Match Preview: D.C. United at Charlotte FC | Saturday, August 22, 2026

Match Preview: D.C. United at Charlotte FC | Saturday, August 22, 2026

D.C. United travel to Bank of America Stadium this Saturday, August 22 for an Eastern Conference matchup against Charlotte FC in the club's 21st match of the 2026 MLS season. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Black-and-Red enter the weekend at 5-6-9 with 24 points, holding the final playoff position in the Eastern Conference, and look to claim their first road win since May.

D.C. United enter Saturday's contest off a 3-0 loss to the New England Revolution at Audi Field on Wednesday, a result that ended the club's six-match unbeaten run. Midfielder Alhassan Yusuf scored all three goals across a 43-minute stretch, with the Black-and-Red creating the better of the early chances before New England found the opener against the run of play in the 23rd minute. Midfielder Kimito Nono made his Audi Field debut and created three chances in 68 minutes, and defender Silvan Hefti recorded 12 defensive contributions across 90 minutes. Head Coach René Weiler's side had taken points in 11 of its previous 12 matches before Wednesday and is 2-2-6 on the road in 2026.

Charlotte FC enter the weekend at 8-7-5 with 29 points, sixth in the Eastern Conference, and are coming off a 3-3 draw at Toronto FC on Wednesday. The Crown led 3-1 with a man advantage after Toronto defender Walker Zimmerman was sent off in the 56th minute, only to concede twice inside the final 14 minutes. Forward Rodolfo Aloko opened the scoring in the eighth minute for his first career MLS goal, forward Idan Toklomati finished from close range in the 20th, and defender Henry Kessler headed home an Ashley Westwood free kick in the 58th. Midfielder Pep Biel leads Dean Smith's side with 10 goals and seven assists in 2026, Toklomati has added six goals, and captain Ashley Westwood leads the club with eight assists. Charlotte are 6-2-3 at Bank of America Stadium this season, and goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina has started all 20 matches with 80 saves, three shutouts and a 1.55 goals-against average.

Saturday's match is the first of two meetings between the two clubs in the 2026 MLS regular season, with the return fixture set for September 19 at Audi Field. D.C. United's all-time regular season record against Charlotte FC is 2-5-1 across eight meetings, with both wins coming at home by 3-0 scorelines in 2022 and 2023. The Black-and-Red are 0-3-1 in Charlotte with one goal scored and six conceded, and Kahlina has kept five clean sheets in seven career appearances against D.C. United. The Black-and-Red last visited Bank of America Stadium on July 16, 2025, falling 2-1 in a match in which Pep Biel scored twice. D.C. United will look to claim a first win in Charlotte and take three points on the road.

By the Numbers:

• Forward Tai Baribo leads D.C. United with 12 goals in 2026 and is three-for-three from the penalty spot.

• Forward Louis Munteanu leads D.C. United with 46 shots and has five goals and two assists in 2026.
  D.C. United are 4-1-2 when scoring first in 2026 and 1-5-5 when allowing the opening goal.

• Goalkeeper Sean Johnson has started all 20 matches in 2026 with 74 saves and four shutouts, and made his 451st career MLS appearance on Wednesday.

• Charlotte FC midfielder Pep Biel leads the Crown with 10 goals and seven assists in 2026 and has three goals in two career appearances against D.C. United.

• Charlotte FC are 0-6-2 when conceding the opening goal in 2026 and 8-1-2 when scoring first.

Last Match Against Charlotte FC | October 4, 2025, at Audi Field

In the most recent meeting between the clubs, D.C. United fell 1-0 to Charlotte FC at Audi Field. The Black-and-Red played more than an hour down to nine men after goalkeeper Luis Barraza was sent off in the 21st minute and defender Aaron Herrera followed in the 30th. Forward Wilfried Zaha struck three minutes later for what proved the only goal of the afternoon, and Charlotte finished with 71.8 percent of possession. D.C. United will look for a different outcome on the road on Saturday.

How to Watch

D.C. United fans can catch all the action of their favorite team on Apple TV. With this, you can watch every D.C. United match live, whether it’s home or away, along with exclusive pre- and post-match coverage. Simply open the Apple TV app, navigate to MLS Season Pass, and enjoy the entire 2026 season. Whether you're at home or on the go, you'll have access to every match, ensuring you never miss a moment of D.C. United's season. Enjoy seamless streaming on your Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, and more!   

Radio broadcasts will be available live on the iHeartRadio App and Freedom 104.7 FM. Legendary broadcaster Dave Johnson, who has called matches for D.C. United since the club’s inception in 1996 will return to the booth alongside Bruce Murray, former United States National Team player (1985-1993, 85 caps and 21 goals) and Class of 2011 National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee. The pair have partnered on radio calls since 2023 to deliver high-quality and passionate radio calls for fans. Supporters watching D.C. United MLS Regular Season matches on MLS Season Pass can opt to listen to Dave Johnson and Bruce Murray calling the match on the MLS Local Radio Broadcast channel.