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Charlotte vs Columbus Crew preview: next match date and key details

The next Charlotte match in Major League Soccer sees them host Columbus Crew at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte in the Regular Season - 19 round. The game is scheduled to kick off on 2026-08-15T23:30:00Z, with the fixture currently listed as Not Started. For fans wondering when Charlotte play next at home, this clash with Columbus Crew is the answer.

This Charlotte vs Columbus Crew preview focuses on a meeting between two Eastern Conference sides separated by five points in the standings. Charlotte sit higher in the conference and are pushing to consolidate a promotion play-off spot, while Columbus Crew are looking to climb the table and close the gap on their hosts. Recent head-to-heads at Bank of America Stadium have also gone Charlotte’s way, adding extra intrigue to this matchup.

Match details: date, kick-off & venue

  • Competition: Major League Soccer, Regular Season - 19
  • Date / Kick-off: 2026-08-15T23:30:00Z
  • Venue: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
  • Status: Not Started (Fixture has not started yet)

Standings & form

Charlotte come into this fixture ranked 7th in the Eastern Conference with 25 points from 18 matches (7 wins, 4 draws, 7 defeats). They have scored 29 goals and conceded 27, giving them a goal difference of +2. Their recent league form reads LWDWW, indicating three wins in their last five outings. At Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte have been strong, taking advantage of home conditions with 5 wins, 3 draws and only 2 losses from 10 home games, scoring 20 and conceding 11.

Columbus Crew arrive in Charlotte sitting 11th in the Eastern Conference on 20 points after 18 matches (5 wins, 5 draws, 8 losses). They have scored 26 and conceded 28, for a goal difference of -2. Their form line of DWLWD shows just one defeat in the last five league matches, suggesting some recent improvement. Away from home, however, Columbus Crew have struggled: in 9 away fixtures they have managed 1 win, 3 draws and 5 defeats, with 14 goals scored and 19 conceded.

From the broader season statistics, Charlotte have kept 3 clean sheets and failed to score in 4 league games. Columbus Crew also have 3 clean sheets but have failed to score in 3 matches. Charlotte have commonly lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation (used 16 times), while Columbus Crew have most often used a 4-4-2 setup (12 matches). Discipline-wise, both sides have accumulated a notable number of yellow cards across all time ranges, underlining the potential for a competitive, physical encounter.

Head-to-head

  • 2025-05-24T23:30:00Z: Charlotte 3–2 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
  • 2025-05-03T23:30:00Z: Columbus Crew 4–2 Charlotte (Major League Soccer)
  • 2024-07-17T23:30:00Z: Columbus Crew 1–1 Charlotte (Major League Soccer)
  • 2024-03-23T23:30:00Z: Charlotte 2–0 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
  • 2023-06-03T23:30:00Z: Columbus Crew 4–2 Charlotte (Major League Soccer)
  • 2023-04-22T23:30:00Z: Charlotte 1–0 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
  • 2022-10-05T23:00:00Z: Charlotte 2–2 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
  • 2022-06-18T23:30:00Z: Columbus Crew 1–1 Charlotte (Major League Soccer)

The head-to-head record between these sides in MLS has been tight and often high scoring. Across the eight listed meetings, both teams have recorded home wins and there have been several draws, including 1–1 results in Columbus and 2–2 in Charlotte. Notably, Charlotte have won their last two home fixtures against Columbus Crew (2–0 in March 2024 and 3–2 in May 2025), while Columbus have posted some big home victories of their own, such as 4–2 wins in June 2023 and May 2025. The pattern suggests a competitive rivalry with no clear long-term dominance.

Team news & absences

Charlotte have several issues on the injury front ahead of this match. N. Berchimas is listed as a Missing Fixture due to a Foot Injury. A. John is also ruled out with an Upper-Body Injury, while H. Toffolo misses out because of a Hamstring Injury. In addition, A. Johnson is marked as Questionable with an unspecified injury concern, making his involvement uncertain.

For Columbus Crew, W. Abou Ali is confirmed as a Missing Fixture with a Knee Injury, reducing their attacking options for the trip to Charlotte.

Key players to watch

  • Pep Biel (Charlotte) — The midfielder has been a standout for Charlotte this season, contributing 9 goals and 5 assists in MLS. His creativity, set-piece threat and eye for goal make him a central figure in Charlotte’s attacking play and a key player to watch in this fixture.

Prediction

The data-driven model leans towards the hosts in this Charlotte vs Columbus Crew prediction. The prediction tool gives Charlotte a 45% chance of victory, a draw also at 45%, and Columbus Crew at 10%. The advised tip is a “Double chance: Charlotte or draw”, reflecting Charlotte’s stronger home record, higher Eastern Conference position, and recent head-to-head success at Bank of America Stadium. With both teams capable of scoring and Columbus showing some improved form, a competitive contest is expected, but the numbers suggest Charlotte are more likely to avoid defeat.

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