The Colorado Rapids (12-13-6, 42 pts., 8th West) continue to fight for playoff positioning in their upcoming road matchup with the San Jose Earthquakes (13-9-9, 48 pts., 4th West) on Wednesday, October 28. Kickoff at PayPal Park is set for 8:30 p.m. MT with coverage available on Apple TV, Altitude Sports Radio, the Colorado Rapids app, and ColoradoRapids.com. Â
As the regular season continues to wind down, the Rapids have their first path to clinching a playoff berth this Wednesday in San Jose. Colorado will officially secure their spot in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs with a win against the Earthquakes and losses or draws by both Real Salt Lake and the Portland Timbers. While their specific spot would yet to be determined, the Rapids would officially be back in the playoffs for the first time since 2024. Â
Within the current standings, Colorado’s win over the West-leading Whitecaps this past weekend moved the club up to eighth place in the first of two Wild Card spots. The Rapids are now only one point away from slotting into a Round One Best-of-Three spot with three matches remaining in the 2026 MLS regular season.Â
Colorado’s most recent matchup against Vancouver was an extension of what the club has done all season, which is asserting their dominance at home. The Rapids earned a gritty 1-0 clean sheet victory, bringing the club’s active unbeaten streak at home to 10 matches with a 7-0-3 record in that span. The win also brough the club’s season total at home to 10, which marks the most of any team in the Western Conference and the second most in all of MLS this season. Â
In the win against Vancouver, Colorado posted yet another clean sheet this season. The Rapids earned their 11th clean sheet of the year, which ranks as the fifth most in MLS and the third most in the Western Conference. A key contributor is goalkeeper Nico Hansen, who recorded his eighth shutout of the season, which is tied for the fourth most of any goalkeeper in MLS. Hansen has achieved that mark in just 20 matches, marking one of the highest clean sheet per game ratios in the entire league.Â
On the other end of Wednesday’s matchup is a San Jose side looking to maintain their spot in the top four of the West ahead of the playoffs. The club will attempt to bounce back from their most recent result, a 3-0 loss on the road to FC Dallas last weekend. Â
These two sides will be familiar with each other, having just faced off earlier this month on October 10 at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park. The two Western Conference foes each took home a point following a 1-1 tie, with forward Donavan Phillip logging the goal for Colorado and Dave Romney getting on the scoresheet for the Quakes. In recent history, Colorado has seen success come at PayPal Park, having won each of their last two contests there, outscoring the Earthquakes 5-1.