Minnesota United vs San Jose Earthquakes – News and Probable Lineups

The final match of the 2026 Major League Soccer regular season is set to take place at Allianz Field on Sunday morning, where Minnesota United will face off against the San Jose Earthquakes.

The home team will enter this fixture seeking maximum points to increase their chances of achieving playoff qualification for a consecutive season. Meanwhile, San Jose will look to conclude their campaign strongly and build momentum ahead of the playoffs.

Match overview

A strong performance in the latter stages of the season has positioned Minnesota United favorably for a playoff spot, highlighted by their recent 3-1 victory against Los Angeles FC, which helped them maintain positive momentum.

Joaquin Pereyra showcased an impressive performance at BMO Stadium, scoring twice around Cherrion Valerius’s goal in the 34th minute, giving the visitors a three-goal advantage, before Sergio Vasquez netted a late consolation goal for Los Angeles FC in the 89th minute.

After a 3-1 win over Sporting Kansas City on October 29, Minnesota United have recorded three victories in their last four matches and remain unbeaten in six consecutive fixtures (3W 3D), bouncing back from five losses in a row leading up to this streak.

This resurgence has pushed Cameron Knowles’s side up to 12th place in the Western Conference with 41 points from 33 matches, sitting just two points behind the Colorado Rapids, who occupy the last playoff qualifying position.

Enhancements in their attacking play have been a key factor in Minnesota’s revival, with them scoring two or more goals in five of their last six games. They hope to capitalize on home advantage against a team that has not won in their last six league visits to Allianz Field, having lost four and drawn two since their 3-1 win in May 2018.

On the other hand, San Jose Earthquakes have recently found their rhythm again after a decline in form, clinching a 2-1 victory over Real Salt Lake last Saturday, marking their first win since the end of September.

In an exhilarating first half at PayPal Park, Ousseni Bouda and Benjamin Kikanovic scored in quick succession to give the Quakes a commanding lead, but Juan Sanabria reduced the deficit with a goal in the 23rd minute. The hosts managed to withstand pressure from Real Salt Lake to secure all three points.

Before this win, San Jose had their nine-match unbeaten league run come to an end on October 25, suffering a heavy 3-0 defeat to FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium, four days before drawing 2-2 with Colorado Rapids on home turf.

Having experienced a disappointing 2025 season where they ended up 10th in the West, narrowly missing the playoffs, Bruce Arena’s squad has turned things around this year, collecting 52 points from 33 games to currently sit in third place in the conference, three points behind second-placed Dallas.

With playoff qualification secured, San Jose will aim to finish the regular season on a high note, though their recent record of just one win in eight matches since August indicates there’s work still to be done before the season’s end.

Team News

Veteran midfielder Wil Trapp will miss his third consecutive game for Minnesota United due to the MLS concussion protocol. The 33-year-old is set to be absent on Sunday.

Promising goalkeeper Kayne Rizvanovich did not make the squad against Los Angeles FC last time out, and the 19-year-old is also anticipated to miss this weekend’s match.

Kelvin Yeboah has emerged as a key player for Minnesota this season, having scored 18 goals and provided four assists in 29 league appearances, making him a player to watch for.

San Jose Earthquakes will be missing several key players, such as Darius Johnson and Jonathan Gonzalez, both sidelined due to injuries.

Forward Nonso Adimabua is currently recovering from a muscle issue, while DeJuan Jones continues to be unavailable with an Achilles tendon injury.

Minnesota United probable starting XI:

Callender; Valerius, Diaz, Duggan, Markanich; Chancalay, Triantis, Gene, Gonzalez; Pereyra, Yeboah

San Jose Earthquakes probable starting XI:

Edwards Jr.; Kikanovic, Munie, Roberts, Romney; Harkes, Fernandez; Bouda, Tsakiris, Ricketts; Judd

Fresh from their triumph over Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes will be in high spirits heading into this season’s finale, though they face a challenging 90 minutes against a motivated Minnesota United side eager for a top-nine finish.

Nonetheless, given San Jose’s inconsistent road form, it is likely that Minnesota will outscore Arena’s squad this weekend and maintain their strong home record against them.