San Jose Earthquakes vs Minnesota United FC: MLS Round 21
Updated
San Jose Earthquakes host Minnesota United FC in MLS Regular Season – Round 21 on Sunday, August 23, 2026. The Western Conference fixture sees third-placed San Jose aiming to end a three-match winless run at home against a Minnesota side that has not won in five.
Team News and Injury Latest
San Jose manager Bruce Arena is dealing with a defensive injury crisis. DeJuan Jones (lower body) and goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski (knee) are out for the season, while midfielder Niko Tsakiris also remains sidelined. Jonathan González is nursing a knock and could be available, but Earl Edwards Jr. and Nonso Adimabua are pushing to return from muscle injuries having been listed as out for Matchday 20. Timo Werner and Ousseni Bouda are expected to lead the attack.
Minnesota United have their own selection concerns. Nicolás Romero, Peter Stroud, and Nectarios Triantis are all ruled out with lower-extremity issues, further stretching a backline that has conceded 25 goals in 18 matches.
Recent Form
San Jose sit third in the West with a 10-3-5 record (33 points) but their recent form is worrying: L-D-L-W-L from their last five outings, including a 4-0 home defeat. Their 37 goals scored remain the third-highest in the conference, yet they have managed just one win in five.
Minnesota are tenth with 24 points (6-6-6), and their form reads D-D-L-D-L — winless in five. The Loons have scored only 20 goals, the fewest among the top 12 teams in the West, and have struggled to turn draws into victories.
Key Battle: Ousseni Bouda vs Minnesota’s Depleted Defence
With Romero and Triantis missing, Minnesota’s central defence will be understaffed. San Jose’s Ousseni Bouda, a creative spark in the final third, will look to exploit any gaps. His movement and link-up play with Werner and Preston Judd could test a backline that has kept just one clean sheet in its last seven matches. How Minnesota’s makeshift defence copes with San Jose’s front three could decide the outcome.
Both teams will view this fixture as a prime opportunity to reverse their slumps. San Jose then hit the road for a crucial away trip, while Minnesota will look to build momentum for the final stretch of the regular season.
