Columbus Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte has revealed that his “ultimate goal” for the 2026 season is to reach the MLS Cup final, not just the playoffs.
The Crew has yet to secure a spot in the postseason, currently occupying the last wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
However, Columbus has been in impressive form of late, winning six of their last seven MLS games (L1) to climb from the bottom of the table to 10th place.
The Crew lost to St. Louis City in the US Open Cup final during that run, but bounced back with wins over Toronto FC and FC Dallas.
Columbus has a home clash with D.C. United next door, and Schulte doesn’t want to settle for just a spot in the playoffs.
“We are a team that is starting to take form,” said the goalkeeper.
“After you get a lot of new guys in the summer and have an adjustment period to learn the system, the chemistry between us, those things, they take time.
“They’re not clicking overnight as much as we’d like, and I think we’re starting to get there.
“We still have a long way to go and the playoffs and winning are not the end goal. Playing on December 18 is the end goal.
“So we still have a long way to go, but right now I feel like we’re connecting well and we’re playing well together.”
It’s time to have faith in this team and focus on what’s to come
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) October 29, 2026
After losing 2-1 to Toronto on Wednesday, D.C. fell out of playoff contention, recording its fifth loss in its last six MLS matches.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Columbus Crew – Santiago Rodriguez
Rodriguez had a goal and an assist while picking up six fouls in Columbus’ 2-0 win over Dallas on Wednesday.
The only other MLS player to have a game with six fouls, a goal and an assist this season was Carles Gil against Philadelphia in May.
DC United – Andre Dozzell
Dozzell scored his first MLS goal in DC United’s loss at Toronto on Wednesday.
It was Dozzell’s second competitive goal of 2026, as he scored a late equalizer for Portsmouth in a 2-2 draw with Oxford United in April.
MATCH PREDICTION: COLUMBUS CREW IS CHEATED
Columbus has won each of its last three home games in MLS play, scoring multiple goals in all three wins.
The last time the Crew went on a five-game streak in 2023 (May-July) was a longer regular-season home winning streak by scoring two or more goals in each game.
And DC lost their fourth match in a row for the last time. It’s the sixth time United have lost four or more consecutive MLS games in the past five seasons, with the only five-game losing streak in that span coming in July and August of last season.
However, DC snapped a nine-match winless streak against Columbus (D3 L6) on September 9th with a 2-1 home win. United have not beaten the Crew twice in a season since winning both matches in 2019.
OPTA WIN probability
Columbus Crew – 63.3%
Win – 19.5%
DC United – 17.2%