Minnesota United vs. San Jose: Kickoff, Player Status and Fan Appreciation Night — Nov. 7, 2026

Last verified: November 7, 2026, at 01:46 UTC (November 6 at 7:46 p.m. in Saint Paul, CST, UTC−06:00). Minnesota United FC is scheduled to host the San Jose Earthquakes at Allianz Field in Saint Paul on Saturday, November 7, 2026, with the Loons fighting to keep their MLS Cup Playoffs hopes alive. Minnesota must win and get favorable results elsewhere; San Jose has already qualified but can secure Round One home-field advantage with a win or draw. The announced kickoff remains 6:00 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST, UTC−06:00), or 00:00 UTC on Sunday, November 8. The match has not kicked off at the stated verification time.

Destaques

• Kickoff and venue: November 7 at 6:00 p.m. CST (UTC−06:00) at Allianz Field, Saint Paul; November 8 at 00:00 UTC.
• Playoff stakes: Minnesota needs a victory plus at least two specified outcomes involving Portland, Colorado and Seattle; San Jose is playing for seeding and home-field advantage.
• Verified player status: Minnesota’s Wil Trapp is out under concussion protocol; San Jose’s DeJuan Jones and Nonso Adimabua are out with lower-body injuries. The league’s November 4 disciplinary summary lists no active suspension notice for either team.
• Fan Appreciation Night: Great Lawn activities begin at 3:30 p.m. CST, gates open at 4:30 p.m. CST, and the first 8,000 entrants are slated to receive a Target crossbody bag and coupon while supplies last.

When is Minnesota United vs. San Jose on Decision Day 2026?

The match is the final regular-season fixture for both clubs. Minnesota United’s official Know Before You Go guide confirms Allianz Field in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and a 6:00 p.m. Central kickoff on November 7. MLS’s Decision Day announcement independently places all Western Conference kickoffs at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. Those listings refer to the same instant.

U.S. daylight saving time ended November 1, 2026. That is why the game is listed in CST, PST and EST, rather than the corresponding daylight time zones. The date becomes November 8 only in UTC and in time zones farther east; supporters attending the match in Minnesota should use the November 7 local date.

What must Minnesota United do to qualify for the playoffs?

Minnesota enters Decision Day on 41 points after 33 matches. A draw against San Jose cannot get the Loons into the playoffs; a victory would lift them to 44 points, but qualification also depends on other teams dropping points. MLS’s published Decision Day playoff scenarios sets out the exact combinations.

The three straightforward paths all begin with Minnesota beating San Jose. Minnesota then needs two of the following three results: Portland loses at Austin, Colorado loses at FC Dallas, or Seattle loses against LAFC. Two additional scenarios can work if Seattle draws, provided either Portland or Colorado loses and Minnesota wins the relevant tiebreaker over Seattle.

Minnesota United’s own playoff breakdown highlights Austin–Portland, Dallas–Colorado and Seattle–LAFC as essential games to monitor simultaneously. Those are conditional pathways rather than predictions. Even if Minnesota takes all three points at Allianz Field, no playoff berth is secured without the required outside results.

What does San Jose need from Decision Day?

San Jose has already clinched a postseason place. Entering the final round, the Earthquakes are third in the Western Conference with 52 points, while second-place FC Dallas has 55. MLS confirms that a San Jose win or draw at Minnesota guarantees Round One home-field advantage. There are alternative ways for San Jose to gain that advantage even if it loses, depending on Houston’s result and the applicable tiebreaker.

The Earthquakes could move ahead of Dallas if San Jose wins and Dallas loses to Colorado, with the tiebreaker then determining the order. The exact matchup and hosting arrangement cannot be treated as final before the conference results are complete. Under the MLS best-of-three format, the higher seed hosts Game 1 and a potential Game 3.

What is the latest injury and suspension news for Minnesota vs. San Jose?

The official MLS Matchday 35 player status report identifies three players as out for the November 7 slate:

• Minnesota United: Wil Trapp — concussion protocol (out).
• San Jose Earthquakes: DeJuan Jones — lower-body injury (out); Nonso Adimabua — lower-body injury (out).

On suspensions, the MLS disciplinary summary, dated November 4 does not list an active November 7 suspension notice for either Minnesota or San Jose. It does list Minnesota’s Jefferson Díaz, Morris Duggan and Owen Gene, and San Jose’s Beau Leroux and Reid Roberts, as one caution away from a suspension or fine. A caution warning is not the same thing as an existing suspension, and no additional suspension should be inferred from it.

These published reports are not confirmed starting XIs. The official Minnesota United lineup page did not display a verifiable team sheet during this check. Any changes to player availability, formation or substitutes should be taken from the match center once officially released, not from predicted lineups.

Why is this match important for Minnesota United?

Minnesota brings momentum into its last scheduled regular-season game, having stretched its unbeaten run to six matches with a 3–1 victory away at LAFC. The club’s pre-match preview points to Cameron Knowles’s recent 4-4-2 setup and the roles of Kelvin Yeboah and Joaquín Pereyra in the team’s late-season push. Momentum offers context, but it does not eliminate Minnesota’s dependence on other Decision Day scores.

For San Jose, the immediate stakes are different. The visitors are focused on playoff seeding rather than qualification, so a draw might help their stated objective even though Minnesota has to chase a victory. That contrast could affect game management, but no tactical outcome is guaranteed before the match.

What is planned for Fan Appreciation Night at Allianz Field?

Minnesota United’s Fan Appreciation Night announcement and the November 7 matchday guide confirm an evening of supporter activities presented by Target. The club is encouraging attendees to wear black for a stadium blackout. Giveaways are limited, and the announced quantities do not guarantee that items will be available to every ticket holder.

What time do the Great Lawn pre-party and Allianz Field gates open?

• 3:30 p.m. CST (UTC−06:00), November 7: Sun Country Pre-Party begins on the Great Lawn, with food, partner activations and live music from Viva Knievel.
• 4:30 p.m. CST (UTC−06:00): Allianz Field gates are scheduled to open.
• 5:00 p.m. CST (UTC−06:00): Supporters are invited to gather at The Calling loon sculpture for the Wonderwall March to the Match.
• 6:00 p.m. CST (UTC−06:00): Scheduled Minnesota United–San Jose kickoff.

What giveaways are confirmed for fans?

The club says the first 8,000 fans through the stadium gates will receive a clear Target crossbody bag and a $5 Target coupon. On the Great Lawn, the first 1,000 visitors to Target’s player-card studio can receive a Year 10 scarf, while supplies last. Target’s Bullseye Prize Machine on the concourse offers additional chances to win prizes, but prizes are not guaranteed.

Additional plans include selected merchandise discounts, in-game supporter recognition, pyrotechnic presentations and a special thank-you message. The postgame Jerseys Off Our Backs experience is limited to preselected fans and additional eligible winners; it is not a general-access giveaway for every attendee.

What should fans know before going to Allianz Field?

Allianz Field is a cashless venue. Attendees should use digital tickets through the MNUFC app, check the current clear-bag policy and plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before kickoff. The club recommends advance parking purchases where available. Empty, clear plastic water bottles may be brought inside and refilled at designated stations; fans should not assume filled bottles or other containers will be accepted. See the official matchday guide for entry restrictions and any late operational notices.

For supporters hoping to collect an arrival giveaway or join the Wonderwall March, arriving earlier than the 6:00 p.m. CST kickoff is especially important. The matchday schedule and promotional inventory remain subject to the club’s on-site operations.

Where can fans watch the game, and what happens next?

MLS’s official Decision Day release lists Western Conference matches live on Apple TV, with MLS 360 following simultaneous results and key moments. Viewers should confirm access and applicable viewing terms for their region. Western Conference kickoff is 7:00 p.m. EST (UTC−05:00), which is 6:00 p.m. CST in Saint Paul.

Under the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs format, the top seven teams in each conference enter the best-of-three Round One directly; eighth and ninth compete in a single-game Wild Card on November 19. Round One runs from November 20 through December 2, and MLS Cup is scheduled for December 18. Minnesota’s participation and San Jose’s final opponent will be determined by the completed Decision Day standings and tiebreakers.

FAQ: Minnesota United vs. San Jose Earthquakes

What time is Minnesota United vs. San Jose on November 7?

Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CST (UTC−06:00) on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Allianz Field in Saint Paul. That is 00:00 UTC on Sunday, November 8.

When do gates open for Fan Appreciation Night?

Allianz Field gates are scheduled to open at 4:30 p.m. CST (UTC−06:00); the Great Lawn pre-party starts at 3:30 p.m. CST on November 7.

Can Minnesota reach the playoffs with a draw?

No. Minnesota must beat San Jose and receive the required combination of results from other Western Conference matches. San Jose has already qualified for the postseason.