USL Championship Matchday 25
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs Birmingham Legion FC
Saturday, September 19, 7:30 p.m. ET
Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, FL
Postmatch Fireworks: Fans can stick around following the final whistle to catch a fireworks show from down on the pitch.
2026 League Records:
Rowdies: 14W-4L-6D (7-2-2 at home), 48 pts, 1st in the East
Birmingham: 3W-9L-11D (1-5-4 on the road), 20 pts, 10th in the East
Broadcast: Tampa Bay 44, ESPN+
The Tampa Bay Rowdies aim to return to the win column this weekend as they make their way back to Al Lang Stadium for a matchup with Birmingham Legion FC. Tampa Bay heads into their meeting with Birmingham following a 3-1 road defeat at the hands of Hartford Athletic.
Last Saturday’s loss in Hartford was only the second time this year that the Rowdies have lost on the road, and only the club’s fourth overall loss this season. On the few occasions that the Rowdies have stumbled this year, they have responded well with positive results. The Rowdies have not lost consecutive matches so far in 2026, posting three wins and one draw in their matches coming off a loss.
Standings Update
With six matches left to play in their regular season campaign, the Rowdies still control their fate as the frontrunners for the top seed in the Eastern Conference and this year’s USL Championship Players’ Shield. Tampa Bay holds an eight-point edge over the Charleston Battery in the Eastern Conference standings. Meanwhile, El Paso Locomotive FC and New Mexico United are keeping the pressure on the Rowdies in the Players’ Sheld race. El Paso has cut Tampa Bay’s lead down to five points heading into this weekend, while New Mexico sits third in the league’s overall standings after two straight draws. The Players’ Shield, awarded to the team with the best overall record in the regular season, guarantees home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Rowdies claimed their first Players’ Shield as the top team during the 2021 regular season.
Closing in on Home Field Advantage
The Rowdies secured their spot in this year’s playoffs the last time they took the field at Al Lang. With that job done, the Rowdies have now zeroed in on clinching hosting rights for the first round of the playoffs as their next objective. The Green and Gold can’t tick that box off this weekend, but the matchup with Birmingham is one the Rowdies will be eager to take all three points from to aid in their quest for a home field advantage in the first round. A win this weekend and a few other favorable results around the league could set the stage for the Rowdies to secure hosting rights next weekend.
Gear Up for Goals
The Rowdies are teaming up with Kemper Auto to support youth soccer players throughout the region with the second annual Gear Up for Goals soccer gear drive during Hispanic Heritage Month. Fans can take part in Gear Up for Goals by donating new or gently used soccer gear at the Rowdies upcoming home matches during Hispanic Heritage Month on September 19 and October 3. 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 can drop off their new or gently used soccer equipment for donation outside of Gate 2 prior to kickoff.
As an additional thank you for supporting the Gear Up for Goals Drive, fans who make a donation 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).
Hispanic Heritage Night
Saturday is Hispanic Heritage Night at Al Lang, with the Rowdies set to celebrate the night with authentic food and music. The celebration kicks off at the Michelob Ultra Fan Zone outside of Gate 2, with fans able to enjoy offerings from local Latin-inspired food trucks from 5:30 p.m. up until the start of the match. Salsa dancers will also add to the festive atmosphere with a live performance inside the Fan Zone from 6-7 p.m. Once inside Al Lang, fans can take advantage of $5 Viva Tequila Seltzers, a specialty margarita, and other special concessions like empanadas and churros.
Locadia Debuts
The Rowdies latest addition to the squad made his debut this past Saturday in Hartford. Curacao international Jurgen Locadia entered as a second-half substitute in the match, becoming the 23rd player to make his Rowdies debut in 2026. Locadia, who made his World Cup debut this summer, has the potential to lift the Rowdies attack to an even higher level down the final stretch of the season. The veteran striker notched 10 goals and two assists in all competitons for Miami FC before his transfer to Tampa Bay.
Scouting Birmingham
The Rowdies last met Birmingham in the opening match of the season back in March, nabbing all three points in a 1-0 result on a rainy night at Protective Stadium. While the Rowdies have found consistent success since that night, Birmingham has struggled to find their form and currently sit outside the playoff picture with no many chances left to get back into the mix.
Birmingham heads to Al Lang on Saturday after picking up draws against two of the league’s top teams. Head coach Jay Heaps’ side jumped out to early leads on both the Charleston Battery and New Mexico United at home in their last two outings before letting the lead slip away on both occasions to come away with draws. However, Wednesday’s midweek matchup against New Mexico did see Birmingham rally from down 4-1 to score three unanswered goals in the final stages and nick a point in the end. The comeback effort, aided by a brace from attacker Ronaldo Damus, marked the first time this season that Birmingham has recorded four goals in a match.
MILESTONE WATCH
- Rowdies Forward MD Myers (38 goals) is nearing 40 USL Championship regular season goals
- Rowdies Midfielder Lewis Hilton (37) is nearing 40 USL Championship regular season assists.
- Rowdies Defender Nate Dossantos (9,930 minutes) is nearing 10,000 USL Championship regular season minutes played.
- Rowdies Defender Charlie Ostrem (8 assists) is tied for most assists in the USL Championship. Should Ostrem reach 10 assists in 2026, he would become the first player to record double-digit seasons of assists in both the USL Championship and USL League One.
- Rowdies Goalkeeper Jahmali Waite is one clean sheet away from surpassing his single season record of 10 shutouts. Waite set his personal record back in 2023 while helping Pittsburgh Riverhounds win the USL Championship Players’ Shield.
Rowdies Availability Report
OUT: Perez (Suspended), Vivi
