Austin FC Looks to Stay Unbeaten in Charlotte Clash

The MLS newcomers aim to make it 2 wins from 3 to start the season.

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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Austin FC will travel to Charlotte FC on Saturday for their first away match of the 2026 MLS season. Austin (1-0-1, 4 points) opened the campaign with a draw against Minnesota and a win over D.C. United, while Charlotte (0-1-1, 1 point) is still seeking its first victory after losing to the LA Galaxy and drawing with St. Louis.

Why it matters

This early-season matchup between the two MLS expansion teams provides an opportunity for Austin to build on its strong start and establish itself as an early contender, while Charlotte looks to bounce back at home and earn its first points of the year.

The details

Austin coach Nico Estevez emphasized the importance of mentality and attention to detail in the early going, noting that "the games are decided by little details." He expects a similar defensive setup from Charlotte as they faced against D.C. United, but believes Austin has the speed to threaten on the counterattack. Charlotte's coach Dean Smith acknowledged his team's struggles in defensive transition as an area needing improvement.

  • Austin FC and Charlotte FC last met in a 2-2 draw on July 20, 2024.

The players

Nico Estevez

The head coach of Austin FC.

Christian Ramirez

The forward who scored the lone goal in Austin's win over D.C. United.

Dean Smith

The head coach of Charlotte FC.

Pep Biel

The midfielder who scored Charlotte's lone goal so far this season.

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What they’re saying

“Right now, everyone is motivated, everyone is excited about the season, everyone is ready to go. We're seeing how difficult it is to get wins. Unless you don't come in with that mentality -- some teams didn't (start) with the right mentality, but the games are decided by little details.”

— Nico Estevez, Head Coach, Austin FC (austinnews.net)

“We've shown we've had problems in both games in transition. Defensive transition is something we need to get better at. I'll own that and keep getting better at that and look to improve.”

— Dean Smith, Head Coach, Charlotte FC (austinnews.net)

What’s next

The match between Austin FC and Charlotte FC is scheduled for Saturday, March 7, 2026.

The takeaway

This early-season clash between the two MLS expansion teams will provide valuable insight into their respective trajectories, with Austin looking to build on its strong start and Charlotte aiming to earn its first points of the campaign in front of its home fans.