San Diego FC head coach Mikey Varas believes his team are well-placed to take a step forward against FC Dallas, despite having made a losing return to MLS action.

San Diego’s first game after the World Cup break ended in a 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids, with Loic Williams scoring a 96th-minute penalty to condemn them to defeat.

Varas described the decision to award that spot-kick as “unacceptable” following a loss that continued San Diego’s slide down the Western Conference standings.

They now sit 13th in the 15-team standings, only three points clear of bottom side Sporting Kansas City and five adrift of the playoff picture.

Varas, however, chose to remain upbeat ahead of Saturday’s return to Snapdragon Stadium. 

“I think we played a really structured game and we didn’t appear to be very open, against a very dynamic Colorado squad who are good on the ball,” Varas said after the Rapids game.

“We were able to play within our structure, play within our profiles, and I thought that was really good.

“Ultimately, I think we’re in a good place to now take the next steps. We’ve got a game in three days, so we’ve got to get our legs and our minds and bodies right, and then turn this around really quickly.” 

This Saturday at Snapdragon  pic.twitter.com/s2ek6XD5xQ

— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) July 23, 2026

Dallas, meanwhile, are flying high in fifth spot in the West, despite twice letting a lead slip in a 2-2 draw with the Portland Timbers on Wednesday.

They conceded a stoppage-time equaliser to Felipe Mora, after Petar Musa had put them 2-1 up in the 88th minute in Oregon. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

San Diego – Marcus Ingvartsen

San Diego’s 1–0 loss at Colorado on Wednesday marked just the 12th time in 62 all-time matches that they failed to score in a match. 

They have never been shut out in two straight matches across all competitions, and if they are to avoid that fate here, 11-goal striker Ingvartsen could have a key role to play.

FC Dallas – Petar Musa

Musa scored his 13th goal of the season versus Portland on Wednesday. 

This is Musa’s third consecutive MLS campaign with 13 or more regular-season goals, as he joins Jason Kreis (1996, 1999 and 2002) as the only two players in Dallas history with three such seasons.

MATCH PREDICTION – SAN DIEGO FC WIN

San Diego have only managed one win in their last 14 matches across all competitions, a run that dates back to mid-March (D5 L8). 

They had opened the season with five wins in six games in all competitions, a run that included three straight victories to begin the regular season.

But might they be able to get back to winning ways on home soil, against opponents they have enjoyed facing in the past?

San Diego have scored at least three goals in each of their first three meetings with Dallas (W2 D1), including a 3–3 away draw on March 14. 

San Diego are only the third team to score three or more goals in three straight matches against Dallas, after the Seattle Sounders in 2012–13 and San Jose Earthquakes in 2003.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

San Diego FC – 46.4%

FC Dallas – 30.6%

Draw – 23%