San Diego FC will go up against the Colorado Rapids as the first team they face after a two-month World Cup break. Both teams sit in 12th and 13th place respectively and are looking to turn things around in the second half of the season. San Diego needs to start off hot as they try to make the playoffs for the second consecutive season. For the Rapids, this season is a learning curve as they adapt to a new system under a new head coach.
Over the off-season, Colorado set out to bring in a new head coach and found one in Matt Wells. Wells comes over from Tottenham Hotspur after spending the last couple of seasons coaching alongside Ange Postecoglou. Postecoglou is well known for his possession-based attacking system at Tottenham, and Wells is now tasked with bringing something similar to the Colorado Rapids. Prior to joining Tottenham, Wells served as an assistant manager under Scott Parker at Fulham starting in 2019, following Parker when he was appointed manager at AFC Bournemouth. Wells was highly regarded at Tottenham, and rumors suggested that after Thomas Frank left, Wells would have been offered the head coaching job on an interim basis had he stayed.
Now, Wells is tasked with bringing a possession-based, demanding system to a Colorado Rapids team that ranked 27th in possession in 2025 at a 45.7% rate. That shift naturally brings growing pains, as reflected in their 5-1-9 record through 15 matches in 2026. Although their possession rate has increased to 56%, it is clear the team is still learning Wells’ system.
The Rapids want a playstyle very similar to SDFC, who boast a 61.6% possession rate. Both teams will clearly fight for control of the ball. Where they differ slightly is in their shooting productivity. San Diego FC has 30 goals on 176 shots with 69 on target, while the Rapids have 24 goals on 165 shots with 66 on target. San Diego’s xG stands at 23.82 compared to Colorado’s 20.76.
When passing, both teams excel at maintaining possession through short passes, with San Diego completing 89.2% of their passes and Colorado completing 87.6%. However, when moving into the final third, San Diego is slightly more effective at 76.7% compared to Colorado’s 71.6%. While San Diego prefers attacking through the middle of the field, the Rapids tend to play side-to-side, passing down the wings rather than through the midfield.
Defensively, the Rapids have allowed 24 goals on 70 shots on target. Rapids goalkeepers have made 46 saves with a save percentage of 65.7%. Colorado ranks 7th in interceptions with 144 and 3rd in aerial duels won at 58.2%. While winning back possession is a priority, the Rapids can be overly aggressive. They rank second in yellow cards with 42, have picked up 4 red cards this season, sit fourth in fouls committed at 215, and are the most fouled team in the league at 221. This will be a physical matchup for San Diego, and they will need a sharp, disciplined performance after the long layoff.
Key Players
Rafael Navarro
The last time San Diego FC visited Colorado, Rafael Navarro scored the game-winning goal for the Rapids in the 60th minute of a 3-2 victory. Navarro finished that season with 12 goals and 3 assists in league play, following a 15-goal, 1-assist campaign the year before. Before arriving in MLS, the Brazilian striker logged 18 goals and 10 assists combined across Serie A and Serie B in Brazil. This season, he already has 8 goals and 3 assists in league action. In terms of non-penalty goal contributions per 90 minutes, Navarro is averaging 0.67—up from 0.44 in 2025 and 0.39 in 2024. Navarro continues to elevate his game in MLS, and Matt Wells seems to have unlocked another level in the striker.
The Center Backs
During the last summer transfer window, the Rapids acquired two center backs for their present and future: veteran Rob Holding and young prospect Lucas Herrington. The 30-year-old Holding built an extensive Premier League career with Arsenal and Crystal Palace, along with a season at Championship side Sheffield United. He logged over 6,000 Premier League minutes, recording 2 goals and 1 assist. This season with Colorado, Holding has featured in 13 matches, starting 12.
Alongside him, 18-year-old Lucas Herrington arrived from Australia’s A-League after spending two seasons with Brisbane, where he scored two goals. Herrington has stepped right into the lineup, starting all 15 matches for the Rapids.
These two center backs are vital because Wells’ system requires defenders to push the ball forward through progressive passes or dribbles, actively contributing to the build-up attack. Their roles closely mirror what Manu Duah and Chris McVey do for San Diego FC. While their attacking involvement is crucial, both Herrington and Holding remain strong defensively. Herrington leads the league in combined interceptions and penalty-box clearances with 30, and his 10 defensive aerial wins in the danger zone tie him for 3rd among all MLS center backs. Meanwhile, Holding excels on the ground, ranking second among center backs with a 74% tackle win rate. Together, they form a balanced pairing that will present a stern test for any attacking unit.
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