New Mexico United Set for Busy 2026 With USL Cup Group Assignment and Full Regular-Season Schedule Unveiled
New Mexico United’s 2026 calendar is beginning to take shape, as the club received clarity this week on both its USL Cup path and its full USL Championship regular-season schedule, setting the stage for another packed and ambitious year for the Black & Yellow.
The United Soccer League announced the structure and schedule for the 2026 Prinx Tires USL Cup, naming Prinx Tires as the entitlement partner for the annual interleague competition. The tournament will begin on Saturday, April 25, with 43 clubs divided into seven regional groups. Six groups will feature six teams, while one group will include seven, with each club playing four group-stage matches. Group play will conclude on Saturday, July 11.
New Mexico United has been placed in Group 2, alongside AV Alta FC, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, El Paso Locomotive FC, Orange County SC, and Phoenix Rising FC. The group presents a familiar and competitive mix, including longtime regional rivals and perennial Western Conference contenders.
United will open its USL Cup home slate on April 25 against AV Alta FC, marking the first-ever meeting between the two clubs. The matchup also serves as the opening day of the entire USL Cup competition.
Only eight teams will advance beyond the group stage. The seven group winners will earn automatic berths, while one wild card will be awarded to the second-place finisher with the most points across all groups, using goals scored as the first tiebreaker if needed. The knockout rounds are scheduled for August 13 (Quarterfinals), September 9 (Semifinals), and the Final on the weekend of October 2–4, 2026.
New Mexico United enters the competition with momentum, having made an immediate impression in its first-ever USL Cup appearance last season. United posted a 3–1 record in group play, showcasing its ability to compete at a high level in the interleague format.
While the Cup adds intrigue to the spring and summer, United’s primary focus remains the USL Championship regular season, which was also officially released. The 2026 campaign marks the club’s eighth season in the league and will feature a 30-match schedule.
United will open the season on the road on March 14 at Oakland Roots SC, beginning the year with a Western Conference showdown in California. That match will be followed by another road test at San Antonio FC on March 21 before United returns to Isotopes Park for its home opener on March 28 against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.
The 2026 USL Championship will include 25 teams, split between 13 in the Eastern Conference and 12 in the Western Conference. New Mexico United will once again compete in the Western Conference, playing 24 matches against conference opponents and six interconference games against Eastern Conference teams. The schedule is balanced evenly, with 15 home matches and 15 away matches.
With league play beginning in mid-March and the USL Cup kicking off in late April, New Mexico United is set for a demanding stretch that will test depth, consistency, and resilience across multiple competitions. For supporters, the release of both schedules signals the start of another year filled with marquee matchups, new opponents, and meaningful games from spring through fall.
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
