Texas Derby
Soccer rivalry
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Texas derby is a soccer rivalry (derby) between the Houston Dynamo FC and FC Dallas, recognizing the best club in the state for the season until 2021 when Austin FC joined MLS. The two squads play a series of games with the series winner taking home El Capitán, a replica 18th century mountain howitzer cannon. Through the 2025 season, FC Dallas leads the series, 11–9.
LocationTexas
First meetingMay 6, 2006
MLS regular season
Houston 4–3 Dallas
MLS regular season
Houston 4–3 Dallas
Latest meetingMarch 21, 2026
MLS regular season
Dallas 4–3 Houston
MLS regular season
Dallas 4–3 Houston
Next meetingOctober 17, 2026
MLS regular season
Houston v Dallas
MLS regular season
Houston v Dallas
| Location | Texas |
|---|---|
| First meeting | May 6, 2006 MLS regular season Houston 4–3 Dallas |
| Latest meeting | March 21, 2026 MLS regular season Dallas 4–3 Houston |
| Next meeting | October 17, 2026 MLS regular season Houston v Dallas |
| Stadiums |
|
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 57 |
| All-time record | Dallas: 21 Drawn: 20 Houston: 16 |
| All-time series | Dallas leads 11–9 |
| Largest victory | Houston 5–0 Dallas Major League Soccer (March 12, 2016) |
| Longest win streak | 7 (Dallas, 2013–2015) |
The Houston Dynamo clinched the 2006 series with a win on August 12, 2006, and the 2007 series with a win on August 19, 2007. FC Dallas claimed the 2008 series on the away goals rule, after having tied with Dynamo in all three games played that season. The away goals rule is no longer used as a tiebreaker.
Both the 2016 and 2017 series were tied, the first since 2008 and the first since the tiebreaker rules were changed. Houston won the 2016 series on goal differential. The tiebreakers couldn't separate the teams in 2017 so Houston retained El Capitán. Dallas won the 2019 series on goal differential and the 2023 series on the final tiebreaker (holders retain) as both matches ended in a draw.
Tiebreakers
Only MLS regular season matches are used to determine the winner of El Capitán, unless the season series is tied. If the series is tied, the tiebreakers are as follows:
| 1 | goal differential in MLS regular season matches between the two teams |
| 2 | MLS Cup Playoffs – winner of match/series (if applicable) |
| 3 | CONCACAF Champions League – winner of series (if applicable) |
| 4 | U.S. Open Cup – winner of match (if applicable) |
| 5 | holders retain El Capitán |
Series results
El Capitán winners
| Year | Winners | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Houston Dynamo | 2–1–1 |
| 2007 | Houston Dynamo | 3–0–1 |
| 2008 | FC Dallas | 0–0–3[note 1] |
| 2009 | Houston Dynamo | 2–1 |
| 2010 | FC Dallas | 1–0–1 |
| 2011 | Houston Dynamo | 1–0–1 |
| 2012 | Houston Dynamo | 1–0 |
| 2013 | FC Dallas | 1–0 |
| 2014 | FC Dallas | 1–0 |
| 2015 | FC Dallas | 3–0 |
| 2016 | Houston Dynamo | 1–1–1[note 2] |
| 2017 | Houston Dynamo | 0–0–3[note 3] |
| 2018 | FC Dallas | 1–0–2 |
| 2019 | FC Dallas | 1–1[note 4] |
| 2020 | FC Dallas | 2–1–1 |
| 2021 | Houston Dynamo | 1–0–2 |
| 2022 | FC Dallas | 1–0–1 |
| 2023 | FC Dallas | 0–0–2[note 5] |
| 2024 | FC Dallas | 1–0–1 |
| 2025 | Houston Dynamo | 1–1–0[note 6] |
All-time record
- As of March 21, 2026
| Competition | Played | Houston Dynamo wins | Houston Dynamo goals | Drawn | FC Dallas wins | FC Dallas goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLS regular season | 51 | 14 | 71 | 20 | 17 | 80 |
| MLS Cup Playoffs | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| U.S. Open Cup | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| Total | 57 | 16 | 80 | 20 | 21 | 89 |
Game history
| Date (M/D/Y) | Competition | Houston Dynamo scorers | Score | FC Dallas scorers | Venue | Attendance | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/6/06 | MLS | Clark 31', Ching 35', De Rosario 45', 67' | 4–3 | Ruiz 60', Núñez 61', Moor 76' | Robertson Stadium | 21,448 | [1] |
| 5/13/06 | MLS | Goodson 81 (o.g.) | 1–1 | Ruiz 19' | Pizza Hut Park | 12,756 | [2] |
| 8/12/06 | MLS | Waibel 37' | 1–0 | Robertson Stadium | 10,964 | [3] | |
| 8/23/06 | U.S. Open Cup | Robinson 13', Moreno 57' Wondowlowski 61' | 3–0 | Carl Lewis Stadium | 4,000 | [4] | |
| 9/2/06 | MLS | 0–1 | Álvarez 86' | Pizza Hut Park | 14,316 | [5] | |
| 6/3/07 | MLS | Clark 51', Ngwenya 66' | 2–1 | Thompson 32' | Robertson Stadium | 13,199 | [6] |
| 6/30/07 | MLS | 0–0 | Pizza Hut Park | 13,887 | [7] | ||
| 8/19/07 | MLS | Ching 42' | 1–0 | Robertson Stadium | 19,501 | [8] | |
| 9/30/07 | MLS | De Rosario 45+1', Robinson 62', Holden 84' | 3–0 | Pizza Hut Park | 17,366 | [9] | |
| 10/27/07 | MLS Cup Playoffs | 0–1 | Goodson 23' | Pizza Hut Park | 12,537 | [10] | |
| 11/2/07 | MLS Cup Playoffs | Holden 67', Ching 72', 97', Davis 100' | 4–1 (a.e.t.) |
Ruiz 14' | Robertson Stadium | 30,088 | [11] |
| 4/6/08 | MLS | Caraccio 22', Ching 56', Cameron 90+2' | 3–3 | Cooper 35', 45', Álvarez 58' | Robertson Stadium | 20,102 | [12] |
| 5/28/08 | MLS | Ashe 56', De Rosario 90+3' | 2–2 | Cooper 34', Moor 61" | Pizza Hut Park | 8,541 | [13] |
| 6/26/08 | MLS | Ching 21' | 1–1 | Cooper 62' | Robertson Stadium | 16,933 | [14] |
| 5/9/09 | MLS | Kamara 58' | 1–0 | Robertson Stadium | 16,932 | [15] | |
| 6/13/09 | MLS | Weaver 12', 63', Mulrooney 37' | 3–1 | Moor 67' | Pizza Hut Park | 8,580 | [16] |
| 8/6/09 | MLS | 0–1 | Cunningham 20' | Pizza Hut Park | 7,442 | [17] | |
| 3/27/10 | MLS | Chabala 36' | 1–1 | Harris 38' | Pizza Hut Park | 8,018 | [18] |
| 5/5/10 | MLS | 0–1 | Ihemelu 78' | Robertson Stadium | 13,231 | [19] | |
| 5/28/11 | MLS | Weaver 42', Clark 87' | 2–2 | Jacobson 27', ihemelu 70' | Robertson Stadium | 16,709 | [20] |
| 9/24/11 | MLS | Cameron 87' | 1–0 | Pizza Hut Park | 10,849 | [21] | |
| 6/16/12 | MLS | Bruin 3', Moffat 76' | 2–1 | Jackson 59' | BBVA Compass Stadium | 22,039 | [22] |
| 3/17/13 | MLS | Driver 79', Davis 83' | 2–3 | John 34', Jacobson 36', Cooper 90' | FC Dallas Stadium | 15,623 | [23] |
| 6/12/13 | U.S. Open Cup | 0–3 | Cooper 37', 59', Loyd 76' | FC Dallas Stadium | 4,000 | [24] | |
| 4/5/14 | MLS | Clark 41' | 1–4 | Michel 31'(pen.), Watson 67', 70', Barnes 68'(o.g.) | BBVA Compass Stadium | 22,202 | [25] |
| 6/24/14 | U.S. Open Cup | Barnes 43' (pen.), Cummings 62' | 2–3 (a.e.t.) |
Castillo 35', Escobar 60', Akindele 99' | BBVA Compass Stadium | 2,083 | [26] |
| 5/1/15 | MLS | Barnes 32' | 1–4 | Hollingshead 9', Texiera 21' Díaz 52', Castillo 55' | BBVA Compass Stadium | 19,975 | [27] |
| 6/26/15 | MLS | 0–2 | Taylor 37' (o.g.), Castillo 42' | Toyota Stadium | 15,037 | [28] | |
| 10/4/15 | MLS | Clark 36' | 1–4 | Díaz 24' (pen.), Texiera 51', 90+3', Acosta 53' | Toyota Stadium | 11,000 | [29] |
| 3/12/16 | MLS | Horst 6', Hedges 13' (o.g.), Clark 23', Wenger 27', Bruin 85' | 5–0 | BBVA Compass Stadium | 21,601 | [30] | |
| 6/2/16 | MLS | Clark 51' | 1–1 | Hollingshead 23' | Toyota Stadium | 13,457 | [31] |
| 7/20/16 | U.S. Open Cup | 0–1 | Castillo 90+1' | BBVA Compass Stadium | 10,150 | [32] | |
| 8/27/16 | MLS | Alex 19' | 1–3 | Díaz 59' (pen.), Barrios 60', 79' | BBVA Compass Stadium | 18,769 | [33] |
| 5/28/17 | MLS | 0–0 | Toyota Stadium | 15,055 | [34] | ||
| 6/23/17 | MLS | Torres 19' | 1–1 | Urruti 59' | BBVA Compass Stadium | 22,115 | [35] |
| 8/23/17 | MLS | Sánchez 1', Torres 71', 86' | 3–3 | Akindele 45', Figueroa 45+2', Urruti 51' | Toyota Stadium | 13,339 | [36] |
| 7/21/18 | MLS | Manotas 8' | 1–1 | Hedges 1' | BBVA Compass Stadium | 19,295 | [37] |
| 8/23/18 | MLS | Peña 88' | 1–1 | Barrios 83' | BBVA Compass Stadium | 16,544 | [38] |
| 9/1/18 | MLS | Manotas 53', Elis 72' (pen.) | 2–4 | Barrios 10', Mosquera 48', 51', Ziegler 58' (pen.) |
Toyota Stadium | 16,835 | [39] |
| 5/4/19 | MLS | Manotas 20' (pen.), 58' | 2–1 | Badji 87' | BBVA Compass Stadium | 16,521 | [40] |
| 8/25/19 | MLS | Rodriguez 80' | 1–5 | Ziegler 24' (pen.), Ferreira 29', Ondrášek 56', 64', Barrios 90+6' |
Toyota Stadium | 15,452 | [41] |
| 8/21/20 | MLS | 0–0 | BBVA Stadium | 0[a] | [42] | ||
| 9/12/20 | MLS | Rodríguez 41' | 1–2 | Ricaurte 28', Jara 61' | Toyota Stadium | 222[b] | [43] |
| 10/7/20 | MLS | Quintero 20', Cerén 83' (pen.) | 2–0 | BBVA Stadium | 1,582 | [44] | |
| 10/31/20 | MLS | 0–3 | Jara 19', Picault 27', 90+3' | Toyota Stadium | 4,028 | [45] | |
| 5/8/21 | MLS | Picault 34' | 1–1 | Obrian 42' | Toyota Stadium | 8,749 | [46] |
| 8/21/21 | MLS | Picault 25' (pen.), Vera 72' | 2–2 | Tafari 54', Pepi 58' | BBVA Stadium | 13,548 | [47] |
| 9/18/21 | MLS | Dorsey 5', Picault 20', Quintero 59' (pen.) | 3–2 | Obrian 86', 90+4' | BBVA Stadium | 12,353 | [48] |
| 4/23/22 | MLS | Ferreira 33' | 1–2 | Ntsabeleng 87', Quignón 90+3' | Toyota Stadium | 15,792 | [49] |
| 7/9/22 | MLS | Úlfarsson 69', Hadebe 90+11' | 2–2 | Hedges 27', Ferreira 90+3' | PNC Stadium | 21,284 | [50] |
| 5/20/23 | MLS | Úlfarsson 85' | 1–1 | Obrian 53' | Toyota Stadium | 19,096 | [51] |
| 9/30/23 | MLS | 0–0 | Shell Energy Stadium | 18,175 | [52] | ||
| 4/27/24 | MLS | 0–2 | Musa 55', Ibeagha 80' | Toyota Stadium | 19,096 | [53] | |
| 5/18/24 | MLS | Bassi 45'+6' | 1–1 | Musa 69' | Shell Energy Stadium | 19,284 | [54] |
| 2/22/25 | MLS | Bassi 18' | 1–2 | Musa 55', Julio 76' | Shell Energy Stadium | 18,623 | [55] |
| 5/17/25 | MLS | McGlynn 64', Dorsey 81' | 2–0 | Toyota Stadium | 11,004 | [56] | |
| 3/21/26 | MLS | Guilherme 29', Sviatchenko 31', Ennali 33' | 3–4 | Farrington 6', 14', Holmes 54' (o.g.), Musa 86' | Toyota Stadium | 11,004 | [57] |
| 10/17/26 | MLS | Shell Energy Stadium |
- no fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions
- limited capacity due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions
Top scorers
- As of March 21, 2026
Bold indicates a player who is still on a FC Dallas or Houston Dynamo roster.
| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Brian Ching |
Houston | 6 |
| Ricardo Clark |
Houston | ||
| 3 |  Michael Barrios |
Dallas | 5 |
| Kenny Cooper |
Dallas | ||
| Fafa Picault |
Houston | ||
| 6 | Fabián Castillo |
Dallas | 4 |
 Dwayne De Rosario |
Houston | ||
 Petar Musa |
Dallas | ||
| Mauro Manotas |
Houston | ||
| Jáder Obrian |
Dallas |
Clean sheets
- As of March 21, 2026
Bold indicates a player who is still on a FC Dallas or Houston Dynamo roster.
| Rank | Player | Team | Shutouts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pat Onstad |
Houston | 5 |
| 2 |  Darío Sala |
Dallas | 4 |
| 3 | Jimmy Maurer |
Dallas | 2 |
 Maarten Paes |
Dallas | ||
| Chris Seitz |
Dallas | ||
| 6 |  Jonathan Bond |
Houston | 1 |
| Steve Clark |
Houston | ||
| Tyler Deric |
Houston | ||
| Jesse González |
Dallas | ||
| Tally Hall |
Houston | ||
| Kevin Hartman |
Dallas | ||
| Dan Kennedy |
Dallas | ||
| Marko Marić |
Houston | ||
| Zach Wells |
Houston | ||
| Joe Willis |
Houston |
Players who have played for both clubs
- As of March 21, 2026
Bold indicates a player who is still on a FC Dallas or Houston Dynamo roster.
| Name | Position | Houston years | Dallas years | Texas derby goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eric Alexander |
MF | 2016–2018 | 2010–2011, 2019 | 0 |
 Arturo Alvarez |
MF | 2018 | 2005–2008 | 2 |
| Brad Davis |
MF | 2006–2015 | 2003–2004 | 2 |
 Maynor Figueroa |
DF | 2019–2021 | 2016–2018 | 1 |
| Sam Junqua |
DF | 2019–2022 | 2023–2024 | 0 |
| Jimmy Maurer |
GK | 2025–present | 2018–2024 | 0 |
 Adam Moffat |
MF | 2011–2013 | 2014 | 1 |
| Richard Mulrooney |
MF | 2007–2010 | 2005–2006 | 1 |
 Dominic Oduro |
FW | 2009–2011 | 2006–2008 | 0 |
| Fafà Picault |
MF | 2021–2022 | 2020 | 5 |
| Chris Seitz |
GK | 2018 | 2011–2017 | 0 |
| Adrian Serioux |
DF | 2006, 2010 | 2007–2008 | 0 |
| Abe Thompson |
FW | 2009 | 2005–2008 | 1 |
| Maximiliano Urruti |
FW | 2021 | 2016–2018 | 2 |
 Je-Vaughn Watson |
MF | 2011–2012 | 2013–2015 | 2 |
Attendances
Top 5 most-attended Houston home Texas derbies
- Houston 4–1 (aet) Dallas; 30,088 (November 2, 2007) Robertson Stadium
- Houston 1–4 Dallas; 22,202 (April 5, 2014) BBVA Compass Stadium
- Houston 1–1 Dallas; 22,115 (June 23, 2017) BBVA Compass Stadium
- Houston 2–1 Dallas; 22,039 (June 16, 2012) BBVA Compass Stadium
- Houston 5–0 Dallas; 21,601 (March 12, 2016) BBVA Compass Stadium
Top 5 least-attended Houston home Texas derbies
- Houston 0–0 Dallas; 0 (August 21, 2020) BBVA Stadium [a]
- Houston 2–0 Dallas; 1,582 (October 7, 2020) BBVA Stadium [b]
- Houston 2–3 (aet) Dallas; 2,083 (June 24, 2014) BBVA Compass Stadium [c]
- Houston 3–0 Dallas; 4,000 (August 8, 2006) Carl Lewis Track and Field Stadium [c]
- Houston 0–1 Dallas; 10,150 (July 20, 2016) BBVA Compass Stadium [c]
Top 5 most-attended Dallas home Texas derbies
- Dallas 1–1 Houston; 19,096 (May 20, 2023) Toyota Stadium
- Dallas 2–0 Houston; 19,096 (April 27, 2024) Toyota Stadium
- Dallas 0–3 Houston; 17,366 (September 30, 2007) Pizza Hut Park
- Dallas 4–2 Houston; 16,835 (September 1, 2018) Toyota Stadium
- Dallas 2–1 Houston; 15,792 (April 23, 2022) Toyota Stadium
Top 5 least-attended Dallas home Texas derbies
- Dallas 2–1 Houston; 222 (September 12, 2020) Toyota Stadium [b]
- Dallas 3–0 Houston; 4,000 (June 12, 2013) FC Dallas Stadium [c]
- Dallas 3–0 Houston; 4,028 (October 31, 2020) Toyota Stadium [b]
- Dallas 1–0 Houston; 7,442 (August 6, 2009) Pizza Hut Park
- Dallas 1–1 Houston; 8,018 (March 27, 2010) Pizza Hut Park
- no fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions
- limited capacity due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions
- U.S. Open Cup match
Honors
- As of May 17, 2025
| FC Dallas | Title | Houston Dynamo |
|---|---|---|
International | ||
| – | FIFA Club World Cup | – |
| 0 | CONCACAF Champions League | 0 |
| 0 | Leagues Cup | 0 |
| – | Campeones Cup | – |
Domestic | ||
| 0 | MLS Cup | 2 |
| 1 | MLS Supporters' Shield | 0 |
| 2 | U.S. Open Cup | 2 |
| 1 | MLS Conference Championships (MLS Cup Playoffs) | 4 |
| 3 | MLS Conference Championships (regular season) | 1 |
Rivalries | ||
| 11 | Texas Derby (Dallas/Houston) | 9 |
| 2 | Copa Tejas (Dallas/Houston/Austin) | 0 |
Preseason | ||
| 1 | La Copita (Dallas/Houston/Austin/San Antonio) | 0 |
| 1 | Desert Showcase | 1 |
| 1 | Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic (defunct) | 0 |
| – | Carolina Challenge Cup (defunct) | 3 |
See also
- Lone Star Series (MLB)
- Governor's Cup (Texas) (NFL)
- Mavericks–Rockets rivalry (NBA)
- Copa Tejas
Notes
- Dallas won the 2008 series on the away goals rule (4–2). Two games were played in Houston and one in Dallas.
- Houston won the 2016 series on the 1st tiebreaker, goal differential (7:4).
- Houston won the 2017 series on the 5th tiebreaker, holders retain, as all matches ended in a draw.
- Dallas won the 2019 series on the 1st tiebreaker, goal differential (6:3).
- Dallas won the 2023 series on the 5th tiebreaker, holders retain, as both matches ended in a draw.
- Houston won the 2025 series on the 1st tiebreaker, 3–2 on aggregate.