Honestly, if you missed the first time these two met, you missed one of the weirdest scripts in recent MLS history. People keep talking about expansion teams like they’re supposed to roll over and play dead for the first six months. San Diego FC didn't get that memo.
March 8, 2025. Sandy, Utah. The air was crisp, the mountains were glowing, and Real Salt Lake was supposed to give the newcomers a "welcome to the league" beating at America First Field. It started exactly that way, too. Ariath Piol tapped one in at the 17-minute mark after some beautiful service from Dominik Marczuk and a long ball from the kid everyone is watching, Diego Luna.
RSL looked comfortable. Maybe too comfortable.
By the time the final whistle blew, the scoreboard read 3-1. For the visitors. Two goals in second-half stoppage time—one from Anders Dreyer and a dagger from Marcus Ingvartsen—turned a tight contest into a statement. Since then, the Real Salt Lake vs San Diego FC matchup has become a sneaky-good fixture that fans are circling on their calendars for 2026.
Why the 2025 Inaugural Season Flipped the Script
Expansion years are usually about survival. For San Diego, it was about proving that the $500 million entry fee wasn't just for the nice weather and the Snapdragon Stadium views.
Mikey Varas had this group playing a brand of soccer that felt way more cohesive than a team that had only known each other for a few months. When they faced RSL again on April 26, 2025, the dynamic had shifted. RSL was the one looking for a "bounce-back" result.
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Diego Luna, who’s basically the heartbeat of that Utah squad, had been dealing with a red card drama the week before against Toronto but got reinstated just in time for the trip to San Diego. It didn't matter. San Diego took that game too.
The most surprising part? Anders Dreyer. He became the first player in MLS history to score two game-winning goals within the first three matches of an expansion club’s debut. He’s been a nightmare for RSL’s backline, which, let's be real, has struggled with consistency despite having veterans like Justen Glad and the "Iron Man" Rafael Cabral in goal.
The 2026 Outlook: Can RSL Finally Get Revenge?
We are looking at a very different landscape as we head into the 2026 season.
RSL is doubling down on their youth. They just loaded up in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft, grabbing Lukas Magnason from Clemson and Dylan Kropp from UNC. They’re clearly trying to fix that leaky defense that San Diego exploited so ruthlessly last year.
Here is the 2026 schedule for the Real Salt Lake vs San Diego FC regular-season clashes:
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- March 22, 2026: San Diego FC vs Real Salt Lake at Snapdragon Stadium (4:00 PM ET)
- April 18, 2026: Real Salt Lake vs San Diego FC at America First Field (6:30 PM MT)
It’s a quick turnaround. Two games in less than a month.
RSL returns nearly 90% of the minutes played from their 2025 playoff roster. They’ve got continuity, but do they have the speed to catch SDFC on the counter? San Diego is bringing Chucky Lozano back into the fold fully healthy, and if you've ever seen him in a transition moment, you know why RSL fans are nervous.
Key Players to Watch
- Diego Luna (RSL): The 2024 Young Player of the Year. He’s the guy who dictates everything. If Luna is "on," RSL wins. If he’s crowded out by San Diego’s midfield—specifically guys like Jeppe Tverskov—RSL tends to go sideways.
- Chucky Lozano (SDFC): The face of the franchise. His arrival in San Diego changed the gravity of the Western Conference. He’s scheduled to make his first 2026 trip to Utah on April 18. Expect a sell-out crowd for that one.
- Rafael Cabral (RSL): He played every single minute last year. That’s insane. But at his age, can he keep up with the high-pressing attack SDFC likes to run?
- Anders Dreyer (SDFC): He finished 2025 with 23 goals across all competitions. He’s RSL’s certified "Boogeyman."
The Tactical Chess Match
Pablo Mastroeni is a "vibes and grit" kind of coach, but he’s going to need more than just heart to beat San Diego. Last year, SDFC’s width killed RSL.
Franco Negri and Willy Kumado were constantly overlapping, forcing RSL’s wingers to track back way deeper than they wanted to. This pulled Diego Luna out of the attacking third and forced him to defend. That’s a win for San Diego every time.
RSL’s newest addition, Zach Booth (on loan), might be the piece that helps balance that. He’s a Utah native with European experience, and his ability to hold the ball under pressure could be the "pressure valve" RSL lacked during those collapses in 2025.
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What Most People Get Wrong About This Matchup
You’ll hear people say this isn't a "real" rivalry yet.
Kinda disagree.
While it’s not the Rocky Mountain Cup (RSL vs Colorado) or the California Clasico, there is a genuine geographical friction here. San Diego is the new big spender in the West. RSL is the established, blue-collar club that prides itself on its academy.
When SDFC poached Jasper Löffelsend in the expansion draft, it rubbed some people in Salt Lake the wrong way. There's a "little brother, big budget" dynamic happening that makes these games feel much more intense than a standard cross-state fixture.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you're looking to follow this matchup or even put a little action on it, here’s what the data from 2025 tells us:
- Watch the Stoppage Time: In their three meetings last year, 40% of the goals were scored after the 80th minute. These teams do not stop.
- Home Field (Doesn't) Matter: Interestingly, the away team won or drew in every meeting between these two in 2025. Don't automatically bet the home favorite.
- The "Luna" Factor: Track Diego Luna’s availability. RSL’s win percentage drops significantly when he’s either subbed off early or missing from the starting XI.
- Travel Logistics: RSL has a brutal road stretch in March 2026. Their trip to San Diego on March 22 comes right after a mid-week flight. Fatigue will be a massive factor.
Keep an eye on the primary transfer window, which stays open through mid-April 2026. RSL is rumored to be looking for one more veteran striker to pair with Rwan Cruz, which could change the math for the April 18 rematch.
For now, mark those dates. The Real Salt Lake vs San Diego FC series is officially the new "must-watch" TV in the Western Conference.