Columbus Crew arrive for their cross-conference matchup with Minnesota United FC carrying the weight of a club that has never missed a Major League Soccer season and has spent much of that time collecting trophies. The Crew have won three MLS Cups, three Supporters’ Shields, one U.S. Open Cup, one Campeones Cup and one Leagues Cup, a record that frames this minnesota vs columbus meeting as more than an early-season fixture.
That history runs through a long list of turning points: the U.S. Open Cup in 2002, a Supporters’ Shield in 2004, the shield-and-Cup double in 2008, a run to the U.S. Open Cup final in 2010, the MLS Cup final in 2015, and the 2020 title under Caleb Porter. Wilfried Nancy took over in 2022 and delivered the club’s third MLS Cup in 2023, then led Columbus to the second-ever Leagues Cup trophy and a Concacaf Champions Cup final appearance in 2024.
The latest shift came in 2025, when Nancy moved to Celtic FC in Scotland and Henrik Rydström arrived from Malmö FF to become the ninth head coach in club history. Columbus have not opened the new era cleanly. Through Rydström’s first five games in charge, the Crew have three losses, two draws and two total points, a start that sharpens the importance of a club built on standards rather than slogans.
That is the tension behind this matchup. Minnesota United are meeting an opponent whose reputation rests on sustained success, but Columbus are entering 2026 with a new manager, a new voice and a record that does not match the badge. The Crew’s past offers little comfort if the results do not follow, and this game is another chance to see whether the club can turn its history into current form.
