skip navigation

USL Championship Announces Full 2021 Regular Season Schedule

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 03/30/21, 2:00PM EDT

Share

496-game slate includes notable collection of interconference matchups

TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship today announced its full schedule for the 2021 season. The 496-game regular season that marks the league’s 11th campaign is set to kick off on Saturday, April 24 and conclude on Saturday, October 30 with a 15-game slate that sees all-but-one of the league’s 31 teams in action on the final day of the regular season.

As previously announced, the 2021 Championship regular season will see each of the league’s teams play a 32-game schedule over a 28-week regular season, with the league divided into four divisions and two conferences. The structure for the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs will be announced prior to the start of the regular season.

Highlighting the schedule is a clash between the reigning Eastern and Western Conference Title holders, with the Tampa Bay Rowdies set to play host to Phoenix Rising FC at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday, May 15. The Rowdies will also host another Western Conference side as part of their home slate, with Oakland Roots SC visiting Tampa Bay on Friday, September 3.

There are numerous additional intriguing interconference matchups throughout the season, including two-time Championship title-winner Louisville City FC playing host to San Diego Loyal SC and Head Coach Landon Donovan on Saturday, May 22. Then on Monday, July 12, New Mexico United – which in 2019 led the Championship in attendance – and the Charleston Battery – who will be celebrating their 29th season of action this year – will square off for the first time.

FC Tulsa, which makes the move to the Eastern Conference in 2021, will also get a chance at revenge for its postseason elimination last season when it plays host to El Paso Locomotive FC at ONEOK Field on Saturday, October 9. Then on the final day of the regular season, Las Vegas Lights FC will play host to the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Cashman Field.

Rivalries are also at the forefront, with Louisville City FC and Indy Eleven set to renew acquaintances for the first edition of the 2021 Louisville Indianapolis Proximity Association Football Contest – or LIPAFC for short – at LouCity’s Lynn Family Stadium on Saturday, May 29. The two sides will also square off in the final month of the regular season at Indy’s Michael A. Carroll Stadium, where playoff position should be up for grabs on Saturday, October 16.

The rivalries between El Paso Locomotive FC and New Mexico United in the Mountain Division and Florida rivals Miami FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies will continue to intensify, meanwhile, with New Mexico set to host Locomotive FC on both Saturday, July 24 and Saturday August 14 at Isotopes Park in the middle of the season. Miami and Tampa Bay will also square off twice at Riccardo Silva Stadium in Miami in the span of 10 days, meeting on both Wednesday, July 7 and Saturday, July 17.

The season will conclude on Saturday, October 30 with crucial games in the final push for postseason places and position. Among the 15-game slate is an interconference matchup between Austin Bold FC and the Charlotte Independence joining that of Las Vegas and Tampa Bay. Divisional matchups to watch include Birmingham Legion FC playing host to Louisville City FC at BBVA Field, the final Black Gold Derby of the season between FC Tulsa and OKC Energy FC at ONEOK Field, a matchup between Sacramento Republic FC and San Diego Loyal SC at Papa Murphy’s Park, and the 405 Derby between Orange County SC and the LA Galaxy II.

In conjunction with the announcement of the league’s full schedule, the Championship also announced a pair of changes to the league’s previously announced home openers slate. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC will now face the Charlotte Independence at Highmark Stadium on Saturday, May 22, while Austin Bold FC will host Real Monarchs SLC at Bold Stadium on Wednesday, May 26. 

More details on the 2021 USL Championship season, including the national television schedule on ESPN and the postseason structure, will be available in the coming weeks.

Follow the USL Championship

Most Recent News

Most Read News

Latest Videos

  • There Can Be Only One | USL All Access

  • By USLChampionship.com Staff 11/10/2023, 5:10pm EST
  • Mike Watts and Devon Kerr talk to the Charleston Battery’s Rob Salvatore, Phoenix Rising FC’s Panos Armenakas ahead of the 2023 Championship Final
  • Read More