You’re at the corner of Snelling and Shields, clad in Black and Blue. A giant metal loon appears to be bursting out of the ground, ready to take flight over your head. Behind it, Allianz Field rises just before the highway, lit up and alive for the first time in 2026. The boys are starting warmups for their match against Eastern Conference powerhouse FC Cincinnati, and your whole family is bundled up and ready for the match.
You’ve been here so many times before, but this time feels different. It’s time for the 2026 Home Opener.
Welcome home, you Loons.
Minnesota United (0-0-1)
Run of Form: D
Does one game qualify as a run of form? Yes, I’ve decided it does. Your Loons are headed to Allianz Field with a point to their name after a dramatic 2-2 draw down in Austin, and it’s already clear that they’ll be playing a bit differently than they did last season. With goals from defender Morris Duggan and striker Kelvin Yeboah, the Loons fused some of their old tricks with a few new ideas, making for the beginnings of what could be an exciting style of play under Head Coach Cameron Knowles. Now, with a healthy squad, we’ll just have to wait and see who cracks the starting XI for Matchday 2.
FC Cincinnati (1-0-0)
Run of Form: W
Cincinnati picked up a win in their season opener against Atlanta, picking up right where they left off in 2025. Now, Atlanta may not be the best measuring stick to see how good Cincy is, but a win is a win, and the confidence that comes from getting it is the same. Their dynamic 3-5-2 shape continues to get the best out of the entire squad, punishing opposition with talented attackers and holding fast with some of the league’s most well-established defenders.
Keys to the Match:
The Men Up Top
For both of these sides, defense has been a priority over the last few seasons. Minnesota fans know that the Loons put numbers behind the ball and defended as a unit for most of the last two years, while Cincy fans have grown accustomed to the presence of some exceptional individual defenders coming together to create a wall of a back line. That said, I’m more interested in the battle up front. Kelvin Yeboah is starting his second full season in Minnesota, and with 17 goals in 40 total games, he’s proven that he can be an effective leading man in this league. On the other side, Kévin Denkey has 16 goals in 30 games for Cincinnati, a slightly better clip in a slightly smaller sample size. Both strikers got off the mark on Matchday 1, both finding the back of the net in the 90th minute, oddly enough. Their respective clubs are going to need them to shoulder a large portion of the goal-scoring burden in 2026, and it feels like they’ll both need to hit the 15-goal mark if they want to fire their sides into any kind of late-season trophy contention. Strikers thrive on goal streaks, and after netting their first of the season last week, these two are going to be hungry for more.
To 10, or Not to 10
It’s no secret that James Rodríguez became a Loon this offseason. Nor is it any surprise to MLS fans that Cincinnati’s Evander is one of the league’s most dangerous attacking midfielders. These two number 10s are capable of some incredible things with a ball at their feet, and while their presence on the pitch makes any game more entertaining, we may not have the privilege of watching them duke it out this weekend. Evander’s status is questionable after being forced off against Atlanta due to injury. James is questionable on account of getting up to speed after securing his official work visa. Once he’s had a chance to integrate with the team, he’ll likely be gradually introduced to the lineup, but it’s unclear whether or not that will start this weekend or not. With two incredibly creative forces potentially out for this game, both teams will have to consider other options. Do the Loons run it back with the same lineup that earned a point in game one, or do they change things up after getting a chance to see the game plan in action? Will Cincinnati stick with Gerardo Valenzuela as a direct Evander replacement, or will they change shape without their talisman to give the Loons something new to deal with? There are more questions than answers on this topic, but one way or another, I’d expect to see some new tactics on Saturday.
Short Sleeves and Gloves
It wouldn’t be a home opener without some real Minnesotan weather, right? There’s no snow on the forecast (yet), but the temperature is going to be well below freezing for this one. Sure, the guys have grown used to the cold, and it’s not uncommon for the temperature to dip in Cincinnati, but no matter how many times you’ve played when it’s chilly enough to see your own breath, it doesn’t really get easier. Both of these squads have players from all around the globe, some of whom grew up learning to thrive in colder conditions while others grew to love the game in balmy climates. Starters are going to have to make the most of their warmups, or else they’ll risk coming out flat. Subs are going to have to find creative ways to keep their bodies from freezing up; otherwise, they won’t be able to make the same impact when called upon. All in all, this weekend’s match will be a battle against both the opponent on the field and the elements themselves. The main difference between your Loons and FC Cincinnati? We do this every year.
