2026 Season

New Mexico United Re-Signs Goalkeeper Kris Shakes for the 2026 Season

December 12, 2025 by Gavin Hauenstein

New Mexico United is excited to announce that goalkeeper Kris Shakes has re-signed for the 2026 USL Championship season.

Since arriving in 2024, Shakes has grown into one of the club’s most reliable and composed performers, recording six clean sheets in 21 appearances and delivering a memorable shutout in his first-ever playoff start.

“We are thrilled to be bringing Kris back. His hard work, dedication, and commitment to this club from day one—on and off the field—have been infectious,” said Sporting Director Itamar Keinan. “It’s been amazing to see his growth over the past two seasons, and this is only the beginning for Shakes. We’re excited to have him back in Black and Yellow.”

Shakes’ development has been clear throughout his time in New Mexico. Building on a strong collegiate career at Penn State and early professional experience with Philadelphia Union II, he has become a calm, confident presence between the posts. His 2025 season further showcased his growth as he helped anchor United through both the regular season and postseason.

With Shakes returning for 2026, New Mexico United secures a key piece of its defensive foundation and a goalkeeper whose best performances are still ahead.

New Mexico United Set for 2026 Home Opener on March 28 vs. Colorado Springs

December 11, 2025 by Gavin Hauenstein

The USL Championship today announced home openers for the 2026 season, and New Mexico United is officially set to return to The Lab on Saturday, March 28, hosting regional rival Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in a matchup that always brings intensity, energy, and a full-throated New Mexico crowd.

United begins the season on the road with a March 14 trip to Oakland Roots SC before finally coming home to The Lab—where the club continues to lead the league in atmosphere, energy, and community impact. The March 28 home opener marks the first of many opportunities for supporters to pack The Lab and set the tone for the 2026 campaign.

The announcement of home openers gives fans the first look at United’s early-season path, with the full 2026 USL Championship schedule set to be released on Tuesday, December 16. More details—including kickoff times, promotions, and theme nights—will be shared soon.

2026 USL Championship Home Openers

Saturday, March 7
Birmingham Legion FC vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies
Brooklyn FC vs. Indy Eleven
Charleston Battery vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
El Paso Locomotive FC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Lexington SC vs. Louisville City FC
Monterey Bay FC vs. Oakland Roots SC
Rhode Island FC vs. Loudoun United FC
Sacramento Republic FC vs. FC Tulsa
San Antonio FC vs. Phoenix Rising FC
Sporting Club Jacksonville vs. Hartford Athletic

Saturday, March 14
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Las Vegas Lights FC
Detroit City FC vs. Brooklyn FC
Louisville City FC vs. Miami FC
Oakland Roots SC vs. New Mexico United
Phoenix Rising FC vs. Orange County SC
FC Tulsa vs. San Antonio FC

Saturday, March 21
Indy Eleven vs. Detroit City FC
Loudoun United FC vs. Miami FC
Orange County SC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Saturday, March 28
Hartford Athletic vs. Indy Eleven
Las Vegas Lights FC vs. Monterey Bay FC
New Mexico United vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC vs. Sporting Club Jacksonville

Saturday, April 3
Miami FC vs. Hartford Athletic

USL Championship Announces Season Structure for 2026 Season, 25 teams to compete in league’s 16th campaign kicking off on Saturday, March 7

December 10, 2025 by Gavin Hauenstein

The USL Championship today announced its competition structure for the 2026 season, with 25 clubs set to begin their pursuit of a place in the 2026 USL Championship Playoffs when the regular season kicks off on Saturday, March 7.

The 34-week regular season campaign will conclude on Saturday, October 24, with the postseason kicking off the following weekend.

The 2026 USL Championship regular season will see the league split into Eastern and Western Conferences with 13 teams in the Eastern Conference and 12 teams in the Western Conference. Expansion clubs Brooklyn FC and Sporting Jacksonville SC will each join the Eastern Conference for the new season (full alignment below).

Each club in the Eastern Conference will play 24 or 25 games against in-conference opposition, and 5 or 6 games against Western Conference opposition to complete a 30-game regular season schedule. Each club in the Western Conference will play 24 games against in-conference opposition, and six games against Eastern Conference opposition to complete a 30-game regular season schedule.

The 2026 USL Championship season will be the third in the league’s four-year broadcast agreement with CBS Sports, with games also set to air nationally on ESPN Networks, CBS Sports Network, CBS Sports Golazo Network, ESPN+ and TUDN. A full broadcast schedule will be announced following the release of the 2026 USL Championship schedule.

2026 USL Championship Conference Alignment

Western Conference
Colorado Springs Switchbacks
El Paso Locomotive
Las Vegas Lights FC
Lexington SC
Monterey Bay FC
New Mexico United
Oakland Roots SC
Orange County SC
Phoenix Rising FC
Sacramento Republic FC
San Antonio FC
FC Tulsa

Eastern Conference

Legion FC
FC Brooklyn
Charleston Battery
Detroit City FC
Hartford Athletic
Indy Eleven
Loudoun United FC
Louisville City FC
Miami FC
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Rhode Island FC
Sporting Club Jacksonville
Tampa Bay Rowdies

2026 USL Championship Playoffs

At the conclusion of the regular season, the top eight teams in each conference will qualify for the 2026 USL Championship Playoffs, which will kick off on the weekend of Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 2026.

The USL Championship Playoffs will remain a single-elimination and fixed bracket format. The postseason will conclude with the 2026 USL Championship Final on the CBS Television Network between Nov. 20 and Nov. 22, 2026, with more details to be announced in the coming weeks.

U.S. Soccer Confirms 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Format; New Mexico United Set to Enter in First Round

December 4, 2025 by Gavin Hauenstein

The U.S. Soccer Federation has announced the competition format, key dates, and participating clubs for the 111th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, with the 2026 tournament set to run from mid-March through the Final on October 21.

New Mexico United will officially enter the 2026 Open Cup in the First Round, scheduled for March 17–19, joining 16 other USL Championship clubs that qualified based on their 2025 regular-season performance. United will begin its cup campaign against an opponent from the Open Division, which includes top amateur and semi-professional sides from across the country.

United’s Competitive Legacy in the Open Cup

Since joining the competition, New Mexico United has built a reputation as one of the U.S. Open Cup’s most electrifying underdogs. The club has earned 10 total wins in the tournament, producing some of the most memorable moments in modern Open Cup history. United’s breakout came in 2019, when the Black & Yellow surged through four consecutive rounds to reach the Quarterfinals in their inaugural season—upsetting MLS sides Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas along the way, and captivating fans nationwide with dramatic, high-energy knockout performances.

United delivered another deep run in 2024, winning three matches in dominant fashion and returning to the Quarterfinals. Each victory came by multiple goals, reinforcing United’s reputation for fearless, attacking soccer on the national stage. From their first season onward, New Mexico United has proven they are built for the magic, unpredictability, and opportunity of America’s oldest soccer tournament.

Path Through the 2026 Tournament

Winners from the First Round advance to the Second Round, set for March 31–April 1. The 16 clubs that emerge will then face 16 Major League Soccer teams in the Round of 32 on April 14–15. First and Second Round draws will be announced in January, with the Round of 32 draw broadcast live on April 2, determining matchups and pathways for the remainder of the competition.

The field will narrow to four semifinalists in May before pausing for the summer. The tournament resumes with the Semifinals on September 15–16, and the Open Cup Final on October 21.

A total of 80 teams will compete for the 2026 championship, battling for a $1 million prize and a spot in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup. CBS Sports will once again serve as the multimedia rights partner for the tournament.

Updated Tournament Format and Competition Rules

To reduce scheduling congestion ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup™, this year’s Open Cup will feature seven rounds, one fewer than previous editions. The professional team pool has also been adjusted from 64 to 48 teams, with slots distributed evenly across divisions.

U.S. Soccer announced two notable rule changes:

One-Club, One-Entry Rule: Each professional organization must enter its highest-level team. Open Division clubs will now enter directly through U.S. Soccer following the removal of the National League qualifying track.
Roster Flexibility: Limits on the number of eligible players have been removed across all divisions. Clubs may register any rostered player and can add eligible players up to one day before each match, following league and federation regulations.

New Mexico United will share additional tournament details, opponent information, and match logistics as they are announced.

2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule:

First Round: Tuesday, March 17 – Thursday, March 19
Second Round: Tuesday, March 31 – Wednesday, April 1
Round of 32: Tuesday, April 14 – Wednesday, April 15
Round of 16: Tuesday, April 28 – Wednesday, April 29
Quarterfinals: Tuesday, May 19 – Wednesday, May 20
Semifinals: Tuesday, Sept. 15 – Wednesday, Sept. 16
Final: Wednesday, October 21For the full announcement and a detailed breakdown of every participating club, see the complete U.S. Soccer release here.