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San Jose Earthquakes will look to get back to winning ways and move to the top of the MLS Western Conference Standings on Sunday, when they head to the TQL Stadium to take on FC Cincinnati.
The visitors have only managed a draw and a loss since the World Cup break but only trail the conference leaders on goal difference, while their hosts also lost last time out to fall to seventh spot in the Eastern Conference.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
FC Cincinnati vs. San Jose Earthquakes key stats
- FC Cincinnati's first 17 MLS games of the season have produced a league-high total of 83 goals.
- FC Cincinnati have won the last two H2Hs.
- Only one team have picked up more points away from home than San Jose Earthquakes (19) in MLS this season.
- San Jose Earthquakes have won one of their last seven MLS games after winning nine of their first 10.
FC Cincinnati vs. San Jose Earthquakes preview: Can visitors take Western Conference top spot?
FC Cincinnati vs. San Jose Earthquakes — Tale of the Tape
| FC Cincinnati | vs | San Jose Earthquakes |
|---|---|---|
| 7th (Eastern Conference) | Position | 3rd (Western Conference) |
| 23 | Points | 33 |
| 41 | Goals For | 35 |
| 42 | Goals Against | 20 |
| 2 | Clean Sheets | 5 |
| 8th | Home / Away Rank | 2nd |
FC Cincinnati return to MLS action on Sunday in search of a return to winning ways to climb the MLS Eastern Conference after a setback last time out.
After a second-placed finish last time around and a run to the Conference semi-finals, the Orange and Blue have had a slightly slower start to 2026, currently sitting seventh on 23 points from 17 outings having won six and lost six of those matches.
Their games are regularly among the most entertaining in the division, with their tally of 41 goals only topped by one team in either conference while just two have conceded more than the 42 they have allowed, making it 83 goals in total in 17 games.
Pat Noonan's side will be encouraged by their home record this term, having recorded five wins and 24 goals in eight matches at the TQL Stadium, most recently beating Vancouver Whitecaps in their first game after the World Cup break, before visiting Columbus Crew last time out and left empty-handed in a 2-1 loss, having led early through Kevin Denkey only for Jamal Thiare and Daniel Gazdag to have the hosts ahead by half-time.
Now sitting seventh but just three points outside of the Eastern Conference's top four, with midfielder Gerardo Valenuela suspended after a red card last time out but forward Denkey in fine scoring form with 11 MLS goals on the board already this term, they will go in search of another home triumph at the weekend to improve their stand.
That will be a tough test, though, as the visitors bid to get back to their pre-World Cup best and ascend to the summit of the Eastern Conference.
After missing out on the 2025 MLS playoffs in a disappointing campaign, San Jose Earthquakes have enjoyed a much-improved first half to the 2026 term, amassing 33 points from their first 17 games and only trailing the Eastern Conference's top two on goal difference with a game in hand on second-placed Los Angeles FC.
The Quakes' success is largely down to their eye-catching record on the road, having won six of eight away games in the MLS while only losing one – but after a blistering start, their recent form is far from encouraging, having won just one of their last five league games before the break and added one point to their tally in two more attempts since.
Their first game back ended in a 4-0 home defeat to Orlando City, before Bruce Arena's side hosted LA Galaxy last weekend and shared the points in a 1-1 draw, having levelled through Reid Roberts before Timo Werner missed an injury-time penalty which would have snatched all three points.
Left wounded by that result and their recent form, but still holding a strong position in their division, with danger man Werner back in the fold after an injury and 11-goal forward Preston Judd bound to return on Sunday after a suspension last time out, San Jose Earthquakes will hope to carry on their away record with an important victory on Sunday.
FC Cincinnati vs. San Jose Earthquakes form guide & betting tips
| FC Cincinnati | vs | San Jose Earthquakes |
|---|---|---|
LDWWL |
Form | LLWLD |
| 7 | Points | 4 |
| 11th | Form Table | 24th |
| 17 | Goals For | 8 |
| 15 | Goals Against | 12 |
DWWWL |
Form (All Comps) | LWLLD |
Whispers predicts: FC Cincinnati 2-3 San Jose Earthquakes
FC Cincinnati matches are almost always high-scoring affairs, with 41 coming from their last seven MLS outings and only one of those seeing fewer than four. It is therefore tough to envisage a cagey encounter on Sunday. Over 4.5 goals may be good value at 13/8 (2.63) if the hosts remain dangerous going forward and leaky at the back.
The hosts have scored 24 goals and conceded 17 in eight MLS home matches this season, while keeping just two clean sheets in 17 league matches, while San Jose Earthquakes have been arguably the best team away from home in either MLS Conference, notching up 18 goals in eight attempts on the road. We cannot see past Both Teams to Score even at 3/10 (1.30).
Kevin Denkey and Preston Judd will both fancy their chances of getting on the scoresheet on Sunday, having each scored 11 MLS goals for the two teams respectively, while FC Cincinnati also have Evander on 10 and eight assists. Given the home advantage baked in for Denkey and Evander, We are opting for Preston Judd to score anytime on his return from suspension against a suspect Cincinnati defence at 6/4 (2.50).
> Over 4.5 goals at 13/8 (2.63) | Likelihood: Possible
> Both Teams to Score at 3/10 (1.30) | Likelihood: Likely
> Preston Judd to score anytime at 6/4 (2.50) | Likelihood: Possible