2026 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC season
| 2026 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Tuffy Shallenberger | ||
| Head coach | Rob Vincent | ||
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The 2026 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC season will be the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC's twenty-seventh season of existence, their tenth season in the second tier of American soccer, and their sixteenth season in the league now named the USL Championship.[1] The Riverhounds, are coming off their first league championship in club history, having won the 2025 USL Championship playoffs final against FC Tulsa.[2]
Over the offseason, the Riverhounds officially promoted previously interim coach Rob Vincent to the official head coach, after taking the reigns from Bob Lilley,[3] who was placed on administrative leave in mid-October in the middle of Lilley's eighth season as head coach of the Riverhounds.
Roster
- As of August 16, 2025[4]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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- ^ USL Academy Contract
Competitive
USL Championship
On December 16, 2025, the USL Championship released the schedule for all 25 teams for both the regular season and the USL Cup.[5][6]
Eastern Conference standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Charleston Battery | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 | Playoffs |
| 5 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 | |
| 6 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | |
| 7 | Brooklyn FC | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 3 | |
| 8 | Rhode Island FC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Updated to match(es) played on March 14, 2026. Source: USL Championship Standings
Rules for classification: 1) total wins against conference opponents; 2) goal differential against conference opponents; 3) goals scored against conference opponents; 4) head-to-head points against conference opponents; 5) points per game against conference opponents; 6) points per game against non-conference opponents; 7) fewest disciplinary points; 8) coin toss or drawing of lots
Rules for classification: 1) total wins against conference opponents; 2) goal differential against conference opponents; 3) goals scored against conference opponents; 4) head-to-head points against conference opponents; 5) points per game against conference opponents; 6) points per game against non-conference opponents; 7) fewest disciplinary points; 8) coin toss or drawing of lots
Match results
All times are in Eastern Standard Time.
| March 7, 2026 1 | Charleston Battery | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina |
| 6:00 PM | Stadium: Patriots Point Soccer Complex |
| March 14, 2026 2 | Loudoun United FC | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Leesburg, Virginia |
| 3:00 PM | Stadium: Segra Field |
| March 21, 2026 3 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | St. Petersburg, Florida |
| 7:30 PM | Stadium: Al Lang Stadium |
| March 28, 2025 4 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Sporting Club Jacksonville | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
| April 4, 2026 5 | Indy Eleven | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Carroll Stadium |
| April 11, 2026 6 | Birmingham Legion FC | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Birmingham, Alabama |
| 5:00 PM | Stadium: Protective Stadium |
| April 18, 2025 7 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Detroit City FC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
| May 2, 2026 8 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Phoenix Rising FC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
| May 9, 2026 9 | Louisville City FC | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Louisville, Kentucky |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium |
| May 30, 2026 10 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Miami FC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
| June 13, 2026 11 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Indy Eleven | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
| June 20, 2026 12 | Hartford Athletic | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Hartford, Connecticut |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium |
| July 4, 2026 13 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Brooklyn FC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
| July 15, 2026 14 | Sporting Club Jacksonville | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Jacksonville, Florida |
| 7:30 PM | Stadium: Hodges Stadium |
| July 18, 2026 15 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Louisville City FC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
| July 25, 2026 16 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Rhode Island FC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
| July 29, 2026 17 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | FC Tulsa | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
| August 1, 2026 18 | Oakland Roots SC | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Oakland, California |
| 10:00 PM | Stadium: Oakland Coliseum |
| August 8, 2026 19 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Sacramento Republic FC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
| August 15, 2026 20 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Charleston Battery | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
| August 22, 2026 21 | Brooklyn FC | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Brooklyn, New York |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Maimonides Park |
| August 26, 2026 22 | El Paso Locomotive FC | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | El Paso, Texas |
| 9:00 PM | Stadium: Southwest University Park |
| August 29, 2026 23 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 5:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
| September 5, 2026 24 | Miami FC | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Miami, Florida |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Pitbull Stadium |
| September 12, 2026 25 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Loudoun United FC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
| September 19, 2026 26 | Detroit City FC | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Hamtramck, Michigan |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Keyworth Stadium |
| September 26, 2026 27 | Orange County SC | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Irvine, California |
| 10:00 PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
| October 10, 2026 28 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Hartford Athletic | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
| March 8, 2026 29 | Rhode Island FC | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Pawtucket, Rhode Island |
| 7:30 PM | Stadium: Centreville Bank Stadium |
| May 30, 2026 30 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Birmingham Legion FC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
USL Cup
The Riverhounds will participate in the third edition of the USL Cup, and the second edition to feature teams from both the USL Championship and League One.[7]
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PKW | PKL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Charlotte Independence | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Greenville Triumph SC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Loudoun United FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Richmond Kickers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
First match(es) will be played: April 25, 2026. Source: [1]
Group stage
| May 25, 2026 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Greenville Triumph SC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
| May 15, 2026 | Charlotte Independence | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| 7:30 PM | Stadium: American Legion Memorial Stadium |
| June 6, 2026 | Charleston Battery | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina |
| 7:00 PM | Stadium: Patriots Point Soccer Complex |
| July 11, 2026 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Loudoun United FC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 5:00 PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
U.S. Open Cup
The Riverhounds, as a member of the second division USL Championship, entered the U.S. Open Cup in the First Round, matched up against fellow Pittsburgh-based club Steel City FC.[8]
| March 17 | Steel City FC (USL2) | v | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USLC) | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Stadium: Rooney Field |
References
- ^ Phillips, John (January 27, 2026). "After offseason flies by, Riverhounds return to practice to prepare for title defense". TRIBLIVE. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
- ^ "Riverhounds SC wins first USL title in penalties against FC Tulsa". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
- ^ Matoney, Nick (December 19, 2025). "Rob Vincent officially named head coach of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds". WTAE. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
- ^ "Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC roster". Riverhounds.com. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Archived from the original on March 20, 2017. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
- ^ USLSoccer.com Staff (December 16, 2025). "USL Championship Announces 2026 Schedule". USL Championship. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
- ^ "2026 Schedule". USL Championship. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
- ^ Lewis, Michael (December 16, 2025). "THIRD EDITION: Prinx Tires USL Cup kicks off on April 25". Front Row Soccer. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
- ^ Krysinsky, John (January 27, 2026). "March Soccer Madness in the 'Burgh: Steel City FC to host Riverhounds in US Open Cup First Round match". Pittsburgh Soccer Now. Retrieved January 29, 2026.