D.C. United Host SC Paderborn 07 at Audi Field This September
D.C. United announce a September friendly against Bundesliga side SC Paderborn 07 at Audi Field. Here's what DC soccer fans need to know.
In brief
D.C. United will face German Bundesliga side SC Paderborn 07 in a September friendly at Audi Field in Southwest DC. The match offers DC-area supporters a rare chance to watch European club football without leaving the District — a significant flex for a city whose soccer scene has been quietly leveling up.
⚽ Key Takeaways
D.C. United announced a September 2026 friendly against German Bundesliga club SC Paderborn 07 at Audi Field.
The match marks one of the few times a Bundesliga side has played at the Southwest DC stadium since it opened in 2018.
The friendly signals D.C. United's push to grow its international brand and deepen fan engagement beyond the MLS regular season.
Audi Field's 20,000-seat capacity makes it one of the most intimate major soccer venues on the East Coast for a European club matchup.
DC-area soccer culture — already energized by the city's diverse international diaspora communities — gets another marquee moment to rally around.
What We Know About D.C. United vs. SC Paderborn 07
D.C. United confirmed the friendly against SC Paderborn 07, the storied German club that competes in the Bundesliga, Germany's premier football division. The match is scheduled for September 2026 at Audi Field, the 20,000-seat stadium that anchors the Buzzard Point neighborhood in Southwest Washington. While a specific date and kickoff time had not been confirmed at the time of announcement, the club indicated tickets and scheduling details would follow.
SC Paderborn 07 — formally known as Sport-Club Paderborn 07 e.V. — is based in Paderborn, North Rhine-Westphalia, and has bounced between the Bundesliga and the 2. Bundesliga in recent years, making them a competitive mid-table European side with genuine pedigree. For D.C. United, landing a Bundesliga club for a preseason friendly isn't just good marketing — it's a credibility signal to the global soccer community that Audi Field belongs in the conversation as a serious international venue.
Per D.C. United's official announcement, the club framed the friendly as part of its broader effort to deliver premium soccer experiences to the DC fanbase. The Black-and-Red have long cultivated ties with European football culture, and this matchup deepens that relationship in a tangible way.
Why Audi Field Makes DC a Legitimate Soccer Destination
Since opening in July 2018, Audi Field has steadily built its reputation as one of MLS's best purpose-built soccer venues. Nestled between the Anacostia River waterfront and the Navy Yard corridor, the stadium delivers sightlines that larger NFL stadiums simply can't match. For a European friendly, that intimacy matters — it creates an atmosphere closer to a proper football ground than the cavernous feel of, say, FedEx Field.
The Bundesliga brand carries particular weight in the United States right now. The Bundesliga has aggressively expanded its North American marketing footprint over the past several years, and clubs touring the States for preseason friendlies are part of that strategy. Bringing SC Paderborn 07 to DC plugs the District directly into that global circuit.
For a city that's home to diplomats, international students, and immigrant communities from across Africa, Latin America, and Europe — many of whom follow football with religious devotion — a Bundesliga friendly at Audi Field carries social weight far beyond a box score. Neighborhoods like Columbia Heights, Petworth, and Adams Morgan are packed with supporters whose first allegiance was to a club on another continent. Events like this give them a reason to show up for the local side.
DC's Soccer Moment — and What This Friendly Means for the City's Sports Identity
Washington, DC has never been a pure soccer town the way, say, Portland or Seattle claim to be. But the city's soccer identity has matured considerably. D.C. United was one of MLS's original ten founding clubs in 1996, and its early dynasties — built around players like Marco Etcheverry and Jaime Moreno — gave the city a soccer infrastructure that newer expansion markets are still trying to replicate.
Booking a Bundesliga opponent for a September friendly is a smart move for several reasons. September sits in the heart of the MLS regular season, meaning D.C. United's roster will be in peak competitive shape — not running out a B-squad for a meaningless preseason kickaround. That makes the product on the field more compelling for both casual fans and hardcore supporters in the Screaming Eagles and Barra Brava supporter sections.
From a nightlife and event economy standpoint — this is where the DC social scene sits up and pays attention. Soccer match days at Audi Field generate serious pre-game energy across the Buzzard Point and Navy Yard neighborhoods. Bars along Half Street SE and the waterfront fill hours before kickoff. A high-profile international friendly amplifies that footprint considerably. Think of it as the sporting equivalent of a stadium concert: it doesn't just fill seats, it activates an entire corridor of the city.
Washington is a city where soft power and international prestige operate as everyday currency — and that logic applies to sports as much as diplomacy. A Bundesliga side playing in Southwest DC sends a message to the global soccer community that the nation's capital belongs on the international football map alongside Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. For D.C. United's front office, the announcement is also a retention and recruitment tool: players and agents notice which clubs are investing in their global brand.
Beyond the pitch, the friendly lands at a moment when the United States is ramping up its soccer infrastructure ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted across North America. That context makes every high-profile soccer event in a major American city feel like a dress rehearsal. DC, which was not selected as a World Cup host city, has an incentive to prove its soccer credentials through events exactly like this one. Track the full scope of DC's sports and political power dynamics at the WDCM Political Influence Rankings and our DC Power Players Index.
What to Expect at Audi Field This September
Expect Audi Field to sell briskly once tickets go on sale, particularly among DC's German-American community and the broader international soccer fanbase that treats European club matches as unmissable social events. The Screaming Eagles, D.C. United's oldest supporters group founded in 1995, will almost certainly organize a dedicated supporter section experience. Pre-game gatherings at spots like Dacha Beer Garden and venues along the Navy Yard waterfront will add to the occasion.
D.C. United has not announced a ticket price range or specific match date as of this writing, so supporters should monitor the club's official channels closely. Given the interest a Bundesliga matchup generates, early access or supporter group priority windows are likely.
For the full picture on where to eat and drink before the match, the WDCM Restaurant Power Rankings covers the best options in the Navy Yard and Buzzard Point corridors.
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FAQ: D.C. United vs. SC Paderborn 07 at Audi Field
When is D.C. United's friendly against SC Paderborn 07? The friendly is scheduled for September 2026 at Audi Field in Washington, DC. A specific date and kickoff time had not been confirmed at the time of the club's announcement.
Where is Audi Field located in Washington, DC? Audi Field sits at 100 Potomac Ave SW, in the Buzzard Point neighborhood of Southwest Washington. It's accessible via the Navy Yard-Ballpark Metro station on the Green Line.
What is SC Paderborn 07? SC Paderborn 07 is a professional football club based in Paderborn, Germany, competing in the Bundesliga — Germany's top-flight football division. The club has notable history alternating between the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga.
Is this match part of the MLS regular season? No. The D.C. United vs. SC Paderborn 07 match is a friendly — an exhibition match outside of MLS regular season competition, though it will take place during the active MLS season in September 2026.
How do I get tickets to D.C. United vs. SC Paderborn 07? Tickets had not yet gone on sale at the time of the club's announcement. Monitor D.C. United's official website and social channels for on-sale dates and pricing information.
Why didn't DC get a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city designation? Despite strong bids, Washington, DC was not selected among the 2026 FIFA World Cup host cities in the United States. The host cities include New York/New Jersey, Los Angeles, Dallas, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Miami, Atlanta, Kansas City, Houston, and Philadelphia.
The bottom line: D.C. United's September friendly against SC Paderborn 07 at Audi Field is more than a preseason exhibition — it's a statement about where DC soccer stands in the global conversation. With the Bundesliga's North American profile rising and the 2026 World Cup spotlight still warming the continent, landing a legitimate German top-flight club at a purpose-built stadium in Southwest Washington gives the city a marquee soccer moment that its diverse, internationally-minded fanbase has every reason to celebrate. Watch for ticket on-sale announcements from D.C. United, and expect the Navy Yard corridor to light up on match night.
What to Watch Next: Will D.C. United announce additional international friendlies ahead of the 2026 MLS postseason push? And can the club convert the Paderborn friendly's goodwill into a sustained attendance surge at Audi Field? Follow WDCM's The Circuit for ongoing coverage of DC's sports and social scene, and keep tabs on the DC Politics Guide 2026 for how the city's sporting identity intersects with its broader national moment.
Reporting drawn from: D.C. United Official Announcement. Washington DC Magazine provides original analysis, DC-specific context, and editorial perspective beyond the source material.This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed by WDCM editorial staff. Washington DC Magazine is committed to accuracy, transparency, and editorial integrity. If you believe any information in this article requires correction, please contact editor@washingtondcmagazine.com.
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CAN I KICK IT? screens New Jack City at the Sylvan Theater, Washington Monument, on Aug. 22. (Courtesy SHAOLIN JAZZ)
The live-cinema series CAN I KICK IT? returns to the National Mall this month with what its producers are calling the "Gangsters on the Mall" chapter of their free outdoor summer run. On Saturday, August 22, the SHAOLIN JAZZ production brings the 1991 crime classic New Jack City to the Sylvan Theater at the Washington Monument for a night of film, music, and community under the DC summer sky.
What sets the event apart is the sound. As the film plays, DJ 2-Tone Jones builds an original score in real time, reimagining one of the most iconic crime movies of the ’90s through hip-hop, soul, funk, and more. It is less a movie screening than a live performance built around the film.
The details:
Film: New Jack City (1991), with a live soundtrack by DJ 2-Tone Jones
When: Saturday, August 22 — seating opens at 7:30 p.m. (bring lawn chairs and blankets); film begins at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Sylvan Theater at the Washington Monument, Independence Ave SW & 15th St NW
A parking note from the organizers: expect road closures and restricted parking east of 14th Street NW due to a separate race event in the District. Roads west of 14th Street NW will be accessible and available for parking.
New Jack City is the second of three screenings in this year’s free CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series, which opened with Black Panther at Skyland Town Center and concludes with Scarface at the Lincoln Memorial on September 5. Produced by the Washington, DC-based multimedia arts company SHAOLIN JAZZ, the series has presented more than 150 live cinematic experiences at venues across the country, from Lincoln Center to SXSW.
"I wanted to be able to tell good stories with substance and remove the ‘ego’ out of the art," said Andrew Huang during a recent interview. Now, he’s building his career at the intersection of discipline, creativity and innovation.
Andrew Huang, founder of New Place Studios. (Courtesy photo)
As a Chinese American, Huang was reared with a deep respect for hard work, consistency and excellence. He describes his childhood as "not so affluent" and later attended college to hone his passion for videography. "In college I tried to do something I loved, which was video, but along the way I knew that I had to find a job. And so I thought, ‘what was the low hanging fruit to get to that stable 9 to 5 job?,’" he stated.
Later in life, Huang found himself working for corporations where his creativity was often limited, eventually leading to burnout. "I worked in a corporation for a long time and there were a lot of missing pieces. I wanted to fill in gaps missing in corporate video production," said Huang.
He later described how his upbringing and a mindset of "survival" led him toward a corporate career. However, his desire for balance and authentic storytelling ultimately pushed him to take the entrepreneurial leap.
"I founded a new place where you can create video and film with ‘substance and style,’" said Huang. His desire for work-life balance and passion for storytelling naturally evolved into a small business based in Virginia. With the launch of New Place Studios, the entrepreneur quickly found himself reconnecting with the values that would become the foundation of everything he creates behind the camera.
Huang said being a business owner has allowed him to first embrace himself. While others may see video as simply capturing moments, he sees it as a way to preserve stories that inspire, connect and leave a lasting imprint.
By combining cinematic visuals with cutting-edge production techniques and a keen understanding of branding, Huang helps organizations and individuals communicate their vision with purpose. He said understanding a client’s "why" serves as the compass for delivering the services they need.
One benefit of working with a small business, he said, is that clients get to see the production process unfold through a micro lens while working with the same faces throughout the entire project. "The work feels personal," said Huang.
Huang does not regret leaving behind the flash-over-substance mentality and corporate hustle culture. That does not mean the Asian American entrepreneur has been without challenges in the industry. "It’s relatively hard to find other Asian American creatives or people who would want to work with me in the DMV," said Huang.
He identifies the industry culture in which everyone is trying to blend in, creatives may fear displaying their Asian identity and some feel pressure to adopt an American corporate persona. He also points to what he describes as a level of gatekeeping within the industry. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2024 statistics, Asian American and Pacific Islander entrepreneurs own more than 3 million businesses and employ 5.2 million people in the United States.
After tapping into organizations such as SCORE, which offers free small business mentorship, New Place Studios has become a trusted creative partner throughout the DMV (Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia). The company produces a range of creative services, including commercials, corporate branding, documentaries, film, 2D animation, motion graphics and photography.
For Huang, entrepreneurship has become more than a departure from corporate life. It has given him the freedom to create with intention, build meaningful connections and tell stories that go beyond the surface.
The 2026 CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series. Poster courtesy of SHAOLIN JAZZ.
For three Saturdays this summer, some of Washington’s most familiar public spaces will do something they rarely do after dark: fill up with blankets, lawn chairs, and the sound of a movie being scored live, in real time. CAN I KICK IT?, the traveling “live cinema” series produced by the DC-based multimedia arts company SHAOLIN JAZZ, is bringing a free outdoor run to the city — pairing three era-defining films with an original soundtrack performed on the spot by DJ 2-Tone Jones.
The premise is what sets it apart from a normal screening in the park. Rather than simply pressing play, 2-Tone Jones builds a score as the film unfolds, pulling from hip-hop, soul, funk, jazz, rock, electronic music, and sounds from around the world. The result, the organizers say, is less a movie night than a one-time performance — the same film you know, wired to a soundtrack you have never heard and will not hear again. Guest DJs warm up the crowd starting at 7:30 PM before each 8:30 PM screening.
The 2026 outdoor schedule
All three events are free and open to the public.
Saturday, August 8 — Black Panther at Skyland Town Center. A pop-up marketplace and community activities kick off the evening; guest DJs at 7:30 PM, film at 8:30 PM. Marvel’s superhero epic gets a one-night-only live score in Southeast DC.
Saturday, August 22 — New Jack City at the Sylvan Theater, Washington Monument. Seating begins at 7:30 PM; the film starts at 8:30 PM. The 1991 crime drama plays out at the foot of one of the country’s most recognizable landmarks.
Saturday, September 5 — Scarface at the Lincoln Memorial. Seating at 7:30 PM; film at 8:30 PM. The series closes with Brian De Palma’s crime saga against the backdrop of the Memorial, scored live from start to finish.
First up: Black Panther at Skyland Town Center on August 8. Poster courtesy of SHAOLIN JAZZ.
A DC company with a national footprint
SHAOLIN JAZZ describes itself as a Washington-based arts company working at the intersection of music, film, art, and culture, and CAN I KICK IT? is its signature production. According to the organizers, the series has staged more than 150 live cinematic experiences around the country — at performing arts centers, museums, festivals, and cultural institutions including Lincoln Center in New York, SXSW, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Republic Square in Austin, the Tacoma Armory, and The Cary Theater.
“CAN I KICK IT? has always been about creating a shared experience,” said Gerald Watson, co-founder of SHAOLIN JAZZ. “When you combine iconic films with live music in public spaces, something special happens. People aren’t just watching a movie — they’re experiencing it together. That’s what makes these nights so memorable.”
Cinema as a community event
The DC run lands as cities across the country look for new ways to activate public space through arts and culture — and this series is a straightforward pitch for how to do it: take a landmark everyone already knows, add a film everyone has an opinion about, and let a live soundtrack turn the evening into something neighbors experience shoulder to shoulder. Families, film buffs, and music fans are all invited, and admission won’t cost a thing.
The CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series runs August 8, August 22, and September 5. All events are free; check SHAOLIN JAZZ (shaolinjazz.com) for the latest details and any weather updates before heading out.
