MLS PREVIEW 16 Aug 2026: Cascadia Cup and Copa Tejas renew rivalries on MLS Sunday

Seattle host Vancouver at Lumen Field on Sunday night in the latest renewal of the Cascadia Cup rivalry, a fixture our model gives Vancouver a 47% chance of winning. The clubs have met 188 times, with Seattle holding 74 wins to Vancouver's 50 and 40 draws between them, and their last meeting came in the CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16 in March, when Seattle won 2-1. Seattle arrive off the back of a seven-match losing streak snapped by a 3-0 win over Querétaro, before their Leagues Cup campaign closed with a 2-1 loss to Chivas de Guadalajara, a match in which academy graduate Gallatin Sandnes scored on his full debut. Albert Rusnák leads Seattle's league scoring with three goals and five assists, while Paul Rothrock has become the club's top scorer this season with five goals amid a run of injuries. Vancouver's Brian White has posted double-digit goals in each of his last four seasons and already has 10 goals and two assists in 2026.

Chicago host Portland at Soldier Field, where our model favours the hosts at 56%. The Fire go into the match chasing their 100th regular-season win at the venue, having won 99 of 193 matches there for 330 goals, and it will be Portland's first trip back to Chicago in eight years. Chicago arrive on a perfect run through Leagues Cup 2026 Phase One, winning all three of their group games, while the fixture also marks the MLS debut of new Portland head coach Martí Cifuentes.

NYCFC host Philadelphia at Yankee Stadium, with our model narrowly favouring the home side at 55%, in the second meeting between the two clubs this year. Both arrive from Leagues Cup exits: NYCFC lost 2-1 to Necaxa on Thursday, and will be without Designated Player top-scorer Nicolás Fernández, suspended through yellow-card accumulation after being booked for delaying a restart against Toronto FC. Philadelphia, meanwhile, go in on a three-match MLS win streak built under interim head coach Ryan Richter.

Austin host Dallas at Q2 Stadium on Sunday in the Copa Tejas derby, with our model giving the visitors a 42% chance. Austin advanced to the Leagues Cup quarter-finals last time out, beating Club América 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, Myrto Uzuni's goal sending them through. The hosts are currently led by interim head coach Davy Arnaud, with former Philadelphia Union boss Jim Curtin, hired in June, set to take over after this MLS season. Dallas travel with Petar Musa, who is tied atop the MLS Golden Boot race on 13 goals.