Match Preview - D.C. United @ Austin FC on Sunday, March 1, 2026

Match Preview - D.C. United @ Austin FC on Sunday, March 1, 2026

D.C. United travels to Austin, Texas this Sunday, March 1 for the clubs' first road match of the 2026 season, taking on Austin FC at Q2 Stadium.  Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. ET. The Black-and-Red enter the weekend with momentum after a 1-0 home victory over the Philadelphia Union on opening night and will aim to build on that strong start by securing points on the road early in the season. 

Last Saturday's home opener was a strong start to the 2026 season. Forward Tai Baribo scored the game's lone goal in the 23rd minute against his former club, finishing a fast break assisted by midfielder João Peglow. Goalkeeper Sean Johnson was sharp in his first competitive start for the Black-and-Red, making three saves to earn a clean sheet, his 113th clean sheet of his MLS career.  The defensive unit of Lucas Bartlett, Kye Rowles, Silvan Hefti, and Keisuke Kurokawa limited Philadelphia to just three shots on target across 90 minutes.  

The clean sheet was a welcome sight for a club that has prioritized fixing the backline this offseason. After conceding 66 goals in 2025, the early clean sheet highlights the team’s defensive improvements are translating to the pitch.  Bartlett captained the squad against the Union, leading the team in clearances with eight and winning 100% of his aerial duels. 

Midfielder Matti Peltola was one of the standout performers in the opener, recording seven defensive recoveries and an 84% passing accuracy across a full 90 minutes played. Brandon Servania provided a steady presence alongside him in the midfield recording four recoveries and having eight passes into the final third. Forward Louis Munteanu got his first competitive minutes off the bench and had two shots in 20 minutes. Sunday could see the Romanian forward get an extended look as Weiler manages the rotation early in the campaign. 

Austin FC scored just 37 goals in the 2025 MLS regular season, tied for the second fewest among Western Conference playoff teams.  They opened their 2026 season with a 2-2 draw at home against Minnesota United, conceding an equalizer in the 90th minute. The Verde and Black made some roster changes this offseason, bringing in winger Facundo Torres as a Designated Player from Brazilian side Palmeiras and adding forward Jayden Nelson and defender Joseph Rosales. Star striker Brandon Vazquez remains sidelined as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered last July. Head Coach Nico Estévez enters his second year in charge looking to build on his sixth-place finish in the Western Conference. 

D.C. United will look to stay compact on the road and carry the same discipline that got the job done in the home opener. With Baribo, Pirani, Peglow, and Munteanu providing attacking options, and a strong defensive unit with Johnson in goal, the Black-and-Red have the chance to get their first road win of the season and start 2-0 for the first time since 2022. 

By the Numbers

• D.C. United opened the 2026 season with a 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Union, the club's first victory over the Union since August 28, 2021. 

• Forward Tai Baribo scored his first goal for the Black-and-Red in his competitive debut, recording three shots in 89 minutes against his former club. 

• Goalkeeper Sean Johnson recorded a clean sheet and three saves in his first start for D.C. United. 

• Midfielder Matti Peltola led D.C. United with seven defensive recoveries and an 84% passing accuracy across a full 90 minutes against Philadelphia. 

• Austin FC forward Myrto Uzini and former D.C. United defender Brendan Hines-Ike scored in Austin's home opener against Minnesota United in a 2-2 draw. 

• Austin holds a 1-0-0 record against D.C. United at Q2 Stadium with the lone victory coming on Oct. 4, 2023.

Last Match Against Austin FC | July 26, 2025 @ Audi Field

In their last meeting on July 26, 2025, Austin FC came away with a 4-2 win at Audi Field.  

D.C. United trailed 2-0 at the half but responded quickly in the second half through João Peglow, who cut the deficit to a one just three minutes after the break off an assist from Gabriel Pirani. Pirani created a game-high five chances on the night while Christian Benteke added a late penalty in stoppage time. Sunday’s match will be the first meeting between the two clubs under Head Coach René Weiler as the Black-and-Red look to secure their first road win of 2026. 

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.