D.C. United hosts the Columbus Crew at Audi Field on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, in an Eastern Conference match scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. D.C. United enter at 5-7-10 with 25 points after their scheduled match at FC Cincinnati was postponed because of pitch conditions and player safety concerns caused by inclement weather.
D.C. United have not played since a 0-0 draw with Los Angeles FC at Audi Field on August 29. Goalkeeper Sean Johnson recorded his fifth shutout of the 2026 season after facing one shot on target, and D.C. United are 2-0-3 this season when they keep a clean sheet. The club is 3-4-4 at Audi Field.
D.C. United Rely on Sean Johnson and Tai Baribo
Johnson has started all 22 of D.C. United’s matches in 2026, making 77 saves and recording five shutouts. He also has 30 career appearances against the Columbus Crew.
Forward Tai Baribo leads D.C. United with 12 goals in 2026 and is three-for-three from the penalty spot. Forward Louis Munteanu has six goals and two assists while leading the club with 54 shots.
Columbus Crew Enter After Ending Winless Run
The Columbus Crew enter at 6-12-5 with 23 points and sit 13th in the Eastern Conference. The Crew ended a five-match winless run with a 3-0 home victory over the Colorado Rapids on September 5.
Designated Player Santiago Rodríguez scored the opening goal on his Crew debut, while forward Gonzalo Tapia scored his first MLS goal and set up midfielder Taha Habroune in stoppage time. Columbus has scored 34 goals and conceded 39 across 23 matches, but the Crew are 1-7-3 on the road in 2026. Their only away win came at Atlanta United on April 4.
The Columbus Crew have also undergone changes since the summer window. Diego Rossi, the club’s leading scorer before departing for Monterrey, has left, while Designated Player Brais Méndez arrived from Real Sociedad. Forward Josef Martínez has 11 career goals against D.C. United but has not scored in five appearances for Columbus in 2026.
Series History and 2026 Meetings
Wednesday’s match is the first of two meetings between D.C. United and the Columbus Crew in the 2026 MLS regular season. The return fixture is scheduled for October 31 in Columbus.
The clubs have met 82 times in regular-season play since 1996, with the Columbus Crew holding a 36-32-14 edge. D.C. United are 23-13-6 at home against the Crew and have outscored Columbus 74-57 in Washington. D.C. United lost the most recent meeting 2-1 at Lower.com Field on July 19, 2025.
How to Watch D.C. United vs. Columbus Crew
The match will be available on Apple TV through MLS Season Pass. Radio coverage will be available on the iHeartRadio App and Freedom 104.7 FM.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
D.C. United return to Audi Field after a scoreless draw in which Johnson recorded a shutout and the team allowed one shot on target. That defensive performance will face a Columbus Crew side coming off a three-goal victory but carrying a 1-7-3 road record in 2026.
Baribo’s team-leading scoring total and Munteanu’s shot production give D.C. United established attacking options for the Eastern Conference matchup. The postponed trip to FC Cincinnati means D.C. United enter the contest after an extended break from competitive play.
Source: Original report
