Copa Tejas Heats Up as Austin FC Host FC Dallas on Sunday Night Soccer
Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire highlights Copa Tejas this weekend as Austin FC host rivals FC Dallas. Scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 16, at 8:30 pm ET / 5:30 pm PT at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, this marquee in-state showdown arrives at a critical juncture for both clubs as they battle for Lone Star State bragging rights and vital league points.
Chasing the In-State Crown at Q2 Stadium
Created in 2021, Copa Tejas is a round-robin tournament pitting all three Texas Major League Soccer clubs—Austin FC, FC Dallas, and Houston Dynamo FC—against one another. Whichever team finishes with the highest point total claims the trophy. Both Austin and Dallas have secured the title twice in the tournament’s history, meaning Sunday’s clash carries massive implications for which franchise pulls ahead in the historic state rivalry.
According to Austin FC’s 2026 Copa Tejas preview, the path to the trophy requires navigating a challenging four-match series. Austin opened their tournament slate against the Houston Dynamo back in April, and now faces a pair of pivotal late-summer matches against Dallas to decide where the cup ultimately resides.
Recent Form and Roster Standouts
Both teams enter Sunday night carrying momentum from contrasting summer campaigns. Austin turned heads during Leagues Cup 2026, stringing together two wins and a draw. After cruising past Club Tijuana 2-0 and Club Puebla 3-0 in the opening rounds, the Verde & Black edged Club América 6-5 in penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw, courtesy of a clutch goal by Myrto Uzuni that sent Austin into the quarterfinals.
However, interim head coach Davy Arnaud’s squad needs to translate that cup form back into Major League Soccer play, where they have dropped five of their last six contests. Austin currently sits 14th in the Western Conference—second-to-last—though they remain just seven points outside the Wild Card places. Looking toward the future, the club announced that former Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin will take over at the helm following the conclusion of the 2026 MLS campaign.
On the opposing side, FC Dallas also enjoyed a strong Leagues Cup run with two victories before bowing out in a 3-1 road loss to LIGA MX powerhouse Toluca, where Petar Musa scored the lone goal for Dallas. In league play, Dallas battled the LA Galaxy to a scoreless 0-0 draw in their most recent outing.
Players to Watch on Sunday Night
Sunday’s pitch features some of the most dynamic attacking talent in the league. For Austin FC, Albanian Designated Player Myrto Uzuni leads the squad with six goals and five assists in MLS play, alongside four goals netted during Leagues Cup. Veteran forward Christian Ramírez has maintained an efficient scoring touch with five tallies despite starting just eight matches this year, while goalkeeper Brad Stuver—an MLS All-Star in 2025—continues to anchor the backline, leading the league this season with 89 saves.
To match, FC Dallas relies on Croatian international Petar Musa, a participant for his country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup who shares the current lead for the MLS Golden Boot with 13 goals. Partnering Musa up top is 24-year-old Logan Farrington, who sits second on the team with 10 goal contributions, consisting of six goals and four assists. In the center of the pitch, 20-year-old Brazilian midfielder Kaick patrols the turf, while defender Osaze Urhoghide has been a model of consistency, starting all 15 matches he has been available for and contributing one goal and two assists.
Betting Markets and Match Outlook
Despite playing away from home, FC Dallas enters Sunday Night Soccer as the slight favorite, commanding 41% of the backing in early markets. Austin FC sits close behind at 34%, reflecting how tightly contested this regional rivalry remains. As the whistle blows at Q2 Stadium, both squads know that a victory here does more than secure a piece of regional hardware—it could very well ignite a late-season charge toward the postseason.
