CINCINNATI — There are rivalries in American soccer, and then there's the Hell is Real derby. On Sunday afternoon, FC Cincinnati and the Columbus Crew meet again at TQL Stadium in a match that could have enormous consequences for both clubs.

Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET, with Cincinnati fighting to hold onto the Eastern Conference's final playoff position and Columbus trying to climb back into the postseason picture.

FC Cincinnati enters the match ninth in the Eastern Conference with 36 points, while the Crew sit 13th with 32. With only four points separating the Ohio rivals, Sunday's result could go a long way toward determining whether either team reaches the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Neither club expected to find itself in this position so late in the season, especially after both enjoyed considerable success in recent years. But their struggles have added another dimension to a rivalry that hardly needed additional motivation.

Cincinnati is coming off a disappointing 3-2 home loss to the New England Revolution on Wednesday. Tom Barlow and Kévin Denkey scored for the Orange and Blue, but defensive problems once again proved costly.

The club has scored 60 goals this season, demonstrating that it has enough attacking talent to compete with almost anyone. Unfortunately, Cincinnati has also conceded 68 goals, a troubling figure that helps explain why a team capable of producing so much offense is fighting just to stay above the playoff line.

Head coach Pat Noonan needs his defense to deliver a better performance Sunday, particularly against a Columbus side that has begun finding its offensive rhythm.

The Crew, meanwhile, arrive in Cincinnati with renewed confidence following a 3-1 victory over Charlotte FC on Wednesday. Columbus produced a club-record 33 shots, including 14 on target, as Brais Méndez, Anass Zaroury, and Taha Habroune found the back of the net.

That performance continued an encouraging stretch for the Crew, who have won four of their last five matches. After spending much of the season struggling to find consistency, Columbus has begun looking more like the dangerous attacking team its supporters have come to expect.

Interim head coach Laurent Courtois has helped spark the turnaround, but the Crew still have considerable ground to make up in the Eastern Conference standings. A victory Sunday would put Columbus within one point of Cincinnati and give the Black and Gold a significant boost in the playoff race.

The stakes are equally high for the home side. Cincinnati currently occupies the conference's ninth and final playoff position, but its recent form has left little room for error. A loss to Columbus would tighten the race even further, while a victory would give the Orange and Blue some much-needed breathing room.

And then there's the rivalry itself.

The Hell is Real derby takes its name from the famous roadside billboard along Interstate 71 between Cincinnati and Columbus. What began as a natural geographical rivalry has grown into one of Major League Soccer's most anticipated fixtures, fueled by memorable matches, passionate supporters, and a genuine dislike of losing to the other Ohio club.

The teams have traded significant victories in recent seasons. Cincinnati eliminated Columbus from the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, winning their first-round series two games to one. But the Crew got the better of their rivals earlier this season, winning 2-1 in Columbus on July 25.

Now the rivalry returns to Cincinnati, where the atmosphere at TQL Stadium should be electric.

Both teams have the attacking talent to make this an entertaining match, but neither has been particularly reliable defensively. Cincinnati's ability to score has frequently been undermined by goals conceded, while Columbus has struggled to turn promising performances into consistent results.

With so much at stake, Sunday promises to be more than another meeting between two clubs that happen to share a state. It's an opportunity for one team to strengthen its playoff position while dealing a potentially devastating blow to its biggest rival.

The Hell is Real derby has delivered plenty of memorable moments over the years. With both clubs fighting for their postseason lives, the latest chapter has all the ingredients for another classic.

Game Information

Notes

• Sunday's Hell is Real derby marks the 23rd all-time meeting between the two Ohio rivals across all competitions.

• FC Cincinnati holds the ninth and final Eastern Conference playoff position with 36 points.

• Columbus enters four points behind Cincinnati and has won four of its last five matches.

• Cincinnati has scored 60 goals this season but has conceded 68.

• Columbus recorded a club-record 33 shots and 14 shots on target in Wednesday's 3-1 victory over Charlotte.

• The Crew defeated Cincinnati 2-1 in their first regular-season meeting this year.

• Cincinnati eliminated Columbus from the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, winning their opening-round series 2-1.

• The Crew won the 2023 MLS Cup, while FC Cincinnati captured the Supporters' Shield that same season.