CARY, N.C. – The lone side making its USL Championship Playoffs debut this postseason will face a familiar opponent in its playoff opener when No. 6 seed Loudoun United FC visits No. 3 seed North Carolina FC in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix on Saturday night, bringing together two sides that met on the final day of the 2025 regular season for an immediate rematch. Kickoff at First Horizon Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Here’s what you need to know.

How They Got Here

North Carolina FC (13-11-6, 45pts) – North Carolina FC recorded its highest regular season finish across its two stints in the USL Championship as it found ways to earn key wins throughout the season, which included a 1-0 victory against Loudoun United that jumped the side to third place in the tightly-packed Eastern Conference standings on the final day of the regular season. NCFC’s form was up and down overall, with a four-game winning streak one of only two sequences in which it put together consecutive victories in league play, but Head Coach John Bradford’s side recorded the notable achievement of being the lone team to defeat Players’ Shield winner Louisville City FC in the regular season. Now back in the playoffs for a second consecutive season since its return to the Championship, NCFC will be aiming to advance for the first time after elimination at the first hurdle in each of its prior two trips in 2019 and a season ago.

Loudoun United FC (12-12-6, 42pts) – Loudoun United earned its first trip to the USL Championship Playoffs after a breakout season that saw the side set a club record for single-season victories behind a strong opening half of the campaign that gave way to a more inconsistent final three months. United won seven of its first nine games as young standout Abdellatif Aboukoura came to the fore, leading the team with 12 goals by the end of the campaign. The side’s form also carried into the USL Jägermeister Cup, where it advanced out of the group stage after earning its first win against Louisville City FC since 2019, but the close to the campaign saw Loudoun’s pace slow as it fell out of the top three in the standings. The side won only once in its final seven games, including its loss at home to NCFC on the final day of the regular season, and will be hoping to reset for its first postseason contest.

All-Time Series

North Carolina FC and Loudoun United have split six prior regular season meetings with three wins apiece, with each side taking victory away from home this season. The sides also played to a 1-1 draw at First Horizon Field in the USL Jägermeister Cup group stage, where North Carolina FC took a 5-3 victory in the resultant penalty shootout.

Opta Says

-10.85 – North Carolina FC posted a -10.85 Expected Goal Differential in the regular season, with American Soccer Analysis ranking the side 23rd in the league with a 34.27 Expected Points mark.

18 – Loudoun United gained 18 points from losing positions in the regular season, ranking third in the league in that category as the side went 5-10-2 when conceding the opening goal.

Players to Watch

North Carolina FC – Finn Sundstrom: The 18-year-old center back has been one of the breakout young talents in the league this season, ranking second on the team in minutes (2,363), leading the team with 24 blocked shots as he enters his first professional postseason.

Loudoun United FC – Florian Valot: The former USL Championship title-winner has been a key influence in his second season at United, recording a team-high eight assists and 57 chances created while also finding the net twice to lead the team with a +5.06 Goals Added mark.

Uniforms

Discipline Report

North Carolina FC – No suspensions

Loudoun United FC – No suspensions

Officials
REF: Natalie Simon
AR1: Matthew Rodman
AR2: Tom Felice
4TH: John Matto