- Houston form: Houston Dynamo have won four and lost one of their last five MLS 2026 games.
- San Jose form: San Jose Earthquakes have won none, drawn one and lost four of their last five games.
- Records comparison: Houston Dynamo have a better home record than San Jose's away record in 2026.
An entertaining clash awaits at Shell Energy Stadium
Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo are 4th in MLS 2026 with 38 points from 21 games, which is probably a bit better than they deserve given the quality of the teams they've beaten and lost to. In any case, Dynamo have shown that they've got the tools to be a serious competitor, particularly with Ben Olsen's high-intensity press and fast-paced counterattacking game.
Dynamo's home record this season is seven wins, one draw and two losses, and they have conceded just 0.70 goals per game on home soil. Houston Dynamo lost 2-1 away to St. Louis City last game, but they remain sharp with a 1-0 win away to Vancouver before that loss.
San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose are 8th in MLS 2026 with 33 points from 21 games, keeping the West conference a very tight affair.
Quakes’ tempo is crucial
Bruce Arena has made the Quakes a possession-based team since joining in January 2025, but they prefer to overload the midfield in terms of structure, so the way they handle the game will be key to who wins this one.
San Jose have not been good enough recently, losing four straight games and losing to LA Galaxy and a 1-5 defeat to St. Louis at home are particularly concerning.
- Houston have the firepower to trouble San Jose here, with Guilherme Augusto the top player with 12 goals in 20 MLS 2026 games, including three in the last five.
- They've been leaking goals and confidence, but Timo Werner has given them a boost with two goals in the Quakes' last five, while Preston Judd has 11 in 20, making them a reliable outfit at the top end of the pitch.
Houston can do some damage
The odds make Houston the favorites here at 1.81, but San Jose are a threat on the road at 3.65 and the draw at 4.1 is equally enticing, so we'll go with the over for a bit more profit. The last meeting between these sides in MLS 2025 went San Jose's way 2-1 in Houston, but the head-to-head record is split 1 win apiece with 1 draw in the previous three, so it should be a competitive game.
The Dynamo are the likelier winner here on home ground, but San Jose's road record is good and they will definitely score, so we're going with both teams to score at 1.45 and over 2.5 goals at 1.48.
