Preview | Rapids start 2026 Rocky Mountain Cup quest against Real Salt Lake

The Colorado Rapids (5-7-1, 16 points, 9th West) will play their first of two matches this season against Rocky Mountain Cup rivals Real Salt Lake (7-4-1, 22 points, 4th West) on Saturday, May 16. Kickoff at America First Field is set for 7:30 p.m. MT, with coverage available on Apple TV, Altitude Sports Radio, Tico Sports Spanish Radio, ColoradoRapids.com, and the Colorado Rapids app. 

This Saturday, Colorado will kick off their 2026 Rocky Mountain Cup campaign looking to hoist the annual trophy for the third consecutive year. Over the last two seasons, the Rapids have had the edge in the rivalry with a 3-2-0 record, outscoring Salt Lake 9-6 in that span.  

The Rapids will look to build off their most recent result this past Wednesday, a gritty 1-0 victory on the road over Minnesota United FC. Designated Player Rafael Navarro continued his dominant run of form this season, logging his club-leading eighth goal of the season to give Colorado all three points. Also highlighting the match was goalkeeper Nico Hansen, who recorded his first clean sheet of the season and fourth of his MLS career. Contributing to the shutout was defender Lucas Herrington, who was named to MLS’ Team of the Matchday for the third time this season at just 18-years-old. 

In the win, Navarro and Herrington continued their roles as some of the most consistent players in all of MLS. Navarro’s goal marked his 12th goal contribution of the MLS season (8g, 4a), marking the third most of any player in the league so far in 2026. Herrington logged another 90 minutes in the match, continuing his stretch as the youngest player in MLS this season to appear in every minute of every match. 

Salt Lake enters Saturday off a midweek win of their own, having defeated Houston Dynamo FC 3-0 at home on Wednesday. A brace from Zavier Gozo and a Houston own goal gave the hosts all they needed to take all three points in the victory. 

Colorado played evenly with Salt Lake last season with a win and a loss against the Utah side. Each match ended 1-0, with the home side in each contest earning the victory. Due to the record and goal differential being even between the two sides, the Rapids maintained the Rocky Mountain Cup for the second consecutive year for the first time since 2005-2006. 

Following Saturday’s match, there will be another edition of the Rocky Mountain Cup, with the Colorado and Salt Lake Unified Teams matching up against each other at America First Field. Colorado will look to continue their dominance against their rivals, as they hope to claim the RMC for the fourth consecutive season.