Pre-match Preview: CITY SC to face San Diego in first road match of 2026

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Matrix Midwest) - St. Louis CITY SC will head west this week to face San Diego FC for its first road match of the 2026 MLS season.

Last week, CITY SC opened up the season with a 1-1 draw against Charlotte FC at home.

It was the first match for new St. Louis head coach Yoann Damet, as well as newcomers Daniel Edelman, Rafael Santos, Lukas MacNaughton and Dante Polvara.

The first goal and assist of the 2026 campaign came when Marcel Hartel scored off a pass by Simon Becher in the 60th minute. Hartel now has 16 total goals in a St. Louis kit, which is third in CITY SC history.

This week, St. Louis will face San Diego FC on the road at Snapdragon Stadium.

Last year, CITY played the role of guinea pig against the former MLS newcomers in a match that ended 0-0.

Later in the season, San Diego defeated St. Louis 2-1 at Energizer Park, leaving the series at a 1-0-1 lead entering this Sunday’s bout.

San Diego is led by forward Anders Dreyer, whose 19 goals and 18 assists in 2025 helped his club reach the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference with 63 total points.

Dreyer was involved in at least one goal in 22 matches last season, tied with Lionel Messi for the most of any player.

This past week, however, San Diego defeated CF Montreal 5-0 and became the first club in MLS history to have five different players score a goal in the team’s first match of a season.

CITY SC capped off its 2025 campaign with three straight road victories and will be looking to add to that streak in its second visit to Snapdragon Stadium.

The match kicks off on Sunday, March 1, at 8:15 p.m.

For more on St. Louis CITY SC, click here.

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