TAMPA, Fla. (January 27, 2022) – The United Soccer League today announced its 2022 USL on ESPN national telecast schedule, bringing marquee Championship matches and the League One Final to millions of homes throughout the new campaign. Combined with nearly 700 Championship and League One games on ESPN+, USL fans can watch the entire regular season, playoffs, and finals for both leagues on ESPN platforms.
This year’s 19-match slate on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN Deportes nearly triples the USL’s linear presence since 2018. The schedule features intriguing rivalry and interconference matchups at some of the country’s best soccer cities.
“As the USL grows, our fantastic partners at ESPN continue to increase our national visibility every year and deliver first-class, one-stop access via their linear and streaming platforms,” said USL Executive Vice President Court Jeske. “Every nationally-televised game gives U.S. sports fans a taste of what makes the USL a great brand of soccer. Through ESPN’s platforms, more American soccer fans are discovering the high level of play and festive atmosphere that USL clubs and their fans bring week after week.”
The opening weekend of the Championship season culminates in Birmingham Legion FC’s first league game at the new downtown Protective Stadium on March 13 as they welcome the Tampa Bay Rowdies, the defending Eastern Conference winners. The 2021 Championship Winners, Orange County SC, will makes its first national TV appearance of the season on April 24 as it faces Indy Eleven at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in an interconference clash.
Other notable regular season matchups include newcomer Monterey Bay F.C. playing host to San Antonio FC at Cardinale Stadium on June 11, and a week later fellow new arrival Detroit City FC take on perennial title contender El Paso Locomotive FC on June 18 at Keyworth Stadium. On July 20, a rematch of the 2018 Championship Final between Louisville City FC and Phoenix Rising FC takes place at Lynn Family Stadium, and September 28 features a late season showdown between the Tampa Bay Rowdies and El Paso Locomotive FC.
The 2022 USL League One Final airs on Sunday, November 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, building on last year’s first League One regular season game to air nationally as Union Omaha seeks to defend its crown this campaign.
The following weekend, the 2022 USL Championship Final airs on Sunday, November 13 at 9 p.m. ET, (network to be announced), bringing the curtain down on the season prior to the kickoff of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on November 21.
2022 USL on ESPN National Television Schedule
March 13 – Birmingham Legion FC vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN2
March 19 – El Paso Locomotive FC vs. New Mexico United, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN Deportes
April 3 – San Diego Loyal SC vs. El Paso Locomotive, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN Deportes
April 15 – Detroit City FC vs. Birmingham Legion FC, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN Deportes
April 24 – Indy Eleven vs. Orange County SC, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN Deportes
May 15 – Phoenix Rising FC vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2
June 4 – Orange County SC vs. New Mexico United, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN Deportes
June 11 – Monterey Bay FC vs. San Antonio FC, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN Deportes
June 18 – Detroit City FC vs. El Paso Locomotive, 12 p.m. ET, ESPN2
June 25 – Hartford Athletic vs. Louisville City FC, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN2
June 28 – San Antonio FC vs. FC Tulsa, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2
July 4 – Colorado Switchbacks FC vs. San Diego Loyal SC, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2
July 17 – Rio Grande Valley FC vs. Las Vegas Lights FC, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN Deportes
July 20 – Louisville City FC vs. Phoenix Rising FC, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2
September 18 – Sacramento Republic FC vs. Orange County SC, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN2
September 23 – Louisville City FC vs. Memphis 901 FC, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN Deportes
September 28 – Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. El Paso Locomotive, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN Deportes
November 6 – USL League One Final, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
November 13 – USL Championship Final, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN Deportes
