Texas Derby Ignites: Austin FC Hosts FC Dallas for Copa Tejas
Copa Tejas Showdown: Austin FC vs. FC Dallas – Everything You Need to Know
Imagine a big, friendly rivalry between neighbors. That’s Copa Tejas! It’s a special trophy contested by the three Major League Soccer (MLS) teams in Texas: Austin FC, FC Dallas, and Houston Dynamo FC.
On Matchday 20, the spotlight shines on Austin FC hosting FC Dallas for Sunday Night Soccer. Here is your simple guide to the match, the stakes, and the stars.
What is Copa Tejas?
Think of it like a mini-league just for Texas teams.
- Format: Round-robin (every team plays each other multiple times).
- Winner: The team with the most points at the end of the season takes home the trophy.
- History: Created in 2021. Both Austin and Dallas have won it twice.
- The Stakes: This match is a tie-breaker. The winner moves one step closer to being the first club to claim a third title.
IMPORTANT POINT
This isn’t just a regular game. It’s a rivalry match with trophy implications. Bragging rights for the whole state are on the line!
Austin FC: The Verde & Black
Current Standing (MLS Regular Season)
- Position: 14th in Western Conference (Second to last)
- Record: 4 Wins – 9 Losses – 5 Draws
- Points: 17
- Playoff Picture: Only 7 points behind the Wild Card spots. A winning streak changes everything!
Recent Form: A Tale of Two Seasons
Austin has a "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" vibe right now.
| Competition | Performance |
|---|---|
| Leagues Cup | Amazing! Finished 2nd in the MLS group. Beat Tijuana (2-0) and Puebla (3-0). Eliminated giants Club América 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. |
| MLS Regular Season | Struggling. Lost 5 of their last 6 matches. |
Key Players to Watch
- Myrto Uzuni (Forward/DP) – The Albanian superstar. Team-high 6 goals / 5 assists in MLS. On fire with 4 goals in Leagues Cup. He scored the goal that sent them to the quarters!
- Facundo Torres (Midfielder) – Uruguayan international in his first season. Team-leading 6 assists (+ 1 goal). The creative engine.
- Brandon Vazquez (Striker) – USMNT player. Just returned in May from a serious ACL (knee) injury. Hunting for his first goal of the year.
- Brad Stuver (Goalkeeper) – The veteran leader. 2025 All-Star. Leads ALL of MLS with 89 saves. He keeps them in games.
Coaching Situation
- Right Now: Davy Arnaud is the Interim Coach.
- Future: Legendary coach Jim Curtin (former Philadelphia Union boss) takes over after the 2026 season. He was hired in June.
FC Dallas: The Toros
Current Standing (MLS Regular Season)
- Position: 6th in Western Conference (Playoff spot!)
- Record: 7 Wins – 5 Losses – 6 Draws
- Points: 27
Recent Form
- Leagues Cup: Good run ended in quarterfinals. Beat Chivas & Querétaro, but lost 3-1 to Toluca.
- Last MLS Game: Gritty 0-0 draw vs. LA Galaxy (the defending champs).
Key Players to Watch
- Petar Musa (Striker) – Croatian World Cup star (2026). Tied for the MLS Golden Boot lead with 13 GOALS. He is the main goal threat.
- Logan Farrington (Striker) – 24-year-old rising star. Musa’s partner. 6 goals / 4 assists (10 contributions). Very effective duo.
- Kaick (Midfielder) – 20-year-old Brazilian. The engine in the middle. Controls the tempo and breaks up plays.
- Osaze Urhoghide (Defender) – Breakout star at the back. Started all 15 games he’s been healthy for. Chips in with 1 goal / 2 assists. Solid as a rock.
By the Numbers: Matchday Preview
| Stat | Austin FC | FC Dallas |
|---|---|---|
| Conference Rank | 14th | 6th |
| Points | 17 | 27 |
| Goal Leader (MLS) | Myrto Uzuni (6) | Petar Musa (13) |
| Assist Leader (MLS) | Facundo Torres (6) | Logan Farrington (4) |
| Leagues Cup Result | Quarterfinals | Round of 16 |
| Last 6 MLS Games | 1 Win, 5 Losses | 1 Win, 2 Losses, 3 Draws |
BETTING MARKET INSIGHT (As of Aug 13, 1 PM ET)
Despite playing away, FC Dallas (41%) is getting slightly more support than Austin FC (34%). The market respects Dallas’s better league position and Musa’s scoring form.
How to Watch / Follow
- Event: Copa Tejas – Matchday 20
- Matchup: Austin FC vs. FC Dallas
- Broadcast: Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire (Check local MLS Season Pass / Apple TV listings).
- Storyline: Can Austin turn Leagues Cup magic into MLS points? Can Dallas solidify a playoff spot and grab the Copa Tejas lead?
Summary
- Copa Tejas is the Texas championship. Austin and Dallas are tied with 2 titles each.
- Austin is last in the West but hot in tournaments (beat Club América!). They need MLS wins now to save their season.
- Dallas is comfortably in a playoff spot (6th) led by Golden Boot leader Petar Musa (13 goals).
- Key Battle: Austin’s Uzuni (hot streak) vs. Dallas’s Musa (season-long consistency).
- Coaching Drama: Austin plays for new boss Jim Curtin (arriving later); Dallas plays for current stability.
- Market leans Dallas despite Austin being at home.
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
1. What exactly is the "Leagues Cup" mentioned for Austin?
It’s a separate tournament played during the MLS season where MLS teams face teams from Liga MX (Mexico). Austin did really well in this other competition, beating a massive Mexican club (Club América), but those wins don’t count for the MLS standings.
2. Who is the third team in Copa Tejas?
Houston Dynamo FC. They play both Austin and Dallas during the season. The final standings of all head-to-head games between the three determine the winner.
3. What is a "Designated Player" (DP) like Myrto Uzuni?
MLS has a salary cap. A Designated Player is a special slot (teams get up to 3) where a player’s salary mostly doesn’t count against the cap. It allows teams to sign expensive, high-quality stars like Uzuni.
4. What is the "Wild Card" in MLS playoffs?
The top ~7-9 teams per conference make the playoffs automatically. The Wild Card spots are the last few playoff tickets given to the next best teams regardless of conference (or sometimes the next best in the conference). Austin is 7 points back—very catchable with ~14 games left.
5. Why is Brad Stuver leading the league in saves a bad sign for Austin?
It means Austin’s defense is letting the other team shoot a lot. A goalie making 89 saves is working too hard. If the defense improves, Stuver won’t need to be a superhero every night, and Austin will win more games.