Orlando City SC

vs

Charlotte

Preview

Orlando City SC

• Orlando City SC have only won once at home in MLS 2026 but have lost twice.
• Orlando City SC have claimed 4 points from seven games in MLS 2026, leaving them in a dismal 29th place, and they go into Wednesday’s matchup with Charlotte having won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five.
• The Lions have made a slow start to the season, but there have been some signs of improvement since Martín Perelman took over as manager in March.
• Perelman’s approach has been to get Orlando pressing more and pushing forward in numbers, moving away from the more controlled style of possession that Oscar Pareja favoured.
• Ivan Angulo is the driving force of their creativity, having laid on two goals in seven MLS 2026 games.
• but it is Marco Pasalic who has been their biggest scoring threat, having netted two in the same number of games.

Charlotte

• Charlotte have yet to win away from home in MLS 2026, with one draw and one loss.
• Charlotte have scored only once on their travels in 2026 but have failed to win any of their last three trips to Orlando City SC.
• Charlotte have enjoyed a much stronger start to 2026, taking 11 points from their opening seven matches to put them 14th in the table, and their form over the past five games has been particularly strong.
• In recent times, Dean Smith has crafted a disciplined and compact identity in Charlotte since taking over in December 2023.
• They will sit in a compact mid-block, switch the ball quickly when they get it and punish opponents when they lose it, regularly using their fullbacks to overload the midfield.
• Pep Biel has been their most dangerous player, notching four goals in MLS 2026, but they can be vulnerable if they are caught when they push forward.

Head-to-Head

• The two teams last played out a 2-2 draw in Charlotte during MLS 2025.
• Charlotte have failed to win any of their last three trips to Orlando City SC.

Key Players

• Key players to watch:
  • Marco Pasalic - has been their biggest scoring threat, having netted two in the same number of games.
  • Pep Biel - has been their most dangerous player, notching four goals in MLS 2026.

Betting Insights

• The best play on the match is probably 'Both Teams to Score - Yes' at 1.47.
• 'Over 2.5 goals' looks a good option at 1.63 with the tempo of the game favouring goals at both ends.

Prediction

• Orlando’s newfound approach under Perelman should see them edge a close game on home turf, but Charlotte’s counter-attacking style could punish the hosts if they go too gung-ho.
• An Orlando City SC win has some appeal in the outright market at 2.38 and is the selection here.