With their postseason hopes hanging by a thread, the Columbus Crew will host the New York Red Bulls on Saturday at Lower.com Field, needing nothing short of a victory to keep alive their chances of clinching an automatic berth in the MLS Cup playoffs.

The Crew’s 1-1 stalemate against Orlando City last weekend saw them slip to ninth in the Eastern Conference, just eight points ahead of the Red Bulls, who suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to FC Cincinnati. Since their Leagues Cup exit, Columbus have struggled to find consistency, a surprising development for a club that has lifted silverware in each of the past two seasons. Wilfried Nancy’s men have managed just one win in their last eight league outings, squandering leads in three of their previous four matches.

Meanwhile, the Red Bulls’ campaign will end prematurely for the first time since 2009. Last year’s MLS Cup runners-up are currently enduring a two-game losing streak heading into Decision Day. Still, a draw in Columbus would provide a small moral victory, allowing them to surpass their lowest-ever points total in a 34-game season (43 points set in 2023). Head coach Sandro Schwarz has endured a tough season, with 13 league defeats — 10 of them coming by just a single goal.

Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch, including TV channel, streaming details and more.

How to watch Columbus Crew vs New York Red Bulls online – TV channels & live streams

In the United States (US) and worldwide, the MLS match between Columbus Crew and New York Red Bulls will be available to watch and stream online live on Apple TV, through the MLS Season Pass.

Check out GOAL’s Live Match Centre for updates.

How to watch anywhere with VPN

If you are abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as NordVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming. If you are not sure which VPN to use, check out GOAL’s guide to the best VPNs for streaming sport.

Columbus Crew vs New York Red Bulls kick-off time

The MLS match between Columbus Crew and New York Red Bulls will be played at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio, United States.

It will kick off at 3:00 pm PT / 6:00 pm ET on Saturday, October 18, in the US.

Team news & squadsInjuries and Suspended playersColumbus Crew team news

Injuries continue to plague the Crew, as Diego Rossi and Rudy Camacho remain doubtful with thigh issues, while Mohamed Farsi could also miss out due to a pelvic problem. Wessam Abou Ali is expected to sit this one out with an ankle injury, though Marcelo Herrera, who netted their only goal against Orlando, will be eager to make another impact.

New York Red Bulls team news

For the Red Bulls, Noah Eile is a fitness concern with a hamstring issue, Wiktor Bogacz faces a late decision due to an ankle knock, and Lewis Morgan is dealing with a thigh injury. Both Anthony Marcucci and Cameron Harper are sidelined with knee problems, ruling them out of the season finale.

FormGoal Scored (Conceded)9/11Games over 2.5 goals2/5Both teams scored4/5Goal Scored (Conceded)5/6Games over 2.5 goals2/5Both teams scored2/5Head-to-Head RecordGames over 2.5 goals3/5Both teams scored2/5StandingsUseful links