Red Bulls Getting Ready for DC United in Midweek Action

By Daniel Feuerstein | Harrison, NJ | April 20th, 2026

After the disastrous start away at CF Montreal, which saw the Red Bulls get destroyed at Stade Saputo, they now have to quickly turn it around and get ready for a big matchup against their long-time rivals in D.C. United. The Red Bulls need to quickly right the ship as they will play two matches this week, and the most important one is right in front of them during the midweek. These two sides are currently in the middle of the Eastern Conference and towards the bottom of a playoff spot, and the three points are on the line during this World Cup year.

It was a very difficult match against CF Montreal as they took the change at head coach very well, but the Red Bulls couldn’t, and they took the full brunt of the wave of Montreal playing free and easy. Poor decision-making, poor passing, poor everything put them behind the eight ball from the opening whistle to the closing whistle, and it was another return to the drawing board after another poor performance on the road. Head Coach Michael Bradley is well aware that he needs to make sure this can’t happen again, but because this side is such a young squad, it could happen again.

“Mistakes happen. It’s football. It’s not a perfect game, and it never will be. And one of the things that we try to really repeat over and over again is that we want to be a team that has a mentality to just react and play and continue to push and always be ready for the next play. Of course, with that, part of being a good team and part of continuing to improve is that the number of good plays, the number of good connections, the number of moments where the timing and the understanding are right, that number increases, and then the number of plays that get messed up, that number decreases. And so look, generally speaking, for a new group and a young team, we’re going in a really good direction.

We’ve had a lot of really, really good games, a lot of really good moments. Saturday, Montreal was honestly the first time this year where we weren’t us. That was not who we are. That’s not our football, that’s not our mentality, that’s not our commitment, that’s not our intensity, that’s in some of those ways it was our worst game of the season in those ways, up until now. We looked at a little bit today, and we talked about it. We went on the field, had a really good session, and again reiterated the part that no season ever goes perfectly for anybody, and early in the season, the way that you can learn from days like that is you can understand the details, understand the things that really count, that really make the difference. Those are the important lessons. And so we’re going to be ready on Wednesday night to step on the field and get back to being us and playing our way and being ready to respond in a really strong way,” said Michael Bradley

When Bob Bradley was the Head Coach of the MetroStars for three seasons from 2023 through 2025, before his unceremonious firing with three matches remaining of the season, he had his son, Michael, on the club and started his professional playing career for two seasons in 2024 and 2025 before transferring to SC Heerenveen of the Dutch Eredivisie to begin his time in Europe. For those two seasons, Michael saw the rivalry first-hand in front of him, and he is well aware of what he needs to do against D.C. United. While they might face one of their former players in Centerback Sean Nealis, who was traded to our Nation’s Capital before the season started, this will be a big-time match-up.

“I understand very well that games against D.C. United always carries extra weight. And that goes back to the very beginning of the league, and some of the games that were played between MetroStars and DC United. And so I am well aware that for the fans, games against DC United are really important. And you know, we’re going to step on the field at home on Wednesday night, ready to give everything we have to respond in a really strong way and give our fans a great night,” said Bradley

For Matthew Dos Santos, starting the season with two short-term loans in the season opener at Orlando City, then the home opener against the New England Revolution, before earning his first team contract and taking over the left fullback position, was a huge moment for him, including earning his first MLS Assist in the match winner after the short corner he took against the Revolution. While he’s had a bad match or two, Dos Santos has truly shown he can play this game. While he still has some things to work on, his overall ability has been solid for his early career.

“Obviously, it was a quick turnaround, going from last year’s second team to this year’s first team. But I’d say the adjustments are just faster, more physical, and it takes time. But I feel like with my teammates’ help and Michael’s help, it’s been good so far,” said Matthew Dos Santos.

This is Hate D.C. Week, and everyone will be coming to Sports Illustrated Stadium for a huge match-up between these two old rivals. We have seen so many players wearing the kits of these clubs, from Eddie Pope, Richie Williams, Mike Petke, Lloyd Sam, Fabian Espindola, Dax McCarty, and now Sean Nealis, who will face his former side for the very first time and will face his brother Dylan for the very first time.

You can watch the match on Apple TV at 7:30 PM. Broadcasters in English are Evan Weston & Dax McCarty. In Spanish, Alejandro Figueredo and Tony Cherchi

MATCH OFFICIALS:
REF: Marcos DeOliveira
AR1: Adam Wienckowski
AR2: Brian Marshall
4TH: Tori Penso
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
AVAR: Fabio Tovar

Red Bull New York is getting ready for a big derby against D.C. United, as the club from our Nation’s Capital comes over to battle the Red Bulls, as Hate D.C. Week has come to Sports Illustrated Stadium.

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