FC Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew preview: October 18, 2026
FC Cincinnati (9-9-10 W-D-L, 36 pts, 9th) host Columbus Crew (9-5-15 W-D-L, 32 pts, 13th) at TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio on October 18, 2026 in the 2026 MLS.
Preview · Kickoff October 18, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET · Statistics through October 14, 2026 · Updated October 16, 2026 at 12:29 AM ET · After the match, this page shows the final result and match statistics
On this page
How do FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew compare heading into their match?
FC Cincinnati are 9th in the Eastern Conference with 36 points from 28 matches (9-9-10 W-D-L); Columbus Crew are 13th in the Eastern Conference with 32 points from 29 matches (9-5-15 W-D-L).
FC Cincinnati score 2.1 (3rd most of 30) and concede 2.4 (2nd most) per match. Columbus Crew score 1.5 (13th fewest of 30) and concede 1.6 (15th most) per match.
Expected goals per match: FC Cincinnati 1.7 for and 1.8 against; Columbus Crew 1.3 for and 1.2 against.
FC Cincinnati at home: 7-3-3 W-D-L in 13 (2.8 scored, 2.1 conceded per match). Columbus Crew away: 2-3-9 W-D-L in 14 (1.6 scored, 2.1 conceded).
Last 5 MLS matches: FC Cincinnati 1-2-2 W-D-L, Columbus Crew 3-0-2 W-D-L.
Both teams scored in 22 of 28 (79%) FC Cincinnati matches and 21 of 29 (72%) Columbus Crew matches; 3 or more goals in 21 of 28 (75%) and 21 of 29 (72%).
6 earlier stored meetings: FC Cincinnati 2, Columbus Crew 3, draws 1.
MLS matches this season only (FC Cincinnati 28, Columbus Crew 29); ranks are among 30 clubs, 1st = the most. These are records so far, not a prediction.
Record, Away and Home cover the complete 2026 MLS season. Last 5 is the 5 most recent 2026 MLS matches. In parentheses: goals for and against per match. Records read wins, draws, then losses (W-D-L).
What matters in this match
FC Cincinnati attack against Columbus Crew defense
FC Cincinnati attack and Columbus Crew defense, 2026 MLS per match
FC Cincinnati for
Columbus Crew against
Goals per match
2.1 (3rd)
1.6 (15th)
Expected goals (xG) per match
1.7 (4th)
1.2 (28th)
Shots per match
14.6 (4th)
10.8 (27th)
Shots on target per match
6.0 (2nd)
4.6 (19th)
Big chances per match
3.0 (3rd)
1.8 (28th)
Shots inside the box per match
9.6 (7th)
7.5 (26th)
Corners per match
5.2 (12th)
3.7 (28th)
Columbus Crew attack against FC Cincinnati defense
Columbus Crew attack and FC Cincinnati defense, 2026 MLS per match
Columbus Crew for
FC Cincinnati against
Goals per match
1.5 (16th)
2.4 (2nd)
Expected goals (xG) per match
1.3 (26th)
1.8 (5th)
Shots per match
13.2 (14th)
15.3 (6th)
Shots on target per match
4.7 (20th)
5.5 (6th)
Big chances per match
2.4 (16th)
2.6 (11th)
Shots inside the box per match
8 (23rd)
10.8 (3rd)
Corners per match
5.4 (7th)
5.1 (16th)
Each club’s attacking figures beside what the other club has conceded per match. Rank 1st = the most in the competition, for chances created and for chances allowed alike.
Home and away
FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew: the splits for this venue, 2026 MLS
FC Cincinnati, home matches
Columbus Crew, away matches
Matches
13
14
Record
7-3-3 W-D-L
2-3-9 W-D-L
Goals scored per match
2.8
1.6
Goals conceded per match
2.1
2.1
Clean sheets
2 of 13 (15%)
1 of 14 (7%)
Failed to score
1 of 13 (8%)
1 of 14 (7%)
Both teams scored
10 of 13 (77%)
12 of 14 (86%)
2 or more match goals
12 of 13 (92%)
14 of 14 (100%)
3 or more match goals
9 of 13 (69%)
12 of 14 (86%)
Scoring patterns
FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew: how their MLS matches went
FC Cincinnati
Columbus Crew
Clean sheets
2 of 28 (7%)
5 of 29 (17%)
Failed to score
4 of 28 (14%)
4 of 29 (14%)
Both teams scored
22 of 28 (79%)
21 of 29 (72%)
2 or more match goals
26 of 28 (93%)
26 of 29 (90%)
3 or more match goals
21 of 28 (75%)
21 of 29 (72%)
4 or more match goals
19 of 28 (68%)
11 of 29 (38%)
Goals per match, 1st half
0.9 for, 1.1 against (27 matches)
0.8 for, 0.8 against (28 matches)
Goals per match, 2nd half
1.3 for, 1.3 against (27 matches)
0.7 for, 0.9 against (28 matches)
Counts from stored final scores and half-time scores, with the number of matches. Match goals are both clubs’ goals.
Full team comparison
FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew, 2026 MLS
Per match
FC Cincinnati
Columbus Crew
Expected goals (xG)
1.7 (4th)
1.3 (26th)
Expected goals (xG), opponents
1.8 (5th)
1.2 (28th)
Shots
14.6 (4th)
13.2 (14th)
Shots, opponents
15.3 (6th)
10.8 (27th)
Shots on target
6.0 (2nd)
4.7 (20th)
Shots on target, opponents
5.5 (6th)
4.6 (19th)
Big chances
3.0 (3rd)
2.4 (16th)
Big chances, opponents
2.6 (11th)
1.8 (28th)
Possession %
50.9 (14th)
56.1 (3rd)
Passes
468.5 (15th)
558.1 (2nd)
Passes, opponents
451.0 (17th)
436.8 (22nd)
Corners
5.2 (12th)
5.4 (7th)
Corners, opponents
5.1 (16th)
3.7 (28th)
Fouls
11.1 (19th)
10.2 (25th)
Fouls, opponents
10.9 (22nd)
10.7 (24th)
Yellow cards
2.1 (7th)
1.7 (23rd)
Yellow cards, opponents
1.7 (22nd)
2.1 (8th)
Shots inside the box
9.6 (7th)
8 (23rd)
Shots inside the box, opponents
10.8 (3rd)
7.5 (26th)
Big chances missed
1.8 (8th)
1.7 (10th)
Big chances missed, opponents
1.2 (26th)
1.0 (30th)
Offsides
1.6 (18th)
2.1 (8th)
Offsides, opponents
2.0 (6th)
2.0 (7th)
Pass accuracy %
87.8 (5th)
88.6 (2nd)
Pass accuracy %, opponents
84.3 (15th)
86.5 (10th)
Long balls
47.4 (14th)
40.8 (28th)
Long balls, opponents
44.1 (20th)
46.5 (12th)
Long balls completed
25.6 (4th)
21.3 (23rd)
Long balls completed, opponents
20.3 (27th)
24.0 (6th)
Crosses
14.9 (23rd)
16.9 (11th)
Crosses, opponents
18.5 (5th)
12.9 (26th)
Crosses completed
4.6 (8th)
3.4 (22nd)
Crosses completed, opponents
5.2 (4th)
3.8 (18th)
Dribbles completed
8.1 (1st)
7.3 (4th)
Dribbles completed, opponents
6.0 (17th)
5.5 (26th)
Tackles
14.5 (20th)
16.4 (3rd)
Tackles, opponents
16.7 (6th)
17.8 (2nd)
Interceptions
8.6 (21st)
9.6 (11th)
Interceptions, opponents
8.3 (23rd)
10.1 (8th)
Clearances
22.4 (13th)
17.6 (27th)
Clearances, opponents
20.9 (15th)
22.2 (10th)
Ground duels won
32.8 (10th)
33.2 (7th)
Ground duels won, opponents
33.4 (8th)
32.7 (11th)
Aerial duels won
13.0 (5th)
6.9 (29th)
Aerial duels won, opponents
10.8 (10th)
8.7 (22nd)
"Opponents" rows are what each club’s opponents recorded against it. Averages over the matches that publish each statistic; rank among 30 clubs.
Players with a StatsNext page, the leading goal contributors by position. Appearances and totals are this MLS season; last 5 is the player's last five stored appearances. Prop research links open the player's StatsNext prop pages: how often statistical thresholds were reached, never sportsbook lines or prices. No prop page means too few appearances with the statistic at a typical market level so far; the player page still has every stored statistic.
About this preview
Everything here is a stored result or statistic with its sample; nothing is a prediction, pick or projection.
Lineups, injuries and current markets change through the day and are in the app, with Match Research for this match.
This page shows statistics and results only. It contains no sportsbook prices or betting lines. Current markets and StatsNext research are in the app.
