- FC Dallas have won two, drawn three and lost none of their last five meetings with Houston Dynamo in MLS 2025.
- FC Dallas are unbeaten in their last two home matches, winning one and drawing one.
- Houston Dynamo are winless in their last two visits to play FC Dallas in the Texas Derby.
FC Dallas are 21st in the MLS table with 16 points from 12 games, while Houston Dynamo are 27th with 10 points from the same number of matches. So there’s not a lot to separate these two clubs in the standings, but there is a lot of local bragging rights and playoff aspirations at stake in the Texas Derby on Sunday. Eric Quill took over as head coach of FC Dallas in November 2024 and has brought more structure, discipline and balance to the squad in the short time he has been in charge. Dallas like to play a possession-based game with technical players that build up the play in a structured way, pressing in numbers when they lose the ball and then attacking with numbers in transition. Houston Dynamo are more direct, relying on their players to make the most of the opportunities they get in transition, from set-piece situations and to start games fast. Ben Olsen has been the Dynamo boss since 2022 and has instilled a pragmatic approach on the team, but they are still prone to getting caught out in transition and have conceded 1.20 goals per game on average away from home in MLS 2025. Dallas have been better than Houston in MLS this year and have a slight edge in the head-to-head record, so the home side are a slight favourite at 2.29 with the visitors 3.05 and the draw at 3.79.
We’re going to take Dallas to win this one, but the match odds are very close and the game could easily go either way with Houston Dynamo having won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five. The Dynamo are coming off a 4-1 extra-time away win over Phoenix Rising in the US Open Cup, but a home defeat to Seattle Sounders and an away loss to LAFC. Dallas have only scored four goals in four home games this season, so it’s clear they have a problem in front of goal at their own stadium. But Houston have conceded six in five away games, so the ‘both teams to score’ market looks very attractive for this derby. Ondrej Lingr has found his shooting boots for the Dynamo, netting twice in his last five appearances, so we’re expecting them to get on the scoresheet against Dallas’ leaky defence. FC Dallas’ leading marksman is Anderson Julio, who has three goals in nine MLS appearances this year, but he is a clinical finisher and can make the difference if Houston are unable to get a goal. Houston Dynamo have a US Open Cup tie against another Texas rival coming up, so they may have to rotate the squad or play conservatively in this one, which could play into Dallas’ hands.
