(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo finish up the regular season tonight at Shell Energy Stadium looking to beat St. Louis CITY SC and earn homefield advantage for the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. The Dynamo are coming off a two-match road trip that ended Sunday with a 3-1 loss to the Portland Timbers. St. Louis has lost their last four league matches, including a 1-0 defeat to San Diego on Saturday.
When: Saturday, November 7 | 6:10 PM CT kickoff
Where: Shell Energy Stadium; Houston, Texas
TV/Stream: Apple TV
Top Four On the Line
The Dynamo come into this match level on points with St. Louis in fourth place, just trailing in goal difference. President of Soccer Pat Onstad and head coach Ben Olsen spoke before the season about the goal of making the top four in the Western Conference and getting home-field for the best-of-three first round playoff series. Now, a home win tonight can assure that finish. A win, depending on how San Jose does in their match, could even set up that best-of-three series being against St. Louis, setting up four straight matches against them. Houston is back in the playoffs after missing out last season and have the chance to accomplish another goal tonight.
Full Strength
Guilherme and Hector Herrera did not play in the Dynamo’s two matches in the Pacific Northwest last week, leaving Houston without two of their key players. Olsen spoke in his Friday press conference, saying both players are “really close” and they are still deciding their availability. The Dynamo boss said he feels they are as close to full strength as they have been and also expect Marcelo Saracchi back over the two week international break before the playoffs begin. Having these players all back, especially Newcomer of the Year candidate Guilherme, is vital for the Dynamo as they head into the playoffs and look to make a run.
Championship Struggle
St. Louis hasn’t won a match since October 11 but in that time they managed to win the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup over Columbus Crew on penalty kicks. Since that cup final, CITY has lost three straight league games, leaving a top four finish in jeopardy. A win could put St. Louis into third, depending on other results, while a loss could see them finish as low as fifth. While CITY come into this match in poor form, they have beaten the Dynamo twice already in 2026, once in penalties in the Open Cup and once in the league. With both teams battling for home-field, this should be a great match.
Houston Dynamo FC – Out: Jimmy Maurer (back); Questionable: Marcelo Saracchi (lower body)
St. Louis CITY SC – Out: Carlo Holse (knee), Celio Pompeu (knee)
Predicted Lineup
