MLS Week 7 Preview: Charlotte FC, Nashville SC, FC Dallas & more… | OneFootball

With fourteen fixtures this weekend, we split our coverage between myself and Anthony Kyaw. You can find his previews over here.

After a one-week hiatus for the International Break at the end of March, the teams are now in the intense stretch that will run through May 23rd. At that point, MLS will suspend for nearly two months while the FIFA World Cup demands the attention of soccer fans everywhere.

All games will be played on Saturday. Kickoff times are listed and you can stream the matches on AppleTV

CF Montréal vs. Philadelphia Union

Kickoff: 2:30pm ET/11:30am PTStade Saputo, Montreal, Canada

This is a genuine hobo fight between two of the worst Eastern Conference teams. Between them they have one win, twelve losses and goal differential of -17.

Philly, of course, are the only MLS side without a win this season, and also have the dubious distinction of having the worst start ever after winning a Supporter’s Shield.

CF Montréal are simply being themselves once again, despite a new head coach and ten new signings. Their center back pairing of Brayan Vera and Dagur Dan Thórhallsson (cumulative $1.1M price tag) have inexplicably made the Montréal defense worse. Last year they averaged 1.8 goals conceded per game. So far this season it’s 2.8. Given this is their first home game of the season, they’ll really want to turn around and give their supporters something to cheer about. But at least they return with a win!

Charlotte FC vs. Nashville SC

Kickoff: 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PTBank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

This should be a banger. You’ve got your Eastern Conference leaders (Nashville) heading to nearby rivals Charlotte, who are in third.

Nashville already eliminated Inter Miami from the Concacaf Champions Cup, and delivered a 5-0 beat down to Orlando City. They’re scoring 1.85 goals per game, and conceding a low 0.42. Sam Surridge is co-leading the Golden Boot race with 7. Their only stumble this season was last week’s 1-0 loss to Chicago.

After suffering a humbling 3-0 loss away to LA Galaxy, Charlotte FC have been nearly perfect. I say “nearly” since they conceded a goal in every one of their last three wins. Generally, you want clean sheets for that aura in invincibility, but that’s moot because over that same span they scored 11. In between that run they also tied Inter Miami 0-0.

What’s not to love?

New England Revolution vs. D.C. United

Kickoff: 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PTGillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

If the season were to end today, these two teams would compete in the Eastern Conference play-in. Frankly, neither of them is deserving of that, and their positions in the table are not truly representative of how they’ve played.

The addition of Tai Baribo has done little to cure D.C. United’s historical scoring woes; they only have four this season, tied for fewest in the league. The upside is that their defense is better.

The Revs sit just below D.C., but actually have a +2 goal differential. The bulk of that came from their 6-1 dismembering of FC Cincinnati back in Week 5, and the 3-0 win over hapless Montréal. Still, they are a threat on the attack and perfect at home so far (no losses or draws).

Chicago Fire FC vs. Atlanta United FC

Kickoff: 8:30pm ET/5:30pm PTSoldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Somehow, Chicago Fire is “good” this season. The quotations are there only because they play stingy-ass soccer, both up top and in the back. Their eight goals scored puts them a lower middle of the East; the four conceded is second best. But all points count the same, regardless of how ugly they are earned. 

And speaking of ugly, they’ll host Atlanta United. The Five Stripes have yet to get a point on the road, heck, they haven’t even scored. I see little hope of that changing in Soldier Field.

FC Dallas vs. St. Louis CITY SC

Kickoff: 8:30pm ET/5:30pm PTToyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas

If you say “FC Dallas are good this season” you probably mean “Petar Musa is scoring a lot so far.” The Czech striker has bagged seven goals in five games. Two of those were clutch winners in the dying moments of the match. Without him, Dallas wouldn’t be much but let’s give credit to 24 year old attacker Logan Farrington. He’s added another four, plus an assist.

St. Louis CITY didn’t start strong, earning one point in the first four games, but things have picked up since. They took down New England 3-1 and took a 1-1 against NYCFC. The question is whether they can stop the Musa-Farrington dual threat.

Sporting Kansas City vs. San Jose Earthquakes

Kickoff: 8:30pm ET/5:30pm PTChildren’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kansas

I reported earlier this week on San Jose’s record-breaking start to the 2026 season. Well, to quote from an old adage, this is where pudding has to be proven. On paper and on the pitch the Earthquakes are simply better, even with their injury woes.

Sporting Kansas City put up a very energetic battle against Real Salt Lake last weekend, but without the woodwork doing them favors the scoreline would have been 5-1 instead of 3-1. A draw would be an incredible result.

Colorado Rapids vs. Houston Dynamo FC

Kickoff: 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PTDick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colorado

Surely Colorado is more than the viral Zach Steffen gaffe from last week? The answer appears to be YES. Paxton Aaronson leads a cadre of nine Rapids players who have found the net this season. They carry a +3 GD even though they have a 3W 3L record. By all accounts it’s never a dull match when they play, with plenty of goals on both sides. 

This should suit Houston, who’ve seen their share of wild ones already. They came out on the winning side against Portland with a Mateusz Bogusz clutch in the 15th minute of stoppage time. The following week karma paid them back after Petar Musa snatched the lead in the 5th stoppage time minute. For viewers, I hope this match rewards you with similar drama, and make sure you watch to the end!