2026 USL Cup

3rd edition of cup competition in American soccer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2026 USL Cup is the third edition of the USL Cup (known as the Prinx Tires USL Cup for sponsorship reasons). The competition is open to all clubs in USL Championship and USL League One.

DatesApril 25, 2026 (2026-04-25)
October 4, 2026 (2026-10-04)
Teams42
Quick facts Prinx Tires USL Cup, Tournament details ...
2026 USL Cup
Prinx Tires USL Cup
Tournament details
CountryUnited States
DatesApril 25, 2026 (2026-04-25)
October 4, 2026 (2026-10-04)
Teams42
 2025
2027 
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Format

The 2026 edition of the USL Cup is a professional soccer tournament held between teams in USL Championship and USL League One. Teams are split into seven groups of six or seven teams; each team will play two teams in their group at home, and two others away. The group winners, along with the second-place team with the highest point total, will move to a single-elimination knockout round. The first tiebreaker will be goals scored.[1]

Schedule

The 2026 USL Cup will run concurrently with the 2026 USL Championship season and the 2026 USL League One season. The tournament began roughly one month into the league seasons and will end shortly before the end of the league seasons and start of the league playoffs.

The groups for the 2026 USL Cup were announced on December 10, 2025.[1]

Access

All 25 clubs in USL Championship and 17 clubs in USL League One will enter the 2026 USL Cup in the group stage.[2]

More information Round, Entrants ...
Round Entrants Number of games Date(s)
Group stage
(42 clubs)
25 clubs from USL Championship
17 clubs from USL League One
82 April 25, 2026 (2026-04-25)
July 11, 2026 (2026-07-11)
Quarterfinals
(8 clubs)
7 group stage winners
1 wild card
4 August 13, 2026 (2026-08-13)
Semifinals
(4 clubs)
4 winners from quarterfinals 2 September 9, 2026 (2026-09-09)
Final
(2 clubs)
2 winners from semifinals 1 October 2, 2026 (2026-10-02)
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Location map

Locations of teams in the 2025 USL Cup
  • Group 1
  • Group 2
  • Group 3
  • Group 4
  • Group 5
  • Group 6
  • Group 7

Group stage

More information Championship, League 1 ...
Number of teams per tier still in competition
Championship League 1 Total
25 / 25
17 / 17
42 / 42
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The group stage will be played from April 25 to July 11. Teams are divided into seven regional groups of six or seven teams. Teams will play two teams in their group at home and two other teams away.[3]

If a team wins in regulation, they receive three points in the standings, while the loser receives zero. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, a penalty kick shootout occurs; the winner receives two points and the loser will receives one.

The top team in each group reaches a single-elimination knockout stage. A wild-card spot will be awarded to the second-placed team with the most points in group play, with most goals scored being used as first tiebreaker.

Group 1

More information Pos, Lg ...
Pos Lg Team Pld W PKW PKL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 USLC Sacramento Republic FC 1 1 0 0 0 4 0 +4 3 Advance to knockout stage
2 USL1 AC Boise 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 Possible knockout stage based on ranking
3 USLC Monterey Bay FC 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2
4 USLC Las Vegas Lights FC 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
5 USLC Oakland Roots SC 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
6 USL1 Spokane Velocity FC 1 0 0 0 1 0 4 4 0
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Updated to match(es) played on April 26, 2026. Source:
April 25 Sacramento Republic FC 4–0Spokane Velocity FCSacramento, California
10:00 p.m.
Stadium: Heart Health Park
Referee: Carlos Rodriguez
April 25 Monterey Bay FC 1–1
(4–3 p)
Oakland Roots SCSeaside, California
10:00 p.m.
  • Kill 15'
Stadium: Cardinale Stadium
Referee: Kalilou Jarju
Penalties

Group 2

More information Pos, Lg ...
Pos Lg Team Pld W PKW PKL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 USLC El Paso Locomotive FC 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 +1 3 Advance to knockout stage
2 USLC New Mexico United 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 +1 3 Possible knockout stage based on ranking
3 USLC Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 +1 3
4 USLC Phoenix Rising FC 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0
5 USL1 AV Alta FC 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 1 0
6 USLC Orange County SC 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 1 0
Close
Updated to match(es) played on April 26, 2026. Source:
April 25 New Mexico United 2–1AV Alta FCAlbuquerque, New Mexico
9:00 p.m.
Report
  • Aoumaich 18'
Stadium: Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park
Attendance: 9,605
Referee: Benjamin Meyer
April 25 Orange County SC1–2 El Paso Locomotive FC Irvine, California
10:00 p.m.
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium
Referee: Jaclyn Metz
April 25 Phoenix Rising FC0–1 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Phoenix, Arizona
10:00 p.m.
Stadium: Phoenix Rising Stadium at 38th St/Washington
Referee: Trevor Wiseman
May 16 Phoenix Rising FC v Orange County SC Phoenix, Arizona
10:00 p.m. Stadium: Phoenix Rising Stadium at 38th St/Washington
June 6 New Mexico United v Phoenix Rising FC Albuquerque, New Mexico
9:30 p.m. Stadium: Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park

Group 3

More information Pos, Lg ...
Pos Lg Team Pld W PKW PKL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 USL1 Corpus Christi FC 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 +1 3 Advance to knockout stage
2 USL1 One Knoxville SC 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 Possible knockout stage based on ranking
3 USLC San Antonio FC 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2
4 USLC FC Tulsa 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
5 USLC Birmingham Legion FC 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
6 USL1 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0
Close
Updated to match(es) played on April 26, 2026. Source:
April 25 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC0–1 Corpus Christi FC Chattanooga, Tennessee
7:00 p.m.
  • Bowen 7'
Stadium: CHI Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 1,278
Referee: Drew Klemp
April 25 FC Tulsa 1–1
(3–2 p)
One Knoxville SCTulsa, Oklahoma
8:00 p.m.
  • Cabral 73'
  • Baker 36'
Stadium: ONEOK Field
Attendance: 3,200
Referee: Igor Bych
Penalties
April 25 San Antonio FC 0–0
(3–2 p)
Birmingham Legion FCSan Antonio, Texas
8:30 p.m. Stadium: Toyota Field
Attendance: 5,850
Referee: Atahan Yaya
Penalties
May 16 Corpus Christi FC v FC Tulsa Corpus Christi, Texas
8:30 p.m. Stadium: Corpus Christi Sports Complex
July 11 Corpus Christi FC v One Knoxville SC Corpus Christi, Texas
8:30 p.m. Stadium: Corpus Christi Sports Complex

Group 4

More information Pos, Lg ...
Pos Lg Team Pld W PKW PKL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 USLC Lexington SC 1 1 0 0 0 4 2 +2 3 Advance to knockout stage
2 USLC Louisville City FC 1 1 0 0 0 3 1 +2 3 Possible knockout stage based on ranking
3 USL1 Union Omaha 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 +1 3
4 USLC Detroit City FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 USLC Indy Eleven 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 1 0
6 USL1 Fort Wayne FC 1 0 0 0 1 1 3 2 0
7 USL1 Forward Madison FC 1 0 0 0 1 2 4 2 0
Close
Updated to match(es) played on April 26, 2026. Source:
April 25 Indy Eleven1–2 Union Omaha Indianapolis, Indiana
7:00 p.m.
Stadium: Michael A. Carroll Stadium
Attendance: 8,552
Referee: Elvis Osmanovic
April 25 Lexington SC 4–2Forward Madison FCLexington, Kentucky
7:00 p.m.
  • Edwards 45+1'
  • Zengue 70' (o.g.)
Stadium: Lexington SC Stadium
Attendance: 4,209
Referee: Jorge Escobar
April 25 Louisville City FC 3–1Fort Wayne FCLouisville, Kentucky
7:00 p.m.
  • Ricol 5'
Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 8,876
Referee: Thomas Snyder
June 20 Lexington SC v Indy Eleven Lexington, Kentucky
7:00 p.m. Stadium: Lexington SC Stadium

Group 5

More information Pos, Lg ...
Pos Lg Team Pld W PKW PKL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 USLC Brooklyn FC 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 +3 3 Advance to knockout stage
2 USL1 Westchester SC 1 0 1 0 0 2 2 0 2 Possible knockout stage based on ranking
3 USLC Rhode Island FC 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2
4 USL1 Portland Hearts of Pine 1 0 0 1 0 2 2 0 1
5 USLC Hartford Athletic 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
6 USL1 New York Cosmos 1 0 0 0 1 0 3 3 0
Close
Updated to match(es) played on April 26, 2026. Source:
April 25 New York Cosmos0–3 Brooklyn FC Paterson, New Jersey
2:00 p.m.
Stadium: Hinchliffe Stadium
Attendance: 1,040
Referee: Lauren Aldrich
April 25 Westchester SC 2–2
(5–4 p)
Portland Hearts of PineMount Vernon, New York
7:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: Stadium at Memorial Field
Attendance: 1,056
Referee: Amin Hadzic
Penalties
May 15 Westchester SC v New York Cosmos Mount Vernon, New York
7:00 p.m. Stadium: The Stadium at Memorial Field

Group 6

More information Pos, Lg ...
Pos Lg Team Pld W PKW PKL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 USLC Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 +3 3 Advance to knockout stage
2 USLC Charleston Battery 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 +1 3 Possible knockout stage based on ranking
3 USL1 Charlotte Independence 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 +1 3
4 USLC Loudoun United FC 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 1 0
5 USL1 Richmond Kickers 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 1 0
6 USL1 Greenville Triumph SC 1 0 0 0 1 0 3 3 0
Close
Updated to match(es) played on April 26, 2026. Source:
April 25 Loudoun United FC1–2 Charleston Battery Leesburg, Virginia
6:00 p.m.
Stadium: Segra Field
Attendance: 1,227
Referee: Deny Kulasinac
April 25 Richmond Kickers1–2 Charlotte Independence Richmond, Virginia
6:00 p.m.
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 3,422
Referee: John Griggs
April 25 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 3–0Greenville Triumph SCPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
7:00 p.m.
Stadium: F.N.B. Stadium
Attendance: 3,989
Referee: Luis Arroyo

Group 7

More information Pos, Lg ...
Pos Lg Team Pld W PKW PKL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 USLC Tampa Bay Rowdies 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 +2 3 Advance to knockout stage
2 USLC Miami FC 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 +1 3 Possible knockout stage based on ranking
3 USL1 FC Naples 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 USLC Sporting Club Jacksonville 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0
5 USL1 Sarasota Paradise 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 2 0
Close
Updated to match(es) played on April 26, 2026. Source:
April 25 Sporting JAX0–1 Miami FC Jacksonville, Florida
7:30 p.m.
  • Rocha 9'
Stadium: Hodges Stadium
Attendance: 1,642
Referee: Brad Jensen
April 25 Tampa Bay Rowdies 2–0Sarasota ParadiseSt. Petersburg, Florida
7:30 p.m.
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 5,669
Referee: Stefan Perri
April 29 Miami FC 4–1 FC Naples Miami, Florida
7:00 p.m.
Report
  • Bachstein 30'
Stadium: Pitbull Stadium
Attendance: 821
Referee: Elvis Osmanovic
May 13 Sarasota Paradise v Sporting JAX Lakewood Ranch, Florida
7:30 p.m. Stadium: Premier Sports Campus
May 16 Miami FC v Tampa Bay Rowdies Miami, Florida
7:00 p.m. Stadium: South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium
May 17 FC Naples v Sporting JAX Naples, Florida
5:00 p.m. Stadium: Paradise Coast Sports Complex
June 6 FC Naples v Sarasota Paradise Naples, Florida
7:30 p.m. Stadium: Paradise Coast Sports Complex
July 11 Sarasota Paradise v Miami FC Lakewood Ranch, Florida
7:30 p.m. Stadium: Premier Sports Campus

Wildcard

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W PKW PKL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Louisville City FC 1 1 0 0 0 3 1 +2 3 Advance to knockout stage
2 New Mexico United 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 +1 3
3 Charleston Battery 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 +1 3
4 Miami FC 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 +1 3
5 Westchester SC 1 0 1 0 0 2 2 0 2
6 AC Boise 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2
7 One Knoxville SC 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2
Close
Updated to match(es) played on April 26, 2026. Source:

References

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