New York Red Bulls welcome Orlando City to Sports Illustrated Stadium on Saturday, August 1 at 7:30 PM ET / 6:30 PM CT / 5:30 PM MT / 4:30 PM PT, with a playoff place at stake for the hosts and Orlando rolling in as the form side.
Only two points split the pair near the foot of the East, yet their recent trajectories could hardly be more different. The hosts have slipped to consecutive defeats and have not shut an opponent out in 15 straight matches, a defensive habit that keeps undercutting a promising attack. Orlando City, by contrast, thumped San Jose Earthquakes 4-0 and saw off Nashville SC to move onto a two-game winning run.
The sportsbooks favour New York Red Bulls only narrowly and expect goals, with the over and both-teams-to-score markets the standouts; bet365 had yet to post its own prices for this one at the time of writing. Our full weekend card sits on the soccer predictions page for those weighing up the wider slate.
New York Red Bulls vs Orlando City: Best Bets & Predictions
bet365 make New York Red Bulls narrow home favourites, but with both defences leaking the value sits on the goals markets — both teams to score and the over on an open night in Harrison.
Our approach: lead with both teams to score, pair it with the over 2.5, and take New York Red Bulls to shade a high-scoring home game, with Julian Hall to find the net.
Odds correct at time of writing and shown in American format for illustration. 19+ (18+ in AB/MB/QC). Please play responsibly. ConnexOntario: 1-866-531-2600 (ON).
Season Form & Standings
New York Red Bulls hold the last Eastern Conference playoff place in eighth on 22 points. Orlando City are a place and two points back in 10th on 20, and the negative goal difference each side carries underlines why the defences, not the attacks, decide their nights.
| Team | Pos | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Red Bulls | 8 | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 26 | 37 | -11 | 22 |
| Orlando City | 10 | 17 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 28 | 44 | -16 | 20 |
New York Red Bulls vs Orlando City Predicted Lineups
Based on the XI each side started in their last match.
New York Red Bulls
4-3-3Orlando City
4-4-1-1Potential Match-Winners
- Julian Hall (New York Red Bulls): Nine goals and 16 shots on target inside 1,465 minutes, the young forward the Red Bulls lean on for a spark in front of goal.
- Emil Forsberg (New York Red Bulls): One goal and four assists with 10 shots on target, the seasoned playmaker who pulls the strings in the final third.
- Daryl Dike (Orlando City): Among the shortest-priced Orlando scorers at +150, the powerful centre-forward Orlando turn to when they want a focal point up top.
- Tiago (Orlando City): A +150 anytime-scorer price and a start in the win over Nashville SC, part of the front line that put four past San Jose Earthquakes.
Recent Form
New York Red Bulls: W D W L L
- 2026-07-25: New York Red Bulls 0-2 Charlotte FC (L, home)
- 2026-07-23: Philadelphia Union 3-1 New York Red Bulls (L, away)
- 2026-05-24: Sporting KC 1-2 New York Red Bulls (W, away)
- 2026-05-17: New York Red Bulls 1-1 NYCFC (D, home)
- 2026-05-14: New York Red Bulls 3-2 Columbus Crew (W, home)
The break has not helped New York Red Bulls, who have lost both games back and have gone 15 matches without a clean sheet, a sequence dating to late February. The goals still come at one end; the trouble is stopping them at the other.
Orlando City: W D L W W
- 2026-07-26: Orlando City 1-0 Nashville SC (W, home)
- 2026-07-23: San Jose Earthquakes 0-4 Orlando City (W, away)
- 2026-05-24: FC Cincinnati 6-2 Orlando City (L, away)
- 2026-05-17: Orlando City 1-1 Atlanta United (D, home)
- 2026-05-14: Orlando City 4-3 Philadelphia Union (W, home)
Orlando City could scarcely be travelling better, with two wins on the bounce and no blank since a goalless afternoon at CF Montreal on May 9. The back-to-back shutouts are the real shift after that 6-2 mauling at FC Cincinnati in the spring.
New York Red Bulls vs Orlando City Prediction
Everything about this fixture points to goals. New York Red Bulls carry home advantage and the livelier attacking numbers, but a defence that has conceded in 15 straight is not one to trust for a shutout, and Orlando City arrive scoring for fun. The goals markets hold the value, and both teams to score with bet365 is the pick, with a tight New York Red Bulls win the likeliest single outcome. Kickoff in Harrison is 7:30 PM ET / 6:30 PM CT / 5:30 PM MT / 4:30 PM PT on Saturday, August 1. For the rest of the weekend, our soccer predictions page has the full card, our bet365 review covers the sportsbook, and there is more MLS reading in our Philadelphia Union vs Atlanta United preview.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please play responsibly.
19+ (18+ in AB/MB/QC) | Please play responsibly | ConnexOntario: 1-866-531-2600 (ON)