Columbus Crew vs CF Montreal preview: next match kick-off and predictions

The next Columbus Crew match sees them host CF Montreal in the Major League Soccer regular season. This Eastern Conference clash is scheduled for 19 August 2026 with kick-off at 23:30 UTC at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus. With both sides looking to climb the conference standings, this Columbus Crew vs CF Montreal preview focuses on form, head to head record, team news and the latest prediction data.

Columbus come into this home fixture 11th in the Eastern Conference, while Montreal sit 14th. With only three points separating the teams, this match could have a direct impact on their battle to move up the table as the 2026 MLS season progresses. Fans searching for when Columbus Crew play next and what to expect from Columbus Crew vs CF Montreal will see two inconsistent sides trying to turn their seasons around.

Match details: date, kick-off & venue

• Competition: Major League Soccer, Regular Season - 20
• Date / Kick-off: 2026-08-19 23:30 UTC
• Venue: ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, Columbus
• Status: Not Started (Fixture has not started yet)

Standings & form

Columbus Crew are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference with 20 points from 19 matches. Their overall record stands at 5 wins, 5 draws and 9 defeats, with a goal difference of -4 (27 scored, 31 conceded). At home, Columbus have been stronger, taking advantage of familiar surroundings with 4 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses from 9 home games, scoring 12 and conceding 9. Their recent form line of LDWLW underlines their inconsistency but also shows they are capable of bouncing back quickly.

CF Montreal sit just below them in the Eastern Conference in 14th place, on 17 points from 19 matches. Montreal’s record is 4 wins, 5 draws and 10 losses, with a goal difference of -11 (25 scored, 36 conceded). Away from home they have struggled, posting just 1 win, 1 draw and 7 defeats in 9 away fixtures, scoring 12 and conceding 25. Their recent form string of DDLLD reflects a side finding it difficult to turn tight games into victories.

From the season statistics, Columbus have recorded 3 clean sheets in 19 league games and have failed to score 3 times. They have also converted 3 of 4 penalties (75.00%). CF Montreal, meanwhile, have managed 4 clean sheets and have failed to score on 7 occasions, highlighting some attacking inconsistency. From the spot, Montreal have been perfect so far, scoring 6 out of 6 penalties (100.00%). Discipline-wise, both teams have picked up a notable number of yellow cards across the 90 minutes, with Montreal also seeing red cards in the 46-60 and 91-105 minute ranges this season.

Head-to-head

• 2025-05-14: CF Montreal 1–1 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
• 2025-04-05: Columbus Crew 2–1 CF Montreal (Major League Soccer)
• 2024-05-15: CF Montreal 1–3 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
• 2024-04-27: Columbus Crew 0–0 CF Montreal (Major League Soccer)
• 2023-10-22: Columbus Crew 2–1 CF Montreal (Major League Soccer)
• 2023-09-02: CF Montreal 2–4 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
• 2022-09-09: CF Montreal 2–2 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)
• 2022-08-03: Columbus Crew 1–2 CF Montreal (Major League Soccer)
• 2021-09-25: Columbus Crew 2–1 CF Montreal (Major League Soccer)
• 2021-05-01: CF Montreal 0–0 Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer)

The head-to-head record points towards a generally positive recent trend for Columbus Crew, especially at home, where they have recorded several 2–1 wins over CF Montreal. Montreal have shown they can take points, with draws such as 1–1 in May 2025 and 2–2 in September 2022, and a notable 2–1 away victory in August 2022. Overall, these fixtures are often competitive, with both sides capable of scoring.

Team news & absences

For Columbus Crew, several players are listed as missing for this fixture due to injury. W. Abou Ali is out with a Knee Injury, S. Bangoura is sidelined by an Ankle Injury, and J. Thiare is unavailable with a Leg Injury. These absences could impact Columbus’ attacking and squad depth options.

CF Montreal also have a lengthy absentee list ahead of this game. F. Amaya is ruled out with a Lower-Body Injury, while W. Carmona is missing due to a Knee Injury. In defence or wide areas, B. Hidalgo is out with a Groin Injury and E. Morales is sidelined by a Toe Injury. In addition, A. Sanchez is listed as Inactive for this fixture. These injuries and absences form a key part of the team news picture for this Columbus Crew vs CF Montreal match.

Key players to watch

• P. Owusu (CF Montreal) — 11 goals and 6 assists in the 2026 Major League Soccer season make him a standout attacking threat for Montreal. His output in front of goal and creativity will be crucial if the visitors are to improve their away record in Columbus.

Prediction

The prediction model leans towards the hosts in this Columbus Crew vs CF Montreal prediction. The data suggests a 45% chance of a Columbus Crew win, a 45% chance of a draw, and only a 10% chance of a CF Montreal victory. The recommended advice is a “Double chance: Columbus Crew or draw”, reflecting Columbus’ stronger home form and Montreal’s difficulties on the road. With both sides close in the standings, however, fine margins and key moments could still shape the outcome at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.