Charlotte FC are gaining confidence at the right time, believes head coach Dean Smith, as they aim to continue their push for the playoffs against the New York Red Bulls. 

The Crown have been in imperious form, winning their last six league matches in a row to propel them up to seventh and within eight points of the Eastern Conference summit.

Charlotte's last three triumphs have also seen them keep three clean sheets, having failed to record a shutout since a 2-0 win over New York City FC in early July.

And ahead of welcoming the Red Bulls to the Bank of America Stadium, Smith revealed that a new-found belief within his squad has contributed to their upturn in results.

"I think we have gained a little bit of confidence and belief," Smith said. "There is more togetherness in the group after we lost our way during the run of 10 away games in 12.

"We made some individual mistakes that cost us goals. Looking back at it now, it was probably mental fatigue, but we had lost both our full-backs.

"I think the confidence in the players has almost certainly contributed to that for sure."

But the Red Bulls come into this game with confidence after stunning Eastern Conference high-flyers Philadelphia Union 1-0 in their last MLS encounter.

The Union missed a penalty, with New York taking advantage of that reprieve through Dylan Nealis late on to move them level on points with ninth-placed Chicago Fire.

It was a result that saw the Red Bulls end a 12-game winless run against Philadelphia, though boss Sandro Schwarz said that was not his focus before the game.

"I know that it was very important, not only for our club, but for the group and also for the supporters that we had this feeling to win against Philadelphia," Schwarz said.

"But what I said before the game, after the last speech, I saw the atmosphere was great before the game. This is what we need every time. To believe all together in our play. 

"It's good to have these emotions. I am a very emotional guy. We are very happy to win that game, but that was not the focus before the game."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Charlotte – Idan Toklomati

Toklomati scored the lone goal in Charotte's win over Real Salt Lake, his seventh strike of the season, tied with Wilfried Zaha for second-most in the club (Pep Biel – 10).

The only team with more than three players with seven goals this season is Orlando City (four).

NYRB – Eric Choupo-Moting

Choupo-Moting has been in fine form for the Red Bulls, with his assist last time out taking him to 18 goal contributions (15 goals, three assists) this season.

But he has been backed up by Emil Forsberg, who has registered nine goals and nine assists. The Red Bulls and Nashville SC are the only teams with two players with 18 goal contributions this season.

MATCH PREDICTION: CHARLOTTE WIN

Charlotte's only win over the Red Bulls came in the first regular-season meeting between the sides, a 2-0 victory in June 2022. Since then, New York has four wins and three draws in seven meetings with the Crown across the regular-season and playoffs.

Charlotte's win over Real Salt Lake was their 10th home win of the season, tied with the Red Bulls for the most in MLS in 2025. Since the start of last season, the Crown has won 19 home matches, tied with Los Angeles FC and New York City FC for the most in MLS in that time.

The Red Bulls, meanwhile, have won only two of their last 22 regular-season away matches (D8 L12), including just one of their last 14 (D4 L9). Their lone win in their last 14 away matches, 2-0 at D.C. United in May, was the only time they scored more than one goal in a regular-season road match in that time.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Charlotte – 46%

Draw – 26.7%

NYRB – 27.3%