7M - Club Friendlies Preview: FC Cincinnati vs Burnley - prediction, team news, lineups

EFL Championship side Burnley will get their pre-season campaign underway this Friday when they travel to the United States to face MLS outfit FC Cincinnati.

Match Preview

FC Cincinnati return to action following a six-week World Cup hiatus that stretched from late May until mid-July. Before the break, Pat Noonan's side generated considerable momentum in the 2026 MLS campaign, positioning themselves seventh in the Eastern Conference standings with 20 points from 15 league outings (5 wins, 5 draws, 5 losses). The Orange and Blues, who reached the Conference semi-finals in 2025, put on an attacking clinic in their last competitive match on May 23, dismantling Orlando City 6-2. Losing only once since the start of April, Cincinnati will look to use this premium friendly to re-sharpen their high-flying frontline before resuming league play against Vancouver Whitecaps on July 23.

Burnley, on the other hand, are picking up the pieces following a painful Premier League campaign where a 19th-place finish and a mere 22 points from 38 games condemned them to relegation. The Clarets are in the middle of a managerial transition, with Genk boss Nicky Hayen highly anticipated to take the hot seat. Despite the dugout uncertainty, the club has finalized the permanent signing of 26-year-old midfielder Florentino Luis from Benfica following his successful loan stint. This fixture kicks off a grueling American tour featuring matchups against Columbus Crew and Real Salt Lake, before dates with Ajax and Espanyol lead into their official August 8 season opener against Notts County in the EFL Cup.

Team News

FC Cincinnati will cope without the presence of 29-year-old center-back Miles Robinson, who is away representing the USA at the 2026 World Cup. Additionally, Alvas Powell, Teenage Hadebe, and Kristian Fletcher remain sidelined due to injuries. On the bright side, star forward Kevin Denkey, who enjoyed a blistering start to the season with 13 goals in 17 matches, is fully available to spearhead the attack.

Burnley face far heavier international absentees, as Hannibal Mejbri, Zeki Amdouni, Lyle Foster, and Hjalmar Ekdal are all away on World Cup duty. Their absence opens the door for academy prospects to stake a claim. Florentino Luis is tipped to make his permanent debut in the engine room, while Armando Broja is expected to lead the line. Meanwhile, questions remain over Zian Flemming's involvement amid rampant transfer speculation.

Possible Lineups

FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Gidi, Miazga, Smith; Bucha, Valenzuela, Nwobodo, Ramirez; Mboma, Denkey, Evander 

Burnley possible starting lineup:
Weiss; Sonne, Humphreys, Worrall, Pires; Florentino, Ramsey; Edwards, Tresor, Larsen; Broja 

Prediction: FC Cincinnati 2-2 Burnley 

With Cincinnati eager to rediscover their pre-break attacking rhythm and Burnley finding their feet under potential new leadership, this encounter should produce an open, high-scoring affair. Expect both sides to trade blows in an entertaining draw.