Columbus Crew vs Colorado Rapids preview: next match details
The next Columbus Crew match sees them host Colorado Rapids in the Major League Soccer 2026 Regular Season - 23 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus. The fixture is scheduled to kick off on 2026-09-05T23:30:00Z, with the status currently listed as Not Started. This Columbus Crew vs Colorado Rapids preview looks at kick-off time, venue, standings, form, head to head and the latest team news.
Columbus come into this game under pressure near the bottom end of the Eastern Conference, while Colorado are pushing in the Western Conference playoff positions. With the hosts trying to halt a poor run of form and the visitors looking to consolidate a top-eight spot, this clash could be pivotal for both sides’ seasons when fans ask when Columbus Crew play next.
Match details: date, kick-off & venue
- Competition: Major League Soccer, Regular Season - 23
- Date / Kick-off: 2026-09-05T23:30:00Z
- Venue: ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, Columbus
- Status: Not Started (Fixture has not started yet)
Standings & form
Columbus Crew sit 15th in the Eastern Conference with 20 points from 22 matches. Their overall record is 5 wins, 5 draws and 12 defeats, with a goal difference of -8 (31 scored, 39 conceded). At home they have played 11 times, winning 4, drawing 2 and losing 5, scoring 14 and conceding 14. Away from home they have 1 win, 3 draws and 7 losses from 11 games, with 17 goals for and 25 against. Their recent league form is worrying, reading LLLLD, underlining why this home fixture is so important.
Colorado Rapids are in a much stronger position in the Western Conference, currently 7th with 31 points from their 22 matches. They have won 10, drawn 1 and lost 11, scoring 31 and conceding 28 for a goal difference of +3. At home they have been impressive with 8 wins and 3 losses from 11 games (21 goals for, 9 against), while their away form is less convincing: 2 wins, 1 draw and 8 defeats from 11, with 10 goals scored and 19 conceded. Their current form string of WLWWW shows four wins in their last five league outings.
Season statistics highlight some additional trends. Columbus have kept 3 clean sheets in 22 league games and have failed to score in 3 matches. They have been awarded 4 penalties, converting 3 of them (75.00%). Colorado, meanwhile, boast 8 clean sheets overall, with 6 at home and 2 away, and have failed to score in 6 league fixtures. They have taken 3 penalties, scoring 2 (66.67%). In terms of tactical setups, Columbus have most frequently used a 4-4-2 formation (16 times), while Colorado’s preferred shape has been 4-2-3-1 (12 matches).
Head-to-head
- 2026-02-07T16:00:00Z: Colorado Rapids 1–4 Columbus Crew (Friendlies Clubs, Club Friendly)
- 2023-05-31T23:30:00Z: Columbus Crew 3–2 Colorado Rapids (Major League Soccer)
- 2022-08-14T01:00:00Z: Colorado Rapids 1–1 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
- 2019-05-26T01:00:00Z: Colorado Rapids 3–2 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
- 2018-09-22T23:30:00Z: Columbus Crew 2–1 Colorado Rapids (Major League Soccer)
The recent head to head record between Columbus Crew and Colorado Rapids is tight, with both sides enjoying victories. Columbus have won the most recent two meetings, including a convincing 4–1 away win in the 2026 club friendly and a 3–2 home success in MLS in 2023. Colorado’s last win in this series came in 2019 with a 3–2 home result, while there was also a 1–1 draw in Denver in 2022. Overall, the matchups have tended to be competitive and often high scoring.
Team news & absences
Columbus Crew have several issues on the injury front ahead of this game. W. Abou Ali (knee injury), S. Bangoura (ankle injury) and R. Camacho (foot injury) are all listed as Missing Fixture. Forward options could also be affected by J. Thiare, who is Questionable with a leg injury.
Colorado Rapids are also dealing with a number of absentees. M. Diop (knee injury), T. Ku-DiPietro (shoulder injury), H. Ojediran (suspended due to yellow cards) and goalkeeper Z. Steffen (shoulder injury) are all marked as Missing Fixture. In addition, K. Stewart-Baynes (leg injury) and J. Travis (ankle injury) are both listed as Questionable for the trip to Columbus.
Key players to watch
- Rafael Navarro (Colorado Rapids) — 10 goals and 3 assists in the 2026 Major League Soccer season, making him a central attacking threat for the visitors.
Prediction
The data-driven Columbus Crew vs Colorado Rapids prediction model leans slightly towards the hosts avoiding defeat. The forecast gives Columbus Crew 45%, draw 45% and Colorado Rapids 10%, with the advice listed as: “Double chance : Columbus Crew or draw”. That suggests home advantage and Columbus’s recent head to head edge may offset Colorado’s stronger overall league position, pointing towards a tight contest in Columbus.
