KSTP Sports was at Minnesota United practice Friday in Blaine and spoke with defender Michael Boxall and head coach Cameron Knowles. United’s last game before a two-month break for the World Cup will come Saturday afternoon in St. Paul vs. Real Salt Lake.
Boxall, 37, will get to play in his first World Cup this summer following Saturday’s match. He’ll join his New Zealand teammates for their third-ever World Cup appearance (1982, 2010).
Boxall scored the game-winning goal against New Caledonia March 2025 to help secure New Zealand’s outright qualification into the 2026 World Cup.
Below is a preview of United vs. Real Salt Lake, courtesy of the Associated Press:
Real Salt Lake (8-4-1, fourth in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota United FC (6-5-3, seventh in the Western Conference)
Saint Paul, Minnesota; Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
LINE: Minnesota United FC +115, Real Salt Lake +207, Draw +258; over/under is 2.5 goals
BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota United faces Real Salt Lake in conference action.
United is 4-4-3 against conference opponents. United ranks fourth in the Western Conference drawing 73 corner kicks, averaging 5.2 per game.
RSL is 7-3-1 in conference play. Sergi Solans paces the sixth-ranked scoring team in the Western Conference with six goals. RSL has scored 25.
The matchup Saturday is the first meeting this season between the two teams.
TOP PERFORMERS: Kelvin Yeboah has eight goals for United. Anthony Markanich has scored four goals over the last 10 games.
Solans has scored six goals with three assists for RSL. Zavier Gozo has five goals and two assists over the past 10 games.
