New York Red Bulls vs Charlotte FC predictions headline Saturday’s MLS action at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The Red Bulls welcome Charlotte to Harrison for a clash between two sides level on 22 points. Kick-off is at 11:30pm (UK Time), with both teams returning from the mid-season World Cup break in contrasting fashion
New York Red Bulls lost 3-1 to Philadelphia Union in their first match back. Charlotte FC drew 2-2 with Atlanta United after surrendering a two-goal half-time lead. Saturday marks the 11th meeting between the sides, with the hosts desperate to avenge a 6-1 hammering at Charlotte’s hands in March.
New York Red Bulls vs Charlotte FC predictions and betting tips
| OUR PREDICTION | ODDS & BOOKMAKER | WHY WE’RE BACKING IT |
|---|---|---|
| Cade Cowell to score anytime | 14/5 with BetMGM (26%) | Cowell scored New York Red Bulls’ only goal in the 3-1 defeat at Philadelphia Union last week. The 22-year-old forward continues to lead the line for Michael Bradley’s side and has been their most consistent attacking threat throughout the 2026 campaign. The Red Bulls have scored 26 goals from 16 MLS matches this season and carry an average of 13 shots per game. Charlotte arrive without top scorers Kerwin Vargas and Liel Abada, both forced off with injuries against Atlanta. That double blow weakens the visitors’ defensive shape and invites pressure. At 11/8, Cowell looks good value to find the net on home soil. |
| Emil Forsberg to register an assist | 18/5 with Ladbrokes (22%) | Forsberg registered his fourth assist of the season in the defeat to Philadelphia. The Swedish captain remains the Red Bulls’ creative hub. He has been involved in more goal contributions than any other midfielder in the squad this term. Charlotte have kept just two clean sheets across their 16 league matches. The visitors’ defensive resilience will be tested further without Vargas and Abada, who both provide cover in wide areas. Forsberg operates between the lines in Bradley’s 4-2-3-1 and thrives when given space to pick passes. At 5/2, there is value in backing the playmaker to set up a teammate. |
Odds correct at time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
How both teams head into New York Red Bulls vs Charlotte FC
New York Red Bulls
The Red Bulls’ return to MLS action after the World Cup break ended in disappointment. A 3-1 defeat at Philadelphia Union extended a frustrating run. Bradley’s side sit 17th in the overall standings with 22 points from 16 matches.
Their record of six wins, four draws and six defeats tells the story of an inconsistent campaign. Defensive frailties continue to undermine progress. The Red Bulls have conceded 35 goals, one of the worst records in the league. Just one clean sheet all season highlights the scale of the problem at the back.
There were encouraging signs before the break. New York won three and drew one of their final four league fixtures. A 3-1 away victory over high-flying Chicago Fire stood out as the highlight. Cowell and Forsberg have formed a productive partnership in attack, combining for goals and assists on a regular basis.
Bradley will demand a response after the Philadelphia setback. Home advantage should help. The Red Bulls have recorded four wins at Sports Illustrated Stadium this season. They will need that home support against a Charlotte side that dismantled them 6-1 in March.
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Charlotte FC
Charlotte head to New Jersey in decent form but nursing fresh injury concerns. Dean Smith’s side drew 2-2 with Atlanta United in their first match back from the break, squandering a two-goal half-time advantage.
That result was a microcosm of Charlotte’s season. They have shown flashes of quality but lack the consistency to sustain momentum. Six wins, four draws and six defeats from 16 matches leave them seventh in the Eastern Conference on 22 points.
Saturday marks a landmark occasion for Smith. The former Aston Villa and Norwich City manager takes charge of his 100th Charlotte match. His record of 42 wins, 21 draws and 36 defeats includes a club-record fourth-placed finish in the Eastern Conference last season.
Charlotte’s attack has been their strongest suit. They have scored 26 goals and created 32 big chances. However, the injuries to Vargas and Abada leave Smith short of options in the final third. Tyger Smalls and Rodolfo Aloko are the leading candidates to step in.
New York Red Bulls team news
Bradley has no fresh injury concerns following the defeat to Philadelphia, giving him the option to name an unchanged side. Changes are likely in defence after another poor display at the back.
Cowell scored the Red Bulls’ only goal and is expected to keep his place in attack. Forsberg will again operate as the creative focal point in the No.10 role. Anthony Marcucci remains sidelined with the ACL injury that has kept him out for almost a year. Ethan Horvath will continue in goal. Rafael Mosquera is also unavailable because of a thigh problem.
New York Red Bulls (4-2-3-1): Horvath; Marshall-Rutty, Che, Nealis, Dos Santos; Donkor, Mehmeti; Cowell, Forsberg, Ruvalcaba; Hall
Charlotte FC team news
Charlotte have been dealt a double blow after Vargas and Abada were both forced off with injuries against Atlanta United. The pair scored Charlotte’s two goals in that 2-2 draw, making their absence a significant concern.
Smalls and Aloko are the leading candidates to replace the injured duo. The rest of the squad came through the Atlanta match unscathed. Kristijan Kahlina will continue between the posts behind a back four of Byrne, Morrison, Tim Ream and Josh Toffolo.
Charlotte FC (4-2-3-1): Kahlina; Byrne, Morrison, Ream, Toffolo; Smalls, Westwood; De La Torre, Aloko, Biel; Goodwin
Head-to-head
The Red Bulls and Charlotte have met ten times in MLS. New York hold a slender advantage with four wins to Charlotte’s three, alongside three draws. The aggregate goal tally is remarkably close at 18-17 in the Red Bulls’ favour.
Home advantage has been the defining factor. The Red Bulls have won all four of their home victories in this fixture. Charlotte have won all three of their victories on home soil, including a 6-1 thrashing in March 2026 and a 1-0 win in August 2025.
Neither side has won this fixture on the road, making Saturday’s trip a daunting prospect for Smith’s injury-hit squad.
Who comes out on top at Sports Illustrated Stadium?
This fixture has home advantage written all over it. Neither side has managed an away win in the ten previous meetings, and the Red Bulls’ need for a response after the Philadelphia defeat adds extra motivation.
Cowell to score anytime at 14/5 is the headline selection. He scored the Red Bulls’ only goal at Philadelphia and will fancy his chances against a Charlotte defence weakened by injury. The 22-year-old has the pace and movement to exploit gaps.
Forsberg to register an assist at 18/5 completes the pair. The Swedish captain has been the Red Bulls’ chief creator all season. Four assists confirm his importance, and Charlotte’s depleted backline should afford him more time and space than usual. This looks like a game where home advantage tells.
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