FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew face off in the Hell is Real Derby for Matchday 31 of the Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season this Sunday, October 18, 2026. Kick-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. (17:00 local stadium time in America/New_York) at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, with live streaming coverage in the United States on Apple TV.
The Ohio rivalry features direct postseason implications in the Eastern Conference standings. Entering Matchday 31, FC Cincinnati holds the ninth position—the final Wild Card playoff spot—with 36 points across 28 matches (nine wins, nine draws and 10 losses), carrying a game in hand over its competitors after falling 3-2 at home to the New England Revolution on Wednesday (14). Columbus Crew sits in 13th place with 32 points from 29 games (nine wins, five draws and 15 losses), trailing FC Cincinnati by four points following a 3-1 comeback win against Charlotte FC at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field on Wednesday (14). In the most recent meeting between the clubs on July 25, 2026, Columbus Crew defeated FC Cincinnati 2-1 in Columbus, erasing an early ninth-minute goal by forward Kévin Denkey with strikes from Jamal Thiaré in the 42nd minute and a penalty converted by Dániel Gazdag at six minutes into first-half stoppage time.
Where to watch FC Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew live
Fans in the United States can watch the state derby live through the league’s official broadcast partner.
- Apple TV (streaming)
Kick-off time and venue for FC Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew
- Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026
- Time in the United States: 5 p.m. (17:00 local stadium time, America/New_York)
- Venue: TQL Stadium, in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Competition: MLS — Major League Soccer (Matchday 31)
Read also: Seattle Sounders vs CF Montréal: where to watch live, kick-off time and lineups (MLS, Oct 17)
FC Cincinnati probable lineup
Head coach Pat Noonan, currently in his fifth season leading FC Cincinnati, fielded a 3-5-2 formation in the club’s previous outing against the New England Revolution, featuring goalkeeper Evan Louro; defenders Kyle Smith, Julián Malatini and Teenage Hadebe; wingbacks and midfielders Tyrell Malacia, Gerardo Valenzuela, Obinna Nwobodo, Tah Brian Anunga and Ender Echenique; and forwards Kévin Denkey and Tom Barlow. During that match, Noonan also utilized substitutes Samuel Gidi, Pavel Bucha, Kenji Mboma Dem, Ayoub Jabbari and midfielder Evander, who has recorded 13 goals and 13 assists this season.
Ahead of the derby, Noonan evaluated the opponent’s recent form: “We will anticipate their best, which was what we saw in the last couple games and a team that’s really hitting their stride. I think their performances have been strong. Charlotte, Orlando, even with the result, when you watch the game you know, Miami. This is a much better version of what we’ve seen from their group now with (Head Coach) Laurent [Courtois].”
According to the official MLS Player Status Report for Matchday 31, FC Cincinnati has two confirmed injury absences: midfielder José Martínez (knee) and defender Miles Robinson (leg). The league’s public availability report confirmed that no players are suspended for the match, while the detailed list of players one yellow card away from suspension was not disclosed.
Columbus Crew probable lineup
Interim head coach Laurent Courtois, who took over Columbus Crew on Sunday, May 17, 2026, following the dismissal of Henrik Rydström, deployed a 3-4-2-1 system in the recent victory over Charlotte FC. That starting eleven consisted of Patrick Schulte in goal; Steven Moreira, Sean Zawadzki and Malte Amundsen on the backline; Mohamed Farsi, Dylan Chambost, Taha Habroune and Anass Zaroury across the midfield; Brais Méndez and Santiago Rodríguez as attacking midfielders; and Josef Martínez leading the attack.
Defender Sean Zawadzki underscored the weight of the fixture for the visiting side: “Obviously, where we are in the season and knowing how the table is right now, and knowing that Cincy is ahead of us, it’s a massive three points on the line in that game, with a lot of implications on the line.”
Per the MLS Player Status Report for Matchday 31, Columbus Crew will be without two injured players: forward Wessam Abou Ali (knee) and defender Rudy Camacho (torso). Columbus Crew has no suspended players for this round, and the specific roster of players nearing yellow card accumulation suspension has not been released.
Read also: San Jose Earthquakes vs Nashville SC: where to watch live, kick-off time and lineups (MLS, Oct 17)
Match officials for FC Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew
The Professional Referee Organization (PRO), the body responsible for managing professional soccer officials in the United States and Canada, assigned the following crew for the match:
- Referee: Drew Fischer (PRO)
- Assistant Referee 1 (AR1): Cameron Blanchard (PRO)
- Assistant Referee 2 (AR2): Brian Dunn (PRO)
- Fourth Official: Filip Dujic (PRO)
- Video Assistant Referee (VAR): Younes Marrakchi (PRO)
- Assistant Video Assistant Referee (AVAR): Jonathan Johnson (PRO)
History and next match for FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew
Sunday’s match marks the 23rd edition of the Hell is Real Derby across all competitions, making Columbus Crew the most frequent opponent in FC Cincinnati’s history since the club was founded in the United Soccer League (USL, the second-tier division of American professional soccer) in 2016. In the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, FC Cincinnati eliminated Columbus Crew in the opening round by winning their best-of-three series 2-1. In regular-season play, however, FC Cincinnati has not beaten Columbus Crew at TQL Stadium since 2023, recording a scoreless draw at home in 2024 and a defeat in July 2025.
Following the derby, FC Cincinnati returns to the pitch on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, to host D.C. United at TQL Stadium in a rescheduled fixture.