Back at home for MLS action in the Queen City, FC Cincinnati host another of one of the top teams in the Western Conference, welcoming the San Jose Earthquakes to town for the Walmart Saturday Night Showdown on Apple TV.
After a disappointing rivalry matchup last weekend, the attention turns to the future as FC Cincinnati look to get back in the win column and put the past in the past. FCC Head Coach Pat Noonan says they took a different approach to moving on from the loss to Columbus last weekend, but that the change was important and, hopefully, more impactful.
“We addressed it after the game, which we don't always do,” Pat Noonan said. “But it was important to have that message for going into some days off, I think, to think about some things. Then the way we reviewed it was a little bit different than we typically do, but where I thought we lost our way, and then where the lack of discipline started to change the momentum and certainly the scoreline. But it was important to address it early and then move on, and then there's been a lot of individual conversations. Sometimes after disappointment like that, it's a tough message.
“You could see maybe a group that's a little bit down, which is natural because we did not perform in an important moment, and we have to own that and understand how to improve. So that's been a lot of the last couple days of conversations and making sure guys understand in this moment, roles and expectations and how to get better. Yesterday was a really good training so I told them I was pleased with that application and a sign that we're ready to move on.”
The visit from San Jose brings a familiar face to both MLS history and FC Cincinnati coaching staff relationships. Earthquakes Head Coach Bruce Arena, a legend in United States Soccer coaching, is the father of FCC assistant coach Kenny Arena. He is also a massively influential figure in Pat Noonan’s career, serving as both a coach to him and hiring Noonan for his first full-time role after retiring as a player.
The reunion makes for a special match for all sides.
“It's been a while, but it's nice to have an opportunity to compete against a team that he's coaching,” Noonan said on Thursday fondly. “He's done a very good job as you can see with turning things around there, that’s not a surprise to anybody. He's had success everywhere he's been, and with the right amount of time, being able to go and get the right players, staff members. It'll also be good to see, you know, the rest of the coaching staff with Dave (Sarachan), Shalrie (Joseph), Steve (Ralston), Adin (Brown), you know these a lot of these guys I've had good relationships with, and they're great people. So get a chance to catch up with that group, and hopefully we can have a good performance against a, like we mentioned, a strong San Jose team.”
After this match with San Jose, FC Cincinnati begin their 2026 Leagues Cup campaign, taking on some of the best of Liga MX in group play before returning to MLS action on August 15 against Orlando City SC.
FC Cincinnati vs San Jose Earthquake – Saturday, August 1, 2026 – 7:30 p.m. ET – TQL Stadium
Watch/Stream (English/Spanish): Apple TV
English Local Radio: ESPN 1530
Spanish Local Radio: La Mega 101.5 FM
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History vs San Jose
The San Jose Earthquakes come to Cincinnati for just the second time – and FC Cincinnati hope it goes similar to the first meeting in 2022. On September 10, 2022, FC Cincinnati’s 6-0 win over the Quakes marked the largest margin of victory in an MLS match in club history.
FCC’s six goals scored that night set a club record in MLS play, accomplished two other times since (July 6, 2024 vs MIA; May 23, 2026 vs ORL).
The last meeting between Cincinnati and San Jose in 2024 was also historic. FCC’s Yuya Kubo entered as a second-half substitute and scored his first and only MLS hat trick in just nine minutes between the 78th and 87th minutes, the fourth-fastest hat trick in MLS history and the eighth to be scored by a substitute, in a 4-2 win
FC CINCINNATI NOTES
(Courtesy of *FC Cincinnati Communications*)
Success Vs The West – Under Head Coach Pat Noonan, FC Cincinnati are 18-5-6 against Western Conference opponents in MLS play. FC Cincinnati defeated Vancouver Whitecaps last Wednesday in the most recent home match at TQL Stadium, and FC Cincinnati will face Seattle Sounders on August 22.
Keep Dancing Kev – Kévin Denkey has scored 11 goals (tied-fifth in MLS) and his 15 goal contributions rank tied-sixth in MLS this season entering Matchday 19. In FCC club history, he is just seven goals away from tying both the single-season MLS goals scored record (18) and in all competitions (22).
Welcome Back Mr. All-Star – FC Cincinnati’s Evander has recorded an assist in four consecutive games, which is tied for the longest single-season MLS assist streak in
club history (Luciano Acosta: May 11-25, 2024).
The MLS All-Star has also provided a goal contribution in seven consecutive games dating back to May 2, which is tied for the second-longest single-season MLS goal contribution streak in club history.
Evander has returned from MLS All-Star week festivities this week where he scored the game winning goal for the MLS All-Stars to defeat the Liga MX All-Stars 4-3. His goal in the 55’ of that game was the first ever by an FC Cincinnati player at an All-Star game.
Scouting San Jose Earthquakes (10-4-3, 33 Points, T1 in the Western Conference, L-W-D-L-L)
After storming out of the gate to start the 2026 MLS season, the San Jose Earthquakes have stumbled in this return to action after the World Cup and its summer break, but have more than enough talent and experience to return to form, which is exactly what they will be looking to do Saturday night in this interconference showdown with FC Cincinnati.
After opening the season with wins in nine of their first 10 games, the Quakes have restarted this regular season with a 4-0 loss to Orlando City SC, and a 1-1 draw against in-state rivals LA Galaxy. That all being said, the Quakes are tied for first place in the Western Conference and looking to go higher.
Under Head Coach Bruce Arena, the San Jose Earthquakes have most often played with a 4-2-3-1 formation, mixing a combination of speed and versatility to their lineup. They have also become known for their work ethic and pace on both ends of the field, with coaches, including FCC boss Pat Noonan, highlighting it regularly as an element of play to consider when taking on San Jose.
“I think they have a very hardworking group. I think they have good speed all over the field. Good mobility, they're active, pragmatic,” Noonan said of his weekend opponent. “There's times where they're moving the ball very well, there's times where they recognize pressure in a way that they'll put the ball up the field and they have guys that will be running in behind, running channels, competing, and they'll turn those into advantage those moments into advantages of picking up second balls and moving up the field.”
The central figure of the San Jose offense is Preston Judd, who, since coming under Bruce Arena’s tutelage, has been a revelatory piece for the Quakes after bouncing around MLS since 2021 when he was selected in the MLS SuperDraft by Sporting Kansas City. The 6’3” 27-year-old forward leads the team with 11 goals this season and has added two assists, and in his two seasons under Arena, he’s logged 22 goal contributions to his combined six in the three seasons before that.
“He's active. He's opportunistic. You can see with how he anticipates the game and plays, how he's able to win duels or gain an advantage because he can see plays early,” Noonan said of Judd. “There's even a couple plays in the Orlando game, which I know the result doesn't go their way, where the positions that he gets into from deep, one with a switch of play that stood out with just good anticipation of how a ball pops out into a space. Then, as he gets closer to goal, the way he changes his speed and sniffs out moments to get in front of goal is why he’s scored a lot of goals. And so, he's having a very strong year and will certainly be someone that our guys need to be aware of when we're defending closer to goal.”
On the wings is another notable contributor to the squad in Temo Werner, who joined San Jose this season after stops in Europe with Chelsea, RB Leipzig and Tottenham Hotspur. He has been an important driver on offense with four goals and six assists.
“I think they do a very good job in the wide areas of how they use their outside backs and wingers and get the ball into the box,” Noonan said of how San Jose is able to use wing play. “Then I think they defend against the ball in an aggressive way to make it uncomfortable for the opponent.”
On the defensive side of the ball, the Quakes are anchored by MLS All-Star center back Daniel Munie, who has returned to the squad like FCC’s Evander from the week's All-Star festivities in Charlotte ahead of this game. Munie was a 2023 MLS SuperDraft selection out of Indiana University, where he was a teammate with FCC goalkeeper Roman Celentano. This season Munie has started all 16 games for the Earthquakes.
In net is a new man who had a World Cup summer before joining the California club. Scottish goalkeeper Angus Gunn has started the last two games since returning from the summer break and signing with the Quakes. Gunn started all three group games for Scotland at the World Cup and was playing at Nottingham Forest before crossing the pond.
