Game Details

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Date

Saturday, April 25, 2026

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Kickoff

7:30 PM ET

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Venue

Audi Field, Washington, D.C.

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TV/Stream

MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

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Radio

iHeartRadio App / Freedom 104.7 FM (DC United broadcast: Dave Johnson & Bruce Murray)

Betting Odds

Live betting odds for this match were not available at the time of publication. Check your preferred sportsbook for the latest lines before placing any wagers.

Preview: Fire at Both Ends on the Potomac

Eastern Conference neighbors DC United and Orlando City SC bring very different energy into Saturday night's Matchday 10 clash at Audi Field. Both teams are still searching for consistency in 2026, but each arrives with a midweek result in the books — and fresh reasons to believe their best football is coming.

DC United (2-4-3, 9 pts) head into the weekend on the back of one of the most remarkable performances of their 2026 campaign: a jaw-dropping 4-4 draw at Red Bull New York on Wednesday, in which Tai Baribo delivered a stunning hat trick to rescue a point from 3-2 down. It was the kind of result that speaks to the character René Weiler has been building in the nation's capital, even as the Black-and-Red have too often dropped points that should have been converted into wins.

Orlando City SC (2-6-1, 7 pts) responded to their own recent troubles with an emphatic 4-1 win over Charlotte FC on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium, with Martín Ojeda bagging a brace and interim head coach Martín Perelman growing increasingly optimistic about the Lions' direction. The visitors arrive in Washington with energy but also with a depleted squad and one of the leakiest defenses in the Eastern Conference.

With an all-time series perfectly deadlocked at 9-9-3 and Audi Field historically favoring the home side, this has the makings of a lively, open-ended Eastern Conference battle.

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DC United Analysis

DC United enter Matchday 10 sitting just below mid-table in the Eastern Conference with nine points from nine matches (2W-4L-3D). Head Coach René Weiler's side has shown flashes of genuine quality — particularly in attack — but has struggled to close out games and turn draw results into full wins.

The undeniable story of D.C.'s 2026 season so far is Tai Baribo. The Israeli international forward, who arrived from the Philadelphia Union over the winter, has been an explosive addition. He leads the team with six goals in just eight appearances, and his hat trick in Wednesday's 4-4 draw at Sports Illustrated Stadium was his third hat trick since the start of 2024, making him just the third MLS player in that span to accomplish that feat alongside Nashville's Sam Surridge and LAFC's Denis Bouanga. Baribo won MLS Player of Matchday 9 recognition and enters Saturday as arguably the most dangerous individual forward in this match.

Behind Baribo, midfielder Jackson Hopkins has been a reliable engine in midfield, contributing goals and assists, and was involved directly in Wednesday's comeback. João Peglow showed impressive creative instincts against New York, recording two assists and eight passes into the final third. At the back, Silvan Hefti has added quality defensively and offered support going forward, recording his first MLS assist on Wednesday.

Between the posts, veteran Sean Johnson provides experience and leadership. The back line of Lucas Bartlett, Keisuke Kurokawa, and Kye Rowles has been a work in progress this season, which may explain why DC's road record stands at only 1-2-3. At Audi Field, however, the Black-and-Red historically perform at a higher level — and Weiler will be counting on a raucous home crowd (Saturday is "Talons Birthday" theme night) to push his side to a complete 90-minute performance.

DC United's challenge this season has been consistency. They've shown they can score goals (four at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Wednesday is testament to that), but they've also conceded liberally. Against an Orlando side that surrendered 26 goals in their first nine games, DC's attack should find opportunities.

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Orlando City SC Analysis

Orlando City SC find themselves in a difficult position in the 2026 MLS standings — 2-6-1 with just seven points — yet the mood coming out of last Wednesday's dominant 4-1 win over Charlotte FC is one of cautious optimism. The Lions are in transition following the departure of long-serving head coach Óscar Pareja on March 11 after six seasons, with interim head coach Martín Perelman now steering the ship.

Perelman has been steadily implementing a more organized structure, and the win over Charlotte — coming just two days after a loss to Houston Dynamo — showcased what the Lions can do when things click. The performance featured a brace from Martín Ojeda, who has been the creative engine of Orlando's attack all season with four goals and 26 shots through nine matches. Ojeda also leads the league's active players in corner kicks taken (25), and his direct style and ability to score from set pieces makes him a threat at any moment. He enters Saturday with two goals and three assists in six career appearances against DC United.

Iván Angulo has been prolific in the playmaking role, leading Orlando with five assists in 2026. The Colombian midfielder also made his 150th appearance for the club against Charlotte, underlining his importance to the side. Luís Otávio scored his first professional goal against Charlotte and could provide an additional spark coming through central areas.

However, the Lions arrive at Audi Field dealing with a significant injury crisis. Duncan McGuire — who leads all active Orlando players with three goals in six career appearances against DC — is OUT with a lower-leg injury. Also confirmed out are Wilder Cartagena (thigh), Griffin Dorsey (thigh), Joran Gerbet (knee), and Marco Pašalić (thigh). Eduard Atuesta (shoulder) and David Brekalo (lower leg) are listed as questionable. With five regular starters sidelined, Perelman will need to rely on a stretched squad and recently signed players like Ignacio Gómez (who scored in the Charlotte win on short-term agreement) and Bernardo Rhein.

Goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau has started eight of nine matches in 2026 but carries a 2.79 GAA — a reflection of a backline that has been one of the most porous in the Eastern Conference. Orlando conceded 26 goals in the first nine games of the season. That statistic should give DC United's attack serious confidence heading into Saturday.

Head-to-Head & Betting Trends

The all-time regular season series between DC United and Orlando City SC is perfectly balanced at 9-9-3, making this one of the more evenly matched rivalries in the Eastern Conference. However, at Audi Field, DC United hold a clear edge at 5-3-2, suggesting that home advantage has been a significant factor when these two meet in Washington.

The most recent meeting came on September 13, 2025, when the clubs played to a 1-1 draw at Audi Field — midfielder Jackson Hopkins gave DC the lead in the 33rd minute, but Orlando equalized to take a point.

Key Trends:

DC United have not lost at Audi Field to Orlando in the regular season since 2022 (based on a 5-3-2 H2H home record over the series history).
Orlando City arrive with the third-worst goals-against average in the Eastern Conference in 2026 (2.89 GAA / 26 goals conceded in 9 matches).
Tai Baribo has been in exceptional form — six goals in eight appearances — entering one of the most favorable matchups on the schedule.
DC United's attack has proven capable of high-scoring output: their 4-4 draw at RBNY showed they can score four on the road, let alone at home.
Orlando have beaten DC United just once at Audi Field in their last five meetings.
Both clubs tend to be involved in high-scoring games when they meet — the last five meetings have produced a combined average of over three total goals.

Prediction & Best Bets

🎯 Best Bet

Our Pick

📊 DC United 2–1 Orlando City SC

**Prediction:** DC United should have enough at home to take all three points, buoyed by Baribo's form, a sold-out Audi Field crowd on theme night, and an Orlando backline that has been susceptible all season. The Lions come in with momentum but are severely undermanned due to injuries, and Perelman's young squad faces a stern test on the road. Expect DC United to push the tempo from the start and test Crépeau early. Baribo, continuing his hot run, is the most likely player to determine the outcome.

FAQ

What time does DC United vs Orlando City SC kick off on April 25, 2026?

Kickoff at Audi Field is set for 7:30 PM ET on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

How can I watch DC United vs Orlando City SC?

The match is available live on MLS Season Pass via the Apple TV app. Radio coverage is available on the iHeartRadio App and Freedom 104.7 FM, with Dave Johnson and Bruce Murray on the call.

What is the all-time head-to-head record between DC United and Orlando City SC?

The all-time regular season series is tied at 9-9-3. DC United hold a 5-3-2 record against the Lions specifically at Audi Field.

Who are the key injury concerns for Orlando City SC ahead of this match?

Orlando are without several key players: Duncan McGuire (lower leg), Wilder Cartagena (thigh), Griffin Dorsey (thigh), Joran Gerbet (knee), and Marco Pašalić (thigh) are all confirmed out. Eduard Atuesta (shoulder) and David Brekalo (lower leg) are questionable.

Who is DC United's top scorer in 2026?

Forward Tai Baribo leads DC United with six goals in eight appearances in the 2026 MLS season. The Israeli international, who joined from the Philadelphia Union over the winter, scored a hat trick in Wednesday's 4-4 draw at Red Bull New York and was named MLS Player of Matchday 9. ---