After an all to short regular season the USL League Two playoffs are set to get underway on Thursday. Eight clubs across eight cities will host the first two rounds this weekend with matches taking place on Thursday/Saturday or Friday/Sunday. Just like it's women's counterpart USL W League a Minnesota club won the Regular Season National Championship having not dropped a point all season. And just like in that league, the overall top seed may not end up hosting a single playoff match no matter how far they get in the playoffs.
This afternoon is the first of three consecutive weekends of football that will require the eventual champion to win five consecutive matches to claim the trophy. The win or go home format of the playoffs mirrors that of the US Open Cup, FA Cup, and other playoff systems, just in a much more condensed timeframe.
Peoria Pod
Minneapolis City SC vs West Virginia United - Thursday, 16 July at 3:00pm CT
Minneapolis City SC (12-0-0, 36 pts) is the only club in USL2 that has not dropped points all season, coming away with a perfect 3 points per game average. A killer offence that scored 46 goals lead the Crows to back to back Heartland Division titles. While the stout defence that allowed just six goals helped them clinch their first ever USL2 Regular season national title.
West Virginia United (9-1-2, 28 pts) has a long history in USL League Two, having been founded as the Chaos back in 2003. Success has not come frequently for the club as they have only qualified for the playoffs three times in over 20 seasons of play. Back in the playoffs for the first time since 2022 the Valley Division champions don't have quite the attack as their opponents, having only scored 22 goals. But WVU has a solid defence that has only given up 12 goals in 2026.
Peoria City vs Sueño FC - Thursday, 16 July at 7:30pm CT
Peoria City (10-1-1, 31 pts) earned their first ever division title in 2026, winning Great Plains Division after finishing in 2nd place last year. This is the third consecutive trip to the postseason for Peoria and the pod hosts are gunning for a trip to the Central Conference Final next weekend. With 31 goals scored and only 13 goals allowed, as well as previous playoff success Peoria would not shock anyone should they win their way into weekend number two.
Sueño FC (8-1-3, 25 pts) returns to the playoffs once again, but as back to back Heartland Division runners-up the Illinois club have something to prove. Facing the hosts is never an easy job, but having come out of the same division as the regular season champions, no one can say they are unprepared. Sueño knows how to score with an astounding 41 goals on the season, but have an average playoff defence with 13 goals against.
Flint Pod
Steel City FC vs Northern Indiana FC - Friday, 17 July at 3:00pm CT
Champion of the Great Forest Steel City FC (9-3-0, 30 pts) makes their way from the Pittsburgh area to Michigan for the Central Conference playoffs. Steel City has been to the playoffs every season of their existence except for one, their first one. Two straight Great Forest titles were preceded by two consecutive NPSL Great Lakes Conference titles and four straight playoff appearances. But in their sixth straight season in the playoffs Steel City hopes to right what has eluded them, post season success.
Making the playoffs in only their second season Northern Indiana FC (8-0-4, 24 pts) is the only remaining team left from the Valley Division. NIFC's average offence and defence could prove to be a huge issue against a Steel City side that has only allowed three goals this season. Regardless making the playoffs in their second season is a huge accomplishment, especially after finishing 5th (of 8) in their division in 2025.
Flint City Bucks vs FC Buffalo - Friday, 17 July at 6:30pm CT
One of the longest running clubs in American soccer in Flint City Bucks (10-1-1, 31 pts) enter the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season and 27th time overall. The Bucks have played in USL2 every season since 1995 and won four National Titles in the process, the last coming in 2019. With another great regular season in the books Flint will need to rely on their offence that scored 38 goals to move on in the playoffs. Defensively the team is sound, but nothing to write home about as they let in just over 1 goal per match in 2026.
On the other side of the pitch is another long running, but not quite as old side in FC Buffalo (7-3-2, 24 points). FC Buffalo might as well be brand new to the playoffs as they have only qualified once in their history, coming in the 2013 NPSL season. The Blitzers had a solid season finishing second in the Great Forest Division behind rival Steel City FC. Just like their opponents Buffalo has a very good offence and a solid but not outstanding defence, which will make the Friday evening showdown a fun one to watch.
Conference Semi-Finals and Beyond
The Central Conference playoffs began on Thursday in Peoria, IL. In that pod the final match in Peoria between hosts Peoria City and Regular Season champion Minneapolis City SC will take place on Saturday, 18 July. Friday afternoon it's the Flint pods turn to begin and their final match will be held on Sunday, 19 July after a single day off.
The two pod winners will meet for the Central Conference title at a to be determined location on Friday, 24 July with a spot in the National Semi-Finals on Sunday, 26 July being up for grabs. Wrapping up the season will be the National Championship match, slated for Saturday, 1 August at another to be determined location. The 2026 final will pit the "Western Champion" from either the Central or Western Conference against the "Eastern Champion" who will represent either the Eastern or Southern Conference.
