FC Cincinnati is now firmly entering the MLS League in the rearview mirror, and this Sunday, FC Cincinnati played the MLS League match at TQL Stadium. Orange and blue are second on the supporters’ shield table, which is the point for the Philadelphia League, and nine games per game played at home are crucial to chasing another trophy.
Fortunately for the FCC, this Sunday’s game represented the first of six home games in the game, and it was an opportunity to play the most important game of the season. However, the first test was Charlotte, the winner of the first four MLS games, but due to injuries and suspension, some key pieces will be missing.
But one of Charlotte’s main attributes is their depth, so no matter who participates in the field this Sunday, Cincinnati Football Club will be ready to take over a motivated Charlotte team.
“I think the biggest difference is the unavailable personnel, and (Pep) Biel was injured and (Ashley) Westwood [on yellow card suspension]This is a key thing for them. But they have depth, so you'll see people like (Eryk) Williamson and (Djibril) Diani step into the midfield. I think (Wilfried) Zaha, (Liel) Abada, (Kerwin) Vargas' wingers, they have speed, they have a volley of attackers. (Idan) Toklomati did a great job in his minutes, apparently after they transferred (Patrick) Agyemang. Therefore, they still have a strong team.
“We think that, in terms of the game, you can see how they play in a match with the ball. So in this case, it's a way to get out and be able to understand what we're going to see and find a way to succeed.”
On Sunday at TQL Stadium, Cincinnati Football Club will also celebrate the 10th anniversary of the club through a series of celebrations and recommendations. On Saturday, the club hosted the FCC3 game from Nippert Stadium to TQL Stadium where alumni staff and the public gathered. Prior to the game, alumni members will move forward with supporters’ groups to bring their energy into the 6 p.m. kickoff. After the game, Cincinnati will host an alumni competition, with two teams made up of players from Cincinnati Football Club.
Anniversary weekends offer an opportunity to reflect not only on where the FCC is now, but also on the arrival of the club.
“To remember the history of the club, both players, both years. Obviously, the USL year has been a very strong year for FC Cincinnati, and on the Nippert side, as far as Nippert side, what is memorable on Nippert side is that these players, open cups, many players will be back. Of course, it's great to be this team and see progress, be able to win trophies and be eager to win more victories. So I think the club is in a good place and we want to continue with years of success, more success and the recognition of many players and being able to identify a similar one, which is a part that is different.
FC Cincinnati vs Charlotte Football Club – Sunday, August 10, 2025 – 7:30 PM ET – TQL Stadium
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Cincinnati FC hopes to maintain a three-game winning streak with Charlotte FC. Orange and Blue beat the royal family in a row, dating back to a 3-1 loss at TQL Stadium last July, 2-0 at Bank of America Stadium earlier this season.
All-time, Cincinnati FC has a record of 2-3-2 against Charlotte FC, but has performed much better at home, with a record of 2-1-0 (6 goals, 3, 3 goals) in the TQL Stadium game, while a record of 0-2-2 (3 goals, 4, 2-4, opposition).
Family Stretch – Cincinnati Football Club will be at TQL Stadium in 6 of the remaining nine games in the 2025 MLS regular season. Orange and Blue 7-2-2 (.727) in MLS matches this season. Five of the remaining six home games, including Sunday night, teams playing against Eastern Conference Playoff No. 28: Charlotte Football Club (August 10), New York City Football Club (August 23), Philadelphia League (August 30), Nashville SC (September 13) and Orlando City (September 27).
Go with 49 and 9 – Cincinnati Football Club attempted to get the shield of a second supporter in three seasons (2023), entering the Philadelphia League’s 50-point game day 28 points. At 15-6-4 (49 points), the FCC was one of nine clubs, 40 of nine points as the chase of the shield. In 2022, when Cincinnati Football Club won its first MLS Cup playoff spot in club history, Orange and Blue ended the season with their current 2025 points (12-9-13). That Tally won the fifth-seeded FC Cincy, the New York Red Bulls ranked fourth, and was eliminated in a single game at Red Bull Arena that season.
12,382 minutes of man – Cincinnati Football Club fourth-year goalkeeper Roman Celentano is 81 minutes away from a match with Luciano Acosta’s club record (12,381). Acosta and Celentano are two of the five players in Cincinnati Football Club history, playing for more than 10,000 minutes for the team in all games (Hagglund, Kubo, Nwobodo).
Celebrate 10 years, come on – Nearly 10 years after the day on August 12, 2015, FC Cincinnati played USL at the University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium. Success on and off the court, the FCC rose from a third-district club to a perennial Major League Soccer contender.
Sunday's game was a weekend full of 10 years of FCC celebrations. After the game, an alumni-friendly friendly contest will be held, with more than 25 early club legends. For more information on the weekend, visit page 4 or fccincinnati.com.
Scouting Charlotte Football Club (12-11-2, 38 points, seventh place in the Eastern Conference)
Charlotte FC has come to TQL Stadium with some real highs and lows over the past two months. The winner of Charlotte's last four matches was quickly eliminated and lost to Juarez and Chivas Guadalajara, who put them in a tough spot to end the game. Before winning four games in a row, Charlotte scored four games without any victory and lost three of them completely.
The team coached by Dean Smith has been of quality for the moment this season, but some radical twists and turns make them difficult to fix. So when they were ranked seventh in the conference, they were only 6 points above the top four in the East.
From a roster perspective, the North Carolina Club is also a bit constantly changing as the club will have some issues with the team coming to Cincinnati. While famous Ivory Coast and former Crystal Palace striker Wilfried Zaha still poses a threat to the team, Charlotte has transferred his clever young star at Partrick Agyemang to the EFL championship team, while the window and leading goal guru and assisting Giver Pep Pep Biel will not be able to get his injured game in the League Cup.
Kristijan Kahlina is also always a name worthy of attention in every Charlotte Football Club game, as the goalkeeper has defined himself as one of the best shooters in the MLS since arriving in 2022. The Guardians of Croatia joined the club before the inaugural season, having won 112 games in the 2024 goalkeeper game since 2024 and 3 contestants in the 2024 Kahlina and allowing goalkeepers for a year. Clean bed linens. This season, he started 23 times with 6 clean sheets and 83 saves.
Although the defensive core they bring is part of what makes Charlotte the core of the tough club. Captain Ashley Westwood started the defensive core in the midfield, but the tandem of USMNT regular Tim Ream and breakthrough star Adilson Malanda could be the group's door. Malanda and Westwood have played the entire 90s in all 25 games this season. In the last two seasons, Marlanda's game has put him in the scope of several European clubs in recent years. Similarly, with Biel's out, Charlotte finished the game with a 2-0 defeat to CF Monterrey's attacking midfielder, which could introduce questions about who is responsible for defensively.
Charlotte Football Club also recently announced the signing of Nottingham Forest defender Harry Toffolo in the Premier League. Leftback Toffolo joins the free transfer after three years of Premier League match with Forrest. It is unclear whether the 29-year-old can play on Sunday, but he is currently on loan to Charlotte on CF Montréal if he may take over as young Canadian defender Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty.
Dean Smith has taken over the club in 2023 for a decade in England, including time in the Premier League with Aston Villa. Prior to his arrival, he was also the manager of Leicester City, Norwich City, Walsall and Brentford. Smith usually deploys his team 4-3-3 this season, with one of the midfield balls slightly higher than the other two, but below the center trio and in front of both directions.