Peltola, Nono; Peglow, Ordaz (or available forwards).
New York City FC (coach Pascal Jansen; often 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3): Goalkeeper Matt Freese; defenders Thiago Martins (captain), Tayvon Gray, Kevin O’Toole, James Sands, Mitja Ilenič, Nico Cavallo; midfielders Andrés Perea, Jonathan Shore, Nicolás Fernández Mercau (~16 goals), Agustin Ojeda, Hannes Wolf, Aiden O’Neill (questionable); attackers Talles Magno, Bénie Traoré, Alonso Martínez (out).
Predicted XI examples: Freese; Gray, Martins, Sands, O’Toole; Shore/Perea; Ojeda, Fernández, Traoré; Magno.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Nicolás Fernández Mercau / Agustin Ojeda / Talles Magno (NYCFC) vs. D.C. back line (Bartlett, Hefti, Kurokawa, Bono): Fernández is NYCFC’s leading scorer and creator (~16 goals). D.C.’s depleted or rotated defense must contain his movement and set-piece threat.
Tai Baribo / Peglow / Nathan Ordaz (D.C., if available) vs. NYCFC defense (Martins, Sands, Gray, Freese): Baribo has been D.C.’s primary outlet. NYCFC’s organized back line and Freese will look to shut down limited D.C. chances.
Midfield control: Perea/Shore/Fernández vs. Dozzell/Stroud/Peltola—NYCFC’s higher possession tendency could dominate.
Goalkeeper duel: Matt Freese (NYCFC) vs. Alex Bono (D.C.)—both capable, but Freese has been more consistent in recent outings.
Series History
NYCFC holds the historical edge overall (roughly 12 wins to D.C.’s 9, with several draws across ~26–27 meetings). Recent form has been competitive, with D.C. taking the earlier 2026 meeting 2-0. Home advantage has often played a role at Audi Field.
Betting Trends
Trends favor the visitors due to better recent form (unbeaten streak vs. five-loss skid), stronger attack (Fernández), and D.C.’s absences/scoring struggles. Low-scoring games possible given both sides’ inconsistencies, but NYCFC’s quality edge stands out.
MATCH ODDS
New York City FC + 126
D. C. United + 205
Draw + 257
Over 3 + 106 Under 3 – 140
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, November 6, 2026
