USL Championship Matchday 27
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs Miami FC
Saturday, October 3, 7:30 p.m. ET
Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, FL
Gate Giveaway: The first 1,000 fans to arrive to will receive a Rowdies reusable shopping bag
Keep it Local Night: The Rowdies will celebrate Keep it Local Night at Al Lang this Saturday. Fans can enjoy local food trucks Maxi Empanadas and Bellies Street Food in the Michelon Ultra Pregame Fan Zone. Inside the stadium, fans can enjoy $5 Leg Day IPA and St. Petian Lager cans from Grand Central Brewhouse up until the 75th minute.
2026 League Records:
Rowdies: 15W-4L-7D (8-2-2 at home), 52 pts, 1st in the East
Miami: 8W-10L-9D (3-6-5 on the road), 33 pts, 8th in the West
Broadcast: Tampa Bay 44, ESPN+
After locking up home field advantage for the opening round of the USL Championship Playoffs on October 30, the Tampa Bay Rowdies return home this Saturday with a chance to make it a clean sweep against in-state rivals Miami FC this year and move another step closer toward claiming the USL Championship Players’ Shield.
A win over Miami at Al Lang Stadium this weekend would not be enough to clinch the Rowdies second Players’ Shield in club history, but it could put them right on the doorstep with three more matches left to play in the regular season. Heading into this weekend’s slate of matches, the Rowdies magic number to clinch the Players’ Shield as the team with the best overall record in the regular season is eight points. El Paso Locomotive FC and the Charleston Battery are the two sides keeping the most pressure on the Rowdies in the Players’ Shield race, with El Paso sitting five points back and Charleston trailing by six points in the standings.
Scouting Miami
A five-match unbeaten stretch over the last month has put Miami back in the hunt for a playoff spot. Miami moved above the playoff line on Wednesday night with a convincing 4-1 win over Sporting JAX at home. The South Florida side will hope that the momentum from three straight victories in league play will be enough to turn the tide in their series with the Rowdies. Tampa Bay claimed all three points in the first two meetings between the two sides this year, recording a 4-1 win in the Prinx Tires USL Cup and a 3-2 victory in league play. The Rowdies have also won ten straight regular season contests in the series, a stretch that dates all the way back to the 2022 season.
Eyeing History
The Rowdies recorded their 14th shutout of the regular season this past Saturday in San Antonio. With four matches remaining in the regular season, this year’s Rowdies are now one away from matching the club’s single-season shutout record from 2021. That 2021 season saw the Rowdies notch 15 shutouts in 34 matches, helping to secure the club’s first USL Championship Players’ Shield.
Plenty of Plaudits for Waite
Rowdies Goalkeeper Jahmali Waite was in the headlines quite a bit this week following his five-save performance to secure the Rowdies 14th shutout of the season. Waite earned his second USL Championship Team of the Week selection of the year for his standout shift in San Antonio, with one of his five saves earning a Save of the Week nomination. On Thursday, the USL Championship announced that Waite was also a finalist for the league’s Player of the Month award. The Jamaican international, who has posted a career-best 12 shutouts in 2026, logged a -2.85 Goals Prevented mark over four starts in the month of September and a +2.50 Goals Added mark to lead all goalkeepers.
Bartlow Departs
Defender Ethan Bartlow departed Tampa Bay this week after being recalled from his Rowdies loan by Sporting Kansas City. Bartlow joined the Rowdies on loan from Kansas City on August 11 and made six appearances during his time with the club. The Rowdies recorded five shutouts with Bartlow as part of the defensive line. Bartlow’s contributions helped cover the gap while other Rowdies defenders like Leland Archer, Yanis Leerman, and Brian Schaefer all worked their way back from injury.
Gear Up for Goals
This Saturday’s home match is the last chance for fans to take part in this year’s Gear Up for Goals donation drive. The Rowdies, in partnership with Kemper Auto, are encouraging fans to donate new or gently used soccer gear at this weekend’s match at Al Lang Stadium. All donated gear will benefit the Hispanic Services Council, in support of the organization’s efforts to provide equal access and opportunities to Tampa Bay’s Latino population. Fans who drop off at least one item at the donation bins outside of Gate 2 at the stadium will receive a voucher for a free hot dog or pretzel and a voucher for one soda or water at the match (limit one per household). Visit rowdiessoccer.com/gear-up-for-goals for a list of requested donation items.
Rowdies Availability Report
OUT: Locadia (International Duty, Curacao)
