The Houston Dynamo return from the final international break of the regular season, traveling to Saint Paul to take on Minnesota United FC. Here’s what you need to know about Houston’s weekend opponent.

The Loons entered 2026 with a new man at the helm after Eric Ramsay left for EFL Championship side West Bromwich Albion. Ramsay had helped Minnesota build on a club-record 58-point campaign in 2025, making his departure a significant change heading into the new season.

Ironically, Ramsay’s move to England didn’t last long. He was sacked after just 44 days and nine matches without a win. Meanwhile, Minnesota have struggled to find their footing under his successor, Cameron Knowles. The club also rolled the dice on Colombian star James Rodríguez, but his impact was limited, with just 194 minutes played and two assists in six MLS appearances. So much for the superstar experiment. Who could have predicted that a player with a history of limited club involvement wouldn’t suddenly become a weekly difference-maker?

Key Numbers

Minnesota’s biggest strength is creating scoring opportunities. According to FotMob’s 2026 MLS statistics, the Loons rank third in the league with 79 big chances created. The problem? They’ve missed 55 of those chances, the second-highest total in MLS. They can create danger, but converting those opportunities into goals has been a different story.

Defensively, Minnesota have been far less convincing. The Loons have conceded seven penalties, tied for the league high, while allowing 1.6 goals per match. Houston should have opportunities to exploit a defense that has struggled with discipline and consistency.

Kelvin Yeboah is Minnesota’s leading attacking contributor, with 16 combined goals and assists. The Italian striker remains the Loons’ biggest offensive threat, and Houston will need to find a way to keep him quiet if the Dynamo want to leave Allianz Field with points.

Head Coach

Cameron Knowles

Knowles was promoted to head coach in January following Ramsay’s departure. He is no stranger to the organization, having joined Minnesota in 2021 as a video analyst before taking charge of MNUFC2 in 2022 and 2023. He also served as interim head coach for the first three matches of the 2024 season, recording two wins and a draw, before spending the next two seasons as an assistant under Ramsay.

His first full season in charge, however, has been a different story. Minnesota have struggled for consistency, and their recent form has taken a worrying turn, entering the Houston matchup on a five-match losing streak. The Loons have shown they can create chances, but defensive mistakes and missed opportunities continue to undermine their efforts.

Last Five Matches

September 5 – Portland 5-4 Minnesota
September 9 – Minnesota 1-2 Dallas
September 12 – St. Louis 4-2 Minnesota
September 19 – Minnesota 2-3 LA Galaxy
September 26 – Seattle 3-1 Minnesota

Last Match Staring XI

Here’s how Minnesota lined up for their last game, a 3-1 loss to Seattle.

2026 Roster

Goalkeepers: Alec Smir, Drake Callender, Kayne Rizvanovich

Defenders: Devin Padelford, Kyle Duncan, Nicolás Romero, Anthony Markanich, Michael Boxall, Morris Duggan, DJ Taylor, Jefferson Díaz, Kieran Chandler, Carlos Harvey

Midfielders: Peter Stroud, Wil Trapp, Julian Gressel, Nectarios Triantis, Joaquín Pereyra, Owen Gene

Forwards: Tomás Chancalay, Kelvin Yeboah, Darius Randell, Mauricio González, Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Marcus Caldeira, Mamadou Dieng, Jordan Adebayo-Smith, Maurice Malone

Enemy Scouting Report: Minnesota United

Houston Dynamo Head to Minnesota Looking for a Spark

Sin nueve y sin respuestas: Houston regaló cinco puntos en casa