After three straight Leagues Cup matches, FC Dallas returns to MLS play on Sunday night with a trip down I-35 to battle Austin FC at Q2 Stadium.
Both teams are coming off Leagues Cup matches, with Austin finding a way to advance to the Knockout Round after winning on penalty kicks Thursday night over Club America.
In league play, Austin has had a rough season so far. They outed head coach Nico Estevez back in the spring, before slapping the interim tag on Davy Arnaud until former Philadelphia manager Jim Curtin takes over in 2027.
Let’s dive into how FC Dallas can pick up three points this weekend and take a leg up on the Verde in the Copa Tejas standings.
Tactic Style & Shape:
Things have shifted for Austin since Arnaud took over. Previously, Austin played similarly to FC Dallas in that they would allow the other team the bulk of the possession in a match.
- Offensive tendencies - Because they don’t get a ton of the ball in matches, they rely on counter attacks and quick strikes.
- Defensive shape - Austin has moved to a 5-man defensive group in recent matches. In the Leagues Cup, that appeared to help a bit along the wings. However, defensive lapses have been the issue for this club in 2026, especially late in games. Austin has allowed 16 goals after the 68th minute. Austin will still give up possession, can from that will come touches inside the penalty area.
Key Player: Myrto Uzuni
Uzuni was dangerous in the Leagues Cup for Austin, especially in the win over Puebla. His movement makes him troublesome as he can drift away from the forward line and combine underneath before attacking in the penalty area.
Key Matchup: Kaick vs Owen Wolff
Wolff gives Austin an important link between the midfield and attack. After returning from injury, he is back to helping the Verde find space between the lines and push forward to combine with the rest of the attack. Kaick will need to stay disciplined and limit the space in the midfield that Wolff can operate in.
Availability Report1:
Suspended: none
Out: Jon Bell (lower body), Mikkel Desler (Achilles)
Questionable: none
International duty: none
Quick Notes:
All-time hosting FC Dallas: The Verde hold a 2-2-2 record in six all-time regular season meetings, with last year’s ending in a 1-1 draw.
Current form: Aside from their Leagues Cup run, Austin is 1-4-0 in their last five league games with the lone win coming against Seattle.
Where they're at in the standings: It has been a rough season in Austin so far, the Verde sit near the bottom of the table in the Western Conference with 17 points.
Three keys for FC Dallas
- Test Austin’s legs: Both teams are coming off the Leagues Cup, but Dallas did get one additional rest day before this meeting. After a solid showing in the Leagues Cup, Dallas will want to try and put Austin on their heels early with quick ball movement.
- Limit the gaps Uzuni can work in: The Dallas midfield has to find ways not only to retain the ball more, but when on the defensive side, limit the space that Uzuni tends to drop into. If you give him open space in front of goal, you’re opening yourself up for issues.
- Don’t let the rivalry get to you: We know this one will be a bit chaotic at times. Both teams know they have to push for it and expect some physical play. Dallas cannot get baited by Austin in this one, especially with tired legs. They need to find more of the ball as well, so they’re not chasing the game as much as we’ve seen in some road games since the World Cup ended.
Want to know how Dallas should line up to exploit exactly what we just broke down? Our weekly ‘What to Watch For’ will tackle that later this week. Sign up free and we'll send it to you before kickoff.
1 Note: MLS has an injury report deadline that doesn’t hit until the day before each game. Our scouting reports will include last week's report and will be fully updated the day before with our injury report for FC Dallas.
