ST. PAUL, Minn. — The San Jose Earthquakes fell to Minnesota United FC 3-1 on Saturday night at Allianz Field in their Major League Soccer regular-season finale but still secured home-field advantage in Round One of the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs by virtue of finishing fourth in the Western Conference.
The Quakes struck first in the 45th minute when Niko Tsakiris took the ball from his own end, beat one defender, dragged the same one forward a few more yards, and when three more Loons surrounded him, split the remaining two men on the backline with a pinpoint through ball for Preston Judd. The Quakes striker subsequently and calmly buried the ball in the back of the net past MNUFC goalkeeper Drake Callender for his career-high 17th goal to tie Jeremy Ebobisse for the third-highest single-season total in club history to make it 1-0.
After intermission, the hosts equalized in minute 57 when Tomás Chancalay split the San Jose center backs in transition, dribbled powerfully into the box, and slotted a low shot past goalkeeper Angus Gunn to make it 1-1. In minute 82, MNUFC pulled ahead off a corner kick when the ball was cleared to the top of the 18-yard box. It fell right to Nectarios Triantis, whose left-footed low attempt for the far post bounced off the post and off Gunn into the back of the net for an own goal. The Loons added a third goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Triantis again got the ball in space, charged forward and fired a shot that found the twine for the final 3-1 margin.
The Earthquakes ended the regular season fourth in the West with 52 points—their highest total since 2012 and third-best finish in club history. Led by five-time Audi MLS Cup champion and current Coach of the Year candidate Bruce Arena in only his second season in charge, San Jose has not only clinched its first berth in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs since 2023, but also home-field advantage in Round One and its first-ever postseason home game at PayPal Park since the stadium opened in 2015.
As the fourth seed in the West, the Earthquakes will face fifth-seeded Houston Dynamo FC in Round One of the 2026 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, with the Quakes hosting Game One (and Game Three if necessary) of the Best-of-3 Series at PayPal Park. All Round One dates and times will be announced Sunday.
As part of their postseason campaign—titled “Brace for Impact” presented by Apollo—the Earthquakes will hold a Playoff Rally at San Pedro Square Market in Downtown San Jose on Friday, Nov. 13, from 6-9 p.m., hosted by the club’s radio play-by-play announcer, Ted Ramey. There will be a DJ, player meet-and-greets and special access for Season Ticket Holders. More details will be announced shortly.
Tickets for all possible Earthquakes Round One home games are on sale now HERE. The best way to guarantee access and preferred pricing for the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs is by purchasing 2027-28 Season Tickets.
The full “Quakes Replay” of tonight’s match is scheduled to air this weekend on KTVU Plus on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 8 p.m. PT. For highlights, analysis and features, fans can also watch a special playoff edition of the new half-hour magazine show “Quakes Exclusive,” which will next air on Friday, Nov. 13, on KTVU Plus at 8 p.m. PT and on KTVU FOX 2 on 8:30 p.m. PT.
GAME NOTES
Regular Season vs. MIN: 5-10-4 (24 GF, 39 GA, -15 GD)
Away vs. MIN: 2-5-2 (10 GF, 17 GA, -7 GD)
ON THE TABLE: The Quakes finished fourth in the Western Conference (14-10-10, 52 points; 57 GF, 51 GA, +6 GD), while Minnesota ended in 10th (11-12-11, 44 points; 56 GF, 58 GA, -2 GD).
BUY DOMESTIC: The Quakes started six American players tonight. No team in MLS has averaged more of them in the starting 11 more across all competitions in 2026 than Bruce Arena’s Earthquakes (7.3/game). Arena also started six former college players tonight; no team in MLS has more of them on the roster (19).
ON THE LINE: San Jose clinched a top-four spot with the result. Meanwhile, Minnesota won the match but fell just one spot short of the ninth and the final Wild Card spot—a fate that last season befell the Quakes, who won their finale but fell just one outside result shy of completing an improbable comeback and qualifying for the Wild Card Round.
THE BRUCE BUMP: Head Coach Bruce Arena has now guided an astounding fifth MLS club to the playoffs in his second season (D.C. United, Red Bull NY, LA Galaxy, New England Revolution) after clinching a postseason berth with San Jose on Oct. 17. He inherited a 21-point team after the 2024 season and steered them to 52 points this season—San Jose’s most since 2012 when they won the Supporters’ Shield and third-best total in the MLS era. This campaign also marked the club’s highest finish in the Western Conference (fourth) and overall Supporters’ Shield standings (ninth) since 2012 (first in both tables).
SO INTERNATIONAL: The Quakes will send four players on international duty following Saturday’s match: Ousseni Bouda (Burkina Faso) and and Ronaldo Vieira (Guinea-Bissau) for African Cup of Nations Qualifiers, Angus Gunn (Scotland) for UEFA Nations League Qualifiers, and Niko Tsakiris (USA U-23) for the team’s first camp ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
JUDDGE RULES: Preston Judd’s 45th-minute goal was his team-leading 17th of the league season (17g/4a) and 28th of his career. The 17 goals tied Jeremy Ebobisse for the third-highest Quakes single-season mark. Only three Quakes have scored that many in one campaign: Judd, Ebobisse and MLS all-time leading scorer Chris Wondolowski (twice including the single-season record of 27 in 2012, his Landon Donovan MVP season).
NIKO IS NOW: Niko Tsakiris’ 45th-minute primary assist was his team-leading 13th of the league season (3g/13a) and 16th of his career. The 21-year-old Tsakiris, who was named to the USA U-23 team yesterday for their upcoming camp, becomes the youngest player in club history to lead the team in assists.
THE KIDS SHALL LEAD THEM: At 21 years and 141 days, Niko Tsakiris is the second-youngest player in MLS history to record 13 assists in a season behind only Philadelphia’s Cavan Sullivan, who did it a month ago at age 17.
TIMO TIME: Timo Werner’s 45th-minute secondary assist was his 11th of the league season (6g/11a) and 12th in all competitions since joining San Jose this season.
CENTER STAGE: 2026 MLS All-Star Daniel Munie (five goals) and University of San Francisco alum Reid Roberts (four goals) have the highest total (9) among a center-back combo in league play. Munie has already broken John Doyle’s single-season club record of most goals by a defender (four in 2000).
PICK YOUR POISON: Eleven different Quakes have scored two or more goals in MLS play (Jack Jasinski, Preston Judd, Beau Leroux, Eduard Löwen (three for St. Louis, one for San Jose), Niko Tsakiris, Ousseni Bouda, Daniel Munie, Reid Roberts, Dave Romney, Jack Skahan and Timo Werner) while 12 different Quakes have two or more assists (Bouda, Leroux, Nick Fernandez, Judd, Löwen, Paul Marie, Munie, Jamar Ricketts, Skahan, Tsakiris, Ronaldo Vieira and Werner).
IN GOOD HANDS (NORMALLY): San Jose lost for the first time in 13 games this season when taking a lead into halftime (10-1-2).
BAY AREA TIE: MNUFC goalkeeper Drake Callender is from Sacramento and grew up playing in the Quakes Academy before attending Cal collegiately.
REUNITED: MNUFC forward Tomás Chancalay played for Bruce Arena in New England in 2023 and had immediate success, scoring six goals in 11 matches and earning an eventual Designated Player contract with the Revolution. He scored the equalizer in minute 57.
Minnesota United FC 3 – 1 San Jose Earthquakes
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026 — Allianz Field; St. Paul, Minn.
Weather: 50°F
Attendance: 19,714
*all stats unofficial
Match Officials:
Referee: Alexis Da Silva
AR1: Jeremy Kieso
AR2: Felisha Mariscal
4th Official: Fotis Bazakos
VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero
AVAR: TJ Zablocki
Scoring Summary:
SJ (0-1) – Preston Judd (Niko Tsakiris, Timo Werner) 45’
MIN (1-1) – Tomás Chancalay (Joaquin Pereyra) 57’
MIN (2-1) – Angus Gunn (own goal) 82’
MIN (3-1) – Nectarios Triantis (Morris Duggan) 90+4’
Misconduct Summary:
SJ – Ronaldo Vieira (caution) 45+1’
MIN – Owen Gene (caution) 53’
MIN – Morris Duggan (caution) 59’
SJ – Jamar Ricketts (caution) 67’
SJ – Preston Judd (caution) 70’
MIN – Tomas Chancalay (caution) 86’
MINNESOTA UNITED FC: Drake Callender (GK); Cherrion Valerius, Morris Duggan (C), Jefferson Diaz, Anthony Markanich; Mauricio Gonzalez (Aziel Jackson 63’), Nectarios Triantis, Owen Gene (Carlos Harvey 79’), Tomás Chancalay; Kelvin Yeboah (Marcus Caldeira 79’), Joaquin Pereyra.
Substitutes not used: Alec Smir (GK), Michael Boxall, Kyle Duncan, Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Maurie Malone, Peter Stroud.
POSS.: 52.5%; SHOTS: 13; SOG: 7; CORNERS: 8; OFFSIDES: 2; SAVES: 2; FOULS: 17; xG: 0.9
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: Angus Gunn (GK); Jamar Ricketts (Vitor Costa 84’), Reid Roberts, Daniel Munie, Benji Kikanović (Jack Jasinski 71’); Eduard Löwen (Beau Leroux 71’), Ronaldo Vieira (C) (Ian Harkes 70’), Niko Tsakiris; Timo Werner, Ousseni Bouda (Luka Jovanović, 90+1’, Preston Judd.
Substitutes not used: Earl Edwards Jr. (GK), Nick Fernandez, Paul Marie, Jack Skahan.
POSS.: 47.5%; SHOTS: 8; SOG: 3; CORNERS: 2; OFFSIDES: 0; SAVES: 5; FOULS: 14; xG: 1.4
EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH BRUCE ARENA
On achieving the team's playoff goal and the progress made throughout the season:
“Making the playoffs was a goal, and we achieved that, so that's a positive. We feel good about the progress we've made. We've been working on developing some of our domestic players who don't have a lot of professional experience, and they're continuing to grow. It's been challenging, but it's been good to see the progress they've made throughout the season. That's another positive. The playoffs are a bonus, and if we can win the first round, it would be tremendous. We're making progress, but we still have a long way to go.”
On the team's mindset and preparation heading into the first round of the playoffs:
“I guess the mindset shifts to winning that first-round matchup. We have two weeks to prepare and get focused. I don't know if your mindset necessarily changes, because every team entering the playoffs is playing to win.”
On key players returning to full fitness ahead of the playoffs:
“Niko [Tsakiris] is still Niko, and Timo [Werner] is still working his way back to full fitness. Both played 90 minutes tonight, which is good, but it was certainly challenging. Edu [Löwen] has been playing all along, so it was good to see him out there as well. We had a decent first half, but the second half was poor. I thought they dominated the midfield, and we were sloppy, particularly in conceding the goals we gave up. But give Minnesota credit, they played a very good game.”
EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER NIKO TSAKIRIS
On his growth and increased role this season:
“First and foremost, it's been a great year from the guys. Obviously, it's not how I wanted to end the season, but I'm happy with the position we're in. For me, it was definitely a year of growth. It was probably the biggest year in terms of opportunities and consistent minutes. Obviously, there were some injuries here and there, but getting consistent minutes was big for me. I think I made the most of those opportunities by contributing assists and helping the team create goals. That's something I want to continue building on and improving in the playoffs. I want to keep doing what I've been doing on the field and on the ball, helping the team create moments while continuing to grow individually as well.”
On setting up Preston Judd's goal against Minnesota:
“It happened pretty quickly. The first defender who stepped out cut off the pass to Timo [Werner], so I decided to take it inside. Once I beat him, there was a lot of space to attack. After beating the second defender, it was pretty clear that Preston was the best option. He made a great run, and Timo had a good run from the start of the play that helped open things up for me. Preston's movement was great, and I'm glad he was able to get his goal.”
On the team's confidence heading into the playoffs:
“I'd say we're confident. We're always confident. Even though tonight didn't go the way we wanted, after starting with the lead and ultimately finishing with a 3-1 result, there are still moments we can build on. We've had results like this before, and we know it can't affect the group. Credit to Minnesota; they had an unbelievable second half.”
On making history in the first-ever home playoff game at PayPal Park:
“It's a big moment for myself and the team. We've worked really hard to put ourselves in this position, and we know it's a different part of the season now. It's a whole new season, you could say. The work we've put in has gotten us here, and now we have a job to do in the playoffs. It's an honor to be the first group to play a home playoff match at PayPal Park, and we're excited for it.”