Will Nicky Hayen claim his first win as Burnley boss in the USA? Real Salt Lake vs Burnley prediction
In the early hours of Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 03:30 Kyiv time, the vibrant America First Field in Sandy will host a thrilling exhibition friendly. Local MLS representative Real Salt Lake will put themselves to the test against English side Burnley, who are on their preseason tour of the United States.
For the Americans, who are riding high near the top of the Western Conference, this is a perfect showcase to give their young talents valuable minutes. For the visitors from England, adjusting to the demands of new head coach Nicky Hayen, this fixture is a crucial part of building up their physical condition ahead of the new campaign.
Real Salt Lake, under Pablo Mastroeni, are enjoying a standout season. The team entered the league break on a three-match unbeaten run, firmly holding onto third place in the West. The key factor behind RSL’s strength is their home fortress: out of eight MLS matches at America First Field this season, they’ve claimed victory seven times. The coaching staff will likely rest several key players, but with the backing of their passionate home crowd, the Americans won’t settle for dull football.
As for Burnley, the recently relegated English side have brought a refreshed squad to the States, now led by new Belgian manager Nicky Hayen. Their tour has been a mixed bag so far: Burnley fell 1-3 to Cincinnati and drew 1-1 with Columbus Crew thanks to a late goal from Adebwumi. The team is still far from their best in terms of cohesion, but the individual quality of the English squad remains high.
Expect Real Salt Lake to stick to their trademark open, vertical football, utilizing their rapid wingers to stretch the play. Burnley are under heavy physical loads, so Hayen will continue to rotate the lineup and experiment with defensive pairings. A high tempo and plenty of chances are on the cards, with both sides’ backlines likely to show signs of fatigue.
Historically, Real Salt Lake and Burnley have never faced off—either officially or in friendlies. This clash marks a historic first encounter between the two clubs.
What’s the bet?
When MLS teams meet European visitors in friendlies, defense is usually not the priority. Both the Americans and the English have shown a clear trend towards exchanging goals during this preseason, and that pattern is likely to continue here.
