- Standings: Columbus Crew are 21st in MLS 2026 with 16 points from 15 matches while New York City FC are 17th with 19 points after 15 matches.
- Head-to-head: New York City FC have failed to win their last 3 away matches against Columbus Crew.
- Recent form: Columbus Crew have won two and drawn one of their last five matches and are on a two-game winning streak.
Punters’ point of view
The odds are just about right for Wednesday's MLS 2026 fixture at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, USA, with Columbus Crew the narrow favorites at 2.01 ahead of NYCFC at 3.77 and the draw at 3.74.
However, our main selection must be the 1X and under 3.5 goals angle because of the home-field advantage and the recent record. Head-to-head, these clubs have split the last five meetings 2-2 with one draw in all competitions.
Columbus Crew have a slight edge in recent games, with the Crew winning their most recent clash against NYCFC 1-0 at home in the USA US Open Cup 2026 eight weeks ago.
Form and recent performances
Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew are in better form than NYCFC at the moment, winning two, drawing one and losing two of their last five matches.
Laurent Courtois' men also enter this matchup on the back of a two-game win streak, having beaten NYCFC 1-0 at home in the USA US Open Cup 2026 and Atlanta United 2-0 at the same venue in MLS 2026.
NYCFC
Pascal Jansen has NYCFC playing a possession and counterpress game, with plenty of width and overloads but they fold back quickly when they lose the ball.
The club have won just two of their last five and are on a two-game losing streak after a 0-1 draw at New York Red Bulls in MLS 2026, a 1-0 loss at Columbus in the USA US Open Cup 2026 and a 2-1 defeat at Nashville SC in MLS 2026.
Key players
- Nicolas Fernandez is NYCFC's most reliable outlet in the MLS 2026 with 10 goals in 15 games, while his three assists have helped to create three of NYCFC's last five goals.
- Hannes Wolf has been in hot form recently, however, netting three of NYCFC's six goals in the last five games.
- Diego Rossi is Columbus' most reliable finisher in MLS 2026 with six in 15, but Max Arfsten has chipped in with two of Columbus' six in the last five, to give the Crew some added strength from midfield.
Final thoughts
We think this will be a close game in Columbus' favor because of their home form and slight edge in the recent head-to-head.
The Crew have won three, drawn two and lost two of their seven home games in MLS 2026, scoring 1.29 goals per game and conceding 0.86 while NYCFC have won just twice, drawn two and lost three of seven on the road.
