Pulse of Pittsburgh Soccer: Open Cup Derby is only the start of 2026’s local rivalries

Welcome to the late March, gearing up for April edition of the Pulse of Pittsburgh Soccer.

As we turn the calendar to April later this week, the local scene is shifting from the unpredictable wintry mix of March into a full-on spring sprint. While the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC hit the heart of their USL Championship schedule, our local collegiate programs are entering the home stretch of their spring exhibition seasons.

From our point of view, this month is all about development and identity.

For the Hounds, it’s about navigating a congested calendar that now includes the high-stakes drama of the U.S. Open Cup. and the USL Cup competitions.

For the top-flight college programs in the area, Pitt, Duquesne, and RMU squads, these final matches of the Spring are the last chance to integrate new faces before the real whistle blows this fall.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, our local pre-professional teams in the W-League and USL League Two are hard at work finalizing their rosters for the summer, including Steel City FC’s men’s squad, which had a solid showing in it’s Derby match vs the Riverhounds.

Speaking of Derby matches, last week’s first all-Pittsburgh showdown in the Open Cup in 69 years is just the tip of the iceberg.

The Open Cup Derby, which Pittsburgh soccer fans embraced last week, is only the start of 2026’s local rivalries.

That’s right, with the emergence of Riveters SC and now Riverhounds 2 squads in the past year, joining Steel City FC’s clubs in Fourth Division pre-professional leagues, Pittsburgh soccer fans will be treated to more than their share of matches with many of the top-tier talent in men’s and women’s soccer from the area will converge on the same field four different times in May and June.

🏆 2026 Pittsburgh Derby Schedule

Date	Competition	Matchup	Venue	Time
Wed, May 27	USL League Two	Riverhounds 2 vs. Steel City FC	Highmark Stadium	7:00 PM
Thu, May 28	USL W-League	Steel City FC vs. Riveters SC	Founders Field	6:00 PM
Wed, June 10	USL League Two	Steel City FC vs. Riverhounds 2	Founders Field	6:00 PM
Sat, June 27	USL W-League	Riveters SC vs. Steel City FC	Highmark Stadium

In USL League Two’s Great Forest Division, defending champions, Steel City FC men will face Riverhounds 2 and in USL W-League, the  Riveters emerged as the defending champions in its inaugural season in 2025, and they’ll take on Steel City FC’s women’s team twice this year too.

Column: Riveters, Steel City matches, provided Pittsburgh with rare glimpse of how special and unique intra-city derby can be

Steel City FC, Riverhounds 2 USL League Two 2026 schedules released

Riveters, Steel City FC W- League 2026 schedules released

 

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🗓️ Pittsburgh Soccer: April 2026 Schedule

Date	Matchup	Venue	Time/Status
Tue, March 31	Riverhounds SC vs Virginia Dream (USOC)	Highmark Stadium	7:00 PM
Sat, April 4	Riverhounds SC at Indy Eleven	Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium on the IUPUI campus	7:00 PM
Tue, April 7	RMU (W) vs Point Park	Highmark Stadium	TBA
Thu, April 9	Pitt (M) vs Robert Morris	Ambrose Urbanic Field	TBA
Sat, April 11	Pitt (W) at Kent State	Kent, OH	3:00 PM
Sun, April 12	Riverhounds SC at Birmingham Legion	BBVA Compass Field	5:00 PM
Sun, April 12	RMU (M) Alumni Game	Moon Township	TBA
Tue, April 14	RMU (W) at Kent State	Kent, OH	TBA
Apr 14–15	Projected: US Open Cup Round of 32*	TBD	TBD
Fri, April 17	Pitt (M) vs Duquesne	Ambrose Urbanic Field	7:00 PM
Sat, April 18	Riverhounds SC vs Detroit City FC	Highmark Stadium	7:00 PM
Sat, April 18	RMU (W) vs Akron	Montour Junction	TBA
Sun, April 19	RMU (M) at Mercyhurst	Erie, PA	TBA
Sat, April 25	Riverhounds SC vs Greenville Triumph	Highmark Stadium	7:00 PM***
Sat, April 25	RMU (M) at Seton Hill	Greensburg, PA	TBA
Apr 28–29	Projected: US Open Cup Round of 16*	TBD	TBD

** USL Cup competition