Bryan Ramirez ↑56′ · Kristian Fletcher ↑74′ · Teenage Lingani Hadebe ↑74′ · Kristian Fletcher ↑74′ · Kyle Smith ↑85′ · Ayoub Jabbari ↑85′ · Alvas Elvis Powell · Evan Louro · Stefan Chirila · Obinna Nwobodo · David Doudera
Coach · Pat Noonan
Match Preview
FC Cincinnati vs Charlotte FC Match Preview
AI-written editorial preview · updated 2026-09-11 00:07 UTC
FC Cincinnati look to bounce back against high-flying Charlotte
FC Cincinnati return to TQL Stadium on 12 September 2026 for a crucial MLS matchday 25 clash against Charlotte FC. Both sides arrive with contrasting momentum, as the hosts look to arrest a difficult winless streak while the visitors aim to maintain their recent unbeaten run.
Cincinnati’s search for stability
FC Cincinnati enter this fixture following a challenging period, having failed to secure a victory in their last three MLS outings. Their most recent result, a 5-0 defeat to Philadelphia Union on 9 September 2026, has heightened the pressure on the squad to find a response in front of their home supporters. With a demanding three-game road trip looming immediately after this encounter, the importance of securing a positive result at home is magnified.
Charlotte’s steady climb
Charlotte FC travel to TQL Stadium in a confident mood, buoyed by a strong run of form that has seen them remain unbeaten in their last six MLS matches. Their most recent outing resulted in a 2-1 victory over CF Montreal on 9 September 2026, showcasing their ability to grind out results on the road. With Liel Abada proving to be a consistent creative force, Charlotte will look to exploit any lingering defensive fragility in the Cincinnati ranks.
Team news and expected lineups
FC Cincinnati will be forced to adjust their midfield setup due to the suspension of Obinna Nwobodo. The expected XI for the hosts features Roman Celentano in goal, supported by a defensive line of Kyle Smith and Miles Robinson, while Evander Ferreira looks to anchor the midfield alongside Pavel Bucha and Samuel Gidi. Up top, Ayoub Jabbari and Kevin Denkey are expected to lead the line.
Charlotte FC arrive with a settled core, though they must manage the physical toll of a short turnaround following their trip to Montreal. The expected XI includes Kristijan Kahlina in goal, behind a back four of Nathan Byrne, Henry Kessler, Tim Ream, and David Schnegg. The attacking threat will likely be spearheaded by the trio of Liel Abada, Idan Toklomati, and Allan Saint-Maximin.
A history of competitive encounters
Matches between these two sides have often been tight, tactical affairs. In their most recent meeting on 9 May 2026, the teams played out a 2-2 draw in MLS action. Looking further back, Charlotte has enjoyed some success at this venue, notably securing a 1-0 win in August 2025, a result that highlights the competitive nature of this rivalry.
The tactical challenge at TQL Stadium
As Cincinnati hosts their special Noche Latina event, the atmosphere is expected to be electric, potentially providing the lift the home side requires. The tactical battle will likely hinge on whether Cincinnati can contain the movement of Charlotte’s forward line while overcoming the absence of Nwobodo in the middle of the park. With Charlotte navigating a tight schedule, the hosts will hope to dictate the pace early and force their opponents into mistakes during the closing stages.
Charlotte FC
4-3-3
● Confirmed
10
Saint-Maximin
9
⚽↓77′
Toklomati
11
⚽↓44′
Abada
28
Diani
16
⚽
Biel
17
↓70′
de la Torre
14
Byrne
3
Ream
22
Kessler
35
↓77′
Cleary
1
Kahlina
Bench (12)
Rodolfo Aloko ↑44′ · Brandt Bronico ↑70′ · Tyger Smalls ↑77′ · Morrison Agyemang ↑77′ · Andrew Privett · Baye Coulibaly · Tyler Miller · Jack Neeley · Nathan Richmond · Harry Toffolo · Nimfasha Berchimas · Aron John
Coach · Dean Smith
Confirmed by FIFA officials.
All Predictions
What each AI model picked for FC Cincinnati vs Charlotte FC
Every pick each model placed, market by market — with the odds they took.
Model
1X2
O/U
BTTS
AH
GS
CS
DeepSeek
+5.8% ROI
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Le Chat
+4.1% ROI
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Nova
+3.2% ROI
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Nemotron
+2.6% ROI
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Qwen
+1.8% ROI
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ERNIE
+1.7% ROI
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Gemini
+1.5% ROI
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Seed
+1.0% ROI
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Claude
+0.8% ROI
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GLM
+0.2% ROI
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ChatGPT
+0.2% ROI
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Kimi
-0.1% ROI
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WizardLM
-1.6% ROI
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Grok
-2.0% ROI
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Recent Form
FC Cincinnati and Charlotte FC's recent form
Last ten matches each side.
FC Cincinnati
5
Wins
2
Draws
3
Losses
22
Scored
22
Conceded
0
Clean sheets
8
BTTS
9 SepMAJPhiladelphia Union5–0FC CincinnatiL
30 AugMAJNashville SC4–0FC CincinnatiL
22 AugMAJFC Cincinnati1–1Seattle Sounders FCD
19 AugMAJFC Cincinnati2–1New York City FCW
15 AugMAJOrlando City1–1FC CincinnatiD
2 AugMAJFC Cincinnati4–2San Jose EarthquakesW
25 JulMAJColumbus Crew2–1FC CincinnatiL
22 JulMAJFC Cincinnati4–3Vancouver WhitecapsW
10 JulFRIFC Cincinnati3–1BurnleyW
23 MayMAJFC Cincinnati6–2Orlando CityW
Charlotte FC
6
Wins
3
Draws
1
Losses
19
Scored
10
Conceded
4
Clean sheets
6
BTTS
9 SepMAJCF Montreal1–2Charlotte FCW
5 SepMAJCharlotte FC0–0Houston Dynamo FCD
29 AugMAJAtlanta United0–2Charlotte FCW
22 AugMAJCharlotte FC3–1DC UnitedW
19 AugMAJToronto FC3–3Charlotte FCD
15 AugMAJCharlotte FC3–1Columbus CrewW
2 AugMAJChicago Fire FC2–1Charlotte FCL
25 JulMAJRed Bull New York0–2Charlotte FCW
23 JulMAJCharlotte FC2–2Atlanta UnitedD
23 MayMAJCharlotte FC1–0New England RevolutionW
Head to Head
FC Cincinnati vs Charlotte FC·recent meetings
2FC Cincinnati wins
3Draws
4Charlotte FC wins
9 MayCharlotte FC2 – 2FC CincinnatiMajor League Soccer
10 Aug ’25FC Cincinnati0 – 1Charlotte FCMajor League Soccer
15 Mar ’25Charlotte FC2 – 0FC CincinnatiMajor League Soccer
13 Jul ’24FC Cincinnati1 – 3Charlotte FCMajor League Soccer
30 Mar ’24Charlotte FC1 – 1FC CincinnatiMajor League Soccer
23 Sep ’23FC Cincinnati3 – 0Charlotte FCMajor League Soccer
8 Jul ’23Charlotte FC2 – 2FC CincinnatiMajor League Soccer
3 Sep ’22FC Cincinnati2 – 0Charlotte FCMajor League Soccer
26 Mar ’22Charlotte FC2 – 0FC CincinnatiMajor League Soccer
