ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rowdies will host in-state rivals Miami FC in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2026 USL Championship Playoffs this Friday, October 30 at 7:30 pm. ET, bringing playoff soccer back to Al Lang Stadium for the first time since 2023.
The Rowdies enter the playoffs as the top overall seed after claiming the USL Championship Players’ Shield with the best overall record in the regular season for the second time in club history. The Rowdies finished the regular season with a record of 18W-5L-7D as the only team with over 60 points in the league standings. As the top seed, the Rowdies have guaranteed hosting rights throughout the playoffs. Miami secured the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 9W-12L-9D in the regular season.
The USL Championship Playoffs is a single-elimination format. The top eight teams from both the Eastern and Western Conferences will compete in a fixed bracket over four rounds, culminating in the USL Championship Final on Saturday, November 21. The winner of the matchup between the Rowdies and Miami will advance to face either Louisville City FC or Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Friday’s matchup will mark the second time the Rowdies have squared off with Miami in the USL Championship Playoffs. The Rowdies defeated Miami 3-1 at Al Lang Stadium in the Conference Quarterfinals of the 2022 playoffs.
This year, the Rowdies won their first two contests versus Miami with a 4-1 victory in the Prinx Tires USL Cup in May and a 3-2 win in league action in July. Miami turned the tables on the Rowdies earlier this month, though, delivering the Green and Gold a 2-1 defeat at Al Lang Stadium on October 3.
Tickets for Friday’s playoff showdown between the Rowdies and Miami are available for purchase at rowdiessoccer.com/tickets. For discounted group tickets, contact the Rowdies sales office by emailing tickets@rowdiessoccer.com or calling 727-222-2000.
