MATCH PREVIEW: Earthquakes host Minnesota United as war for West heats up

The San Jose Earthquakes host another Western Conference rival on Saturday night when Minnesota United FC comes to PayPal Park. The Earthquakes will be celebrating Pride Night in their final home game before a three-game road trip.  

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. PT, with the match to air globally on Apple TV (English/Spanish), as well as via local radio on KSFO 810 AM (English) and La Kaliente 1370 AM (Spanish).  

San Jose is coming off just its third defeat on the road this season, a 1-0 loss to the archrival LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park on Wednesday. Despite this setback in the 106th California Clasico, the Earthquakes still sit in fourth place in the Western Conference and will look to redeem themselves on Saturday against an MNUFC side hungry for a victory to boost them back into playoff position. 

While the Quakes haven’t had too much success against the Loons in recent years, perhaps their last meeting at PayPal Park could be a sign of things to come. On April 28, the Earthquakes hosted them in a thrilling Round of 16 matchup in the Lamar U.S. Open Cup. After MNUFC pulled ahead 2-1 early in the second half, San Jose exploded for three goals in the last 17 minutes of the game to win it 4-2. Beau Leroux had a brace, while Jack Skahan and Niko Tsakiris also netted. 

Saturday's opponent arrives winless in their last nine league contests, but MNUFC brings a strong defense and some offensive weapons that must be respected, namely leading scorer Kelvin Yeboah, who has netted eight times this season and has been a natural danger man since joining the Loons midway through 2024.  

Additionally, MLS All-Star defender Anthony Markanich consistently gets forward to score goals on set pieces, sitting second among the team’s leading scorers in 2026 with five. Attacking midfielders Joaquín Pereyra and Tomás Chancalay—the latter of whom excelled under current Quakes Head Coach Bruce Arena when the pair were in New England— will provide additional firepower for Minnesota going forward.  

The lone connection that this Loons squad has to the Bay Area is goalkeeper Drake Callender, a Sacramento native who grew up playing in the Quakes Academy (2013-16) and played at the collegiate level for the University of California, Berkeley. 

As they return to their supportive home crowd at PayPal Park, the Quakes will look to get back in the win column. With another opportunity to return to form and a huge three points for the taking, the Black and Blue are primed to make the most of it Saturday night.