Riverhounds set to open 2026 season at Charleston, home opener set for March 28 vs expansion Jacksonville

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC will begin its quest to defend USL Championship league title in 2026 as the team and league announced home openers for all 25 clubs on Thursday.

To open the season, the Riverhounds SC will visit Old Guard Shield rivals the Charleston Battery at Patriots Point on March 7.  They will also visit Tampa Bay Rowdies on March 21, then Pittsburgh will play its home opener on Saturday, March 28 as it faces Sporting Club Jacksonville at Highmark Stadium.

Additionally, the Riverhounds are set to begin play in the US Open Cup, either March 17 or 18, as they could host or be on the road.  With the tournament’s early round draw focused on regional matchups, it is extremely likely the Hounds could be in the same pool as Steel City FC, Pittsburgh-area’s League Two club. US Soccer is expected to announce first round matchups for the Open Cup in January.

Both the league’s new arrivals set to kick off at home as part of a 10-game slate of action on the opening weekend of the regular season campaign.

Brooklyn FC will play its first game in the USL-C against Indy Eleven at Maimonides Park on Sunday, March 8, while Sporting Club Jacksonville will welcome Hartford Athletic to Hodges Stadium on Saturday, March 7 to kick off their respective campaigns.

Other notable games on the opening day of the season see defending Western Conference title-holder FC Tulsa head to visit Sacramento Republic FC, and Players’ Shield holder Louisville City FC visit in-state rival Lexington SC in the opening Commonwealth Cup clash of the season.

Regional clashes are also front and center as the season kicks off as Birmingham Legion FC plays host to the Tampa Bay Rowdies, El Paso Locomotive FC hosts Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, Monterey Bay FC hosts Oakland Roots SC, and San Antonio FC hosts Phoenix Rising FC.