Is James Rodriguez Playing Tonight for Minnesota United vs Portland Timbers?

MLS action is back with Minnesota United facing the Portland Timbers on Matchday 8. Minnesota sits ninth in the Western Conference, while the Timbers are in 11th place in the standings.

As the home team's star, James Rodríguez is available for this match, though it remains to be seen whether the Colombian will start or not.

With a win, Minnesota could climb as high as fourth place in the Western Conference, while the Portland Timbers would move closer to ninth position.

Is James Rodriguez Playing Tonight for Minnesota United vs Portland Timbers?

James Rodríguez recently joined the MLS side. This season, the Colombian has already made two appearances coming off the bench.

In the match against the Timbers, James Rodríguez is expected to make his first start in MLS, marking a new chapter for soccer in the United States.

The former Real Madrid player's arrival came after unsuccessful spells in Qatari and Mexican football, as he looks to reach peak form ahead of this June's World Cup and contribute all his quality to the Colombian national team.

The attacking midfielder's quality is unquestionable, but since the last international window, the Colombian has yet to start a match.

We'll have to see how he adapts to the opponent's style of play and manages his team's tempo to secure the win.

This season, Minnesota United has recorded three wins, two draws, and two losses in Major League Soccer.

The home side comes into this match on a two-game winning streak-one in the U.S. Open Cup and the other a tight 2–1 victory over San Diego.

In contrast to Minnesota's recent form, the Timbers arrive at this match with a mixed record of one win and one loss.

They secured a victory against LAFC but suffered a defeat to the Vancouver Whitecaps, a team determined to rebound after last season.

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This story was originally published April 18, 2026 at 2:00 PM.