Leesburg, VA. (December, 16) — The USL Championship today announced its schedule for the 2026 season which kicks off on Saturday, March 7, and concludes on Saturday, Oct. 24, with a full 12-game slate on the final day as teams pursue a place in the 2026 USL Championship Playoffs.
The 34-week, 375-game regular season will see each club play 30 regular season contests and four group stage games in the third edition of the 2026 Prinx Tires USL Cup, with the top eight teams from the Eastern and Western Conference advancing to the single-elimination postseason which will kick off on the weekend of Oct. 30-Nov. 1.
· LEARN MORE: USL Championship Announces Competition Format for 2026 Season
· VIEW IN FULL: The 2026 USL Championship Schedule
The 2026 USL Championship season will be the third in the league’s four-year broadcast agreement with CBS Sports, with games also set to air nationally on ESPN Networks, CBS Sports Network, CBS Sports Golazo Network, ESPN+ and TUDN. A full broadcast schedule will be announced following the release of the 2026 USL Championship schedule.
Welcoming The Newcomers
The USL Championship will welcome Brooklyn FC and Sporting Club Jacksonville for the new season, with both clubs set to begin new rivalries before their first meeting at Jacksonville’s Hodges Stadium on May 30.
Brooklyn will square off with Hartford Athletic for the first time on Saturday, March 21 at Maimonides Park, and make its first trip to Rhode Island FC’s Centreville Bank Stadium on May 23 while also preparing for early-season visits from the Charleston Battery (April 11) and Sacramento Republic FC (April 21).
Sporting JAX will face its first in-state rival on April 4 as the Tampa Bay Rowdies visit Hodges Stadium, with Miami FC set to make its first trip to the north of the Sunshine State three weeks later on April 25. The side will also make early-season visits to defending title-winner Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (March 28) and defending Players’ Shield holder Louisville City FC (April 18).
Key Matchups Feature Throughout Campaign
The 2026 USL Championship schedule features numerous key games which could determine the course of the Players’ Shield, awarded to the club with the best regular season record, and seeding for the 2026 USL Championship Playoffs.
March 14 – Lexington SC vs. Sacramento Republic FC: After narrowly missing the postseason in its first year in the Championship, Lexington is aiming high in 2026 and will get an early test from the visit of Republic FC.
April 4 – Louisville City FC vs. Charleston Battery: The top two finishers in the Eastern Conference a season ago square off at Lynn Family Stadium in a key early-season marker as the Battery look for their first victory in club history in Louisville.
July 25 – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC vs. Rhode Island FC: The Hounds square off with RIFC in a rematch of their Eastern Conference Final in a game that could see both clubs in contention for regular season silverware in the new campaign.
August 15 – New Mexico United vs. FC Tulsa: The defending Western Conference title-winners head to face New Mexico for the first time since their Western Conference Final encounter in a mid-season clash at Isotopes Park.
September 26 – San Antonio FC vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies: Two former Players’ Shield winners are aiming to climb back to the top of the standings this season, making the Rowdies’ late-season trip to San Antonio a potential make-or break encounter.
Regional Rivalries Highlight Judgement Day
The USL Championship final day of the regular season on Saturday, Oct. 24 will feature four of the league’s best rivalries, bringing added spice to Judgement Day as the postseason field is determined.
El Paso Locomotive FC vs. New Mexico United: The final regular season edition of the Derby del Camino Real is set for Isotopes Park with everything potentially on the line for longtime rivals Locomotive and United.
Hartford Athletic vs. Rhode Island FC: The El Clamico rivals will meet with the potential playoff seeding will be on the line at Trinity Health Stadium in the final of three meetings across the regular season and USL Cup in the upcoming campaign.
Sacramento Republic FC vs. Oakland Roots SC: The final game in the NorCal Hella Cup will see Roots head to Heart Health Park where the visitors will be aiming to be in postseason contention and Republic FC could be in with a chance at the Players’ Shield.
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Sporting Club Jacksonville: The newest rivalry in the Sunshine State will conclude at Al Lang Stadium as the Rowdies welcome Sporting JAX for a potentially monumental final game of the regular season for both clubs.
2026 USL Championship Season Key Dates
March 7 – USL Championship Regular Season Kickoff
March 17-19 – U.S. Open Cup First Round
March 31-April 1 – U.S. Open Cup Second Round
April 14-15 – U.S. Open Cup Round of 32
April 25 – Prinx Tires USL Cup Group Stage Kickoff
April 28-29 – U.S. Open Cup Round of 16
May 19-20 – U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals
July 11 – Prinx Tires USL Cup Group Stage Ends
Aug. 12 – Prinx Tires USL Cup Quarterfinals
Sept. 9 – Prinx Tires USL Cup Semifinals
Sept. 15-16 – U.S. Open Cup Semifinals
Oct. 2-4 – Prinx Tires USL Cup Final
Oct. 21 – U.S. Open Cup Final
Oct. 24 – USL Championship Regular Season Ends
Oct. 30-Nov. 1 – USL Championship Playoffs, Conference Quarterfinals
Nov. 6-8 – USL Championship Playoffs, Conference Semifinals
Nov. 13-15 – USL Championship Playoffs, Conference Finals
Nov. 20-22 – USL Championship Final
About Loudoun United FC
Loudoun United FC is the highest-level professional soccer club in Loudoun County, Virginia, competing in the USL Championship. The club is committed to advancing the game, developing top talent, and providing a high-quality experience for players, supporters, and the local community. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.loudoununitedfc.com
