2026 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC season
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Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 2026 soccer season
OwnerTuffy Shallenberger
Head coachRob Vincent
| 2026 season | |||
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| Owner | Tuffy Shallenberger | ||
| Head coach | Rob Vincent | ||
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The 2026 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC season is the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC's twenty-seventh season of existence, their tenth season in the second tier of American soccer, and their sixteenth season in the league now named the USL Championship.[1] The Riverhounds, are coming off their first league championship in club history, having won the 2025 USL Championship playoffs final against FC Tulsa.[2]
Over the offseason, the Riverhounds officially promoted previously interim coach Rob Vincent to the official head coach, after taking the reigns from Bob Lilley,[3] who was placed on administrative leave in mid-October in the middle of Lilley's eighth season as head coach of the Riverhounds.
- As of August 16, 2025[4]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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- ^ USL Academy Contract
Competitive
USL Championship
On December 16, 2025, the USL Championship released the schedule for all 25 teams for both the regular season and the USL Cup.[5][6]
Eastern Conference standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Detroit City FC | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 10 | Playoffs |
| 4 | Charleston Battery | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 10 | |
| 5 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 12 | −2 | 10 | |
| 6 | Hartford Athletic | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 10 | |
| 7 | Indy Eleven | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 8 | +2 | 9 |
Updated to match(es) played on April 21, 2026. Source: USL Championship Standings
Rules for classification: 1) total wins against conference opponents; 2) goal differential against conference opponents; 3) goals scored against conference opponents; 4) head-to-head points against conference opponents; 5) points per game against conference opponents; 6) points per game against non-conference opponents; 7) fewest disciplinary points; 8) coin toss or drawing of lots
Rules for classification: 1) total wins against conference opponents; 2) goal differential against conference opponents; 3) goals scored against conference opponents; 4) head-to-head points against conference opponents; 5) points per game against conference opponents; 6) points per game against non-conference opponents; 7) fewest disciplinary points; 8) coin toss or drawing of lots
Match results
All times are in Eastern Standard Time.
Charleston Battery v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
| March 7 1 | Charleston Battery | 2–1 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Mount Pleasant, SC |
| 6:00 PM | Report | Messer  62' (o.g.) |
Stadium: Patriots Point Soccer Complex Attendance: 5,012 Referee: Natalie Simon |
Loudoun United FC v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
| March 14, 2026 (2026-03-14) 2 | Loudoun United FC | 2–3 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Leesburg, Virginia |
| 3:00 PM | Report |
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Stadium: Segra Field Attendance: 1,696 Referee: Matthew Corrigan |
Tampa Bay Rowdies v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
| March 21, 2026 (2026-03-21) 3 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 3–0 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | St. Petersburg, Florida |
| 7:30 PM |
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Report | Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 6,267 Referee: John Griggs |
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC v Sporting Club Jacksonville
| March 28, 2026 (2026-03-28) 4 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | 3–2 | Sporting Club Jacksonville | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM |
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Report |
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Stadium: Highmark Stadium Attendance: 4,118 Referee: Atahan Yaya |
Indy Eleven v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
| April 4, 2026 5 | Indy Eleven | 1–1 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| 7:00 PM | Report |
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Stadium: Carroll Stadium Attendance: 8,304 Referee: Matthew Thompson |
Birmingham Legion FC v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
| April 11, 2026 (2026-04-11) 6 | Birmingham Legion FC | 1–0 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Birmingham, Alabama |
| 5:00 PM | Tregarthen 25' |
Report | Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 3,316 Referee: Mark Verso |
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC v Detroit City FC
| April 18, 2025 (2025-04-18) 7 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | 2–1 | Detroit City FC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Report |
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Stadium: Highmark Stadium Attendance: 3,946 Referee: Elton García |
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC v Phoenix Rising FC
| May 2, 2026 (2026-05-02) 8 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Phoenix Rising FC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
Louisville City FC v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
| May 9, 2026 (2026-05-09) 9 | Louisville City FC | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Louisville, Kentucky |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium |
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC v Miami FC
| May 30, 2026 (2026-05-30) 10 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Miami FC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC v Indy Eleven
| June 13, 2026 (2026-06-13) 11 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Indy Eleven | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
Hartford Athletic v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
| June 20, 2026 (2026-06-20) 12 | Hartford Athletic | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium |
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC v Brooklyn FC
| July 4, 2026 (2026-07-04) 13 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Brooklyn FC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
Sporting Club Jacksonville v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
| July 15, 2026 (2026-07-15) 14 | Sporting Club Jacksonville | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Jacksonville, Florida |
| 7:30 PM | Stadium: Hodges Stadium |
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC v Louisville City FC
| July 18, 2026 (2026-07-18) 15 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Louisville City FC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC v Rhode Island FC
| July 25, 2026 (2026-07-25) 16 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Rhode Island FC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC v FC Tulsa
| July 29, 2026 (2026-07-29) 17 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | FC Tulsa | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
Oakland Roots SC v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
| August 1, 2026 (2026-08-01) 18 | Oakland Roots SC | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Oakland, California |
| 10:00 PM | Stadium: Oakland Coliseum |
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC v Sacramento Republic FC
| August 8, 2026 (2026-08-08) 19 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Sacramento Republic FC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC v Charleston Battery
| August 15, 2026 (2026-08-15) 20 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Charleston Battery | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
Brooklyn FC v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
| August 22, 2026 (2026-08-22) 21 | Brooklyn FC | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Brooklyn, New York |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Maimonides Park |
El Paso Locomotive FC v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
| August 26, 2026 (2026-08-26) 22 | El Paso Locomotive FC | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | El Paso, Texas |
| 9:00 PM | Stadium: Southwest University Park |
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC v Tampa Bay Rowdies
| August 29, 2026 (2026-08-29) 23 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 5:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
Miami FC v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
| September 5, 2026 (2026-09-05) 24 | Miami FC | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Miami, Florida |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Pitbull Stadium |
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC v Loudoun United FC
| September 12, 2026 (2026-09-12) 25 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Loudoun United FC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
Detroit City FC v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
| September 19, 2026 (2026-09-19) 26 | Detroit City FC | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Hamtramck, Michigan |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Keyworth Stadium |
Orange County SC v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
| September 26, 2026 (2026-09-26) 27 | Orange County SC | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Irvine, California |
| 10:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC v Hartford Athletic
| October 10, 2026 (2026-10-10) 28 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Hartford Athletic | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
Rhode Island FC v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
| March 8, 2026 (2026-03-08) 29 | Rhode Island FC | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Pawtucket, Rhode Island |
| 7:30 PM | Stadium: Centreville Bank Stadium |
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC v Birmingham Legion FC
| May 30, 2026 (2026-05-30) 30 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Birmingham Legion FC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
USL Cup
Main article: 2026 USL Cup
The Riverhounds will participate in the third edition of the USL Cup, and the second edition to feature teams from both the USL Championship and League One.[7]
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PKW | PKL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Charlotte Independence | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Greenville Triumph SC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Loudoun United FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Richmond Kickers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Group stage
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC v Greenville Triumph SC
| May 25, 2026 (2026-05-25) | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Greenville Triumph SC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
Charlotte Independence v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
| May 15, 2026 (2026-05-15) | Charlotte Independence | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| 7:30 PM | Stadium: American Legion Memorial Stadium |
Charleston Battery v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
| June 6, 2026 (2026-06-06) | Charleston Battery | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Patriots Point Soccer Complex |
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC v Loudoun United FC
| July 11, 2026 (2026-07-11) | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Loudoun United FC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 5:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
U.S. Open Cup
Main article: 2026 U.S. Open Cup
The Riverhounds, as a member of the second division USL Championship, entered the U.S. Open Cup in the First Round, matched up against fellow Pittsburgh-based club Steel City FC.[8] After a comfortable 2–1 victory at home,[9] they were matched up again at home against another amateur soccer club Virginia Dream FC of the United Premier Soccer League,[10] whom they also had relative ease against.[11] After two matches at home, the Riverhounds were drawn away in the Round of 32, scheduled to play against first-division MLS club New York Red Bulls.[12]
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USLC) v Steel City FC (USL2)
| March 25 Round 1 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USLC) | 2–1 | Steel City FC (USL2) | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM ET | Report | Stadium: Highmark Stadium Attendance: 4,287 Referee: Samuel Reynolds |
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USLC) 
v 
Virginia Dream FC (UPSL)
v 
Virginia Dream FC (UPSL)
| March 31 Round 2 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USLC) | 2–0 | Virginia Dream FC (UPSL) | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 p.m. ET | Report | Stadium: Highmark Stadium Attendance: 1,817 Referee: Shevket Dzhaparov |
New York Red Bulls (MLS) v Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USLC)
| April 15 Round of 32 | New York Red Bulls (MLS) | 3–1 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USLC) | Harrison, New Jersey |
| 7:30 PM ET | Report |
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Stadium: Sports Illustrated Stadium Referee: Jeremy Scheer |
References
- ↑ Phillips, John (January 27, 2026). "After offseason flies by, Riverhounds return to practice to prepare for title defense". TRIBLIVE. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
- ↑ "Riverhounds SC wins first USL title in penalties against FC Tulsa". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
- ↑ Matoney, Nick (December 19, 2025). "Rob Vincent officially named head coach of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds". WTAE. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
- ↑ "Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC roster". Riverhounds.com. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Archived from the original on March 20, 2017. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
- ↑ USLSoccer.com Staff (December 16, 2025). "USL Championship Announces 2026 Schedule". USL Championship. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
- ↑ "2026 Schedule". USL Championship. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
- ↑ Lewis, Michael (December 16, 2025). "THIRD EDITION: Prinx Tires USL Cup kicks off on April 25". Front Row Soccer. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
- ↑ Krysinsky, John (January 27, 2026). "March Soccer Madness in the 'Burgh: Steel City FC to host Riverhounds in US Open Cup First Round match". Pittsburgh Soccer Now. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
- ↑ Pittsburgh Soccer Now (March 26, 2026). "FINAL: Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 2, Steel City FC 1 (US Open Cup First Round)". Pittsburgh Soccer Now. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
- ↑ "U.S. Soccer Reveals 16-Match Schedule for Second Round of 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup". ussoccer.com. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
- ↑ Coreschi, Colton (April 1, 2026). "2026 US Open Cup Round 2: Pittsburgh Riverhounds end Virginia's dream". Retrieved April 13, 2026.
- ↑ Krysinsky, John (April 2, 2026). "Hounds to face NY Red Bulls in Open Cup Round of 32". Pittsburgh Soccer Now. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
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