Today, USL Championship announced its league alignment for the 2022 regular season. In a departure from the 8-team division format in 2021, the league’s 27 clubs will return to conference play for the upcoming season. Teams will be divided into two conferences – 14 in the Eastern Conference and 13 in the Western Conference.
The full schedule for the 2022 USL Championship season—including Republic FC’s opening night—will be announced in January 2022. More information on ticket packages and single- game tickets will be available soon after.
Preparations are well underway for the 2022 season. Stay up to date on roster news at www.sacrepublicfc.com/roster-updates. Think you have what it takes to join the squad for the 2022 season? Join us for open tryouts on January 15 & 16. At least one player in attendance will be invited to train with the team ahead of the 2022 USL Championship season with the chance to earn a professional contract. For more information on registration and requirements, visit www.sacrepublicfc.com/tryouts.
Regular Season Overview
- 34 games played from March 11 to October 15
- Clubs will play each of their conference opponents twice – once at home, once away
- The remaining games will be against interconference opponents, with an even split of home and away
Playoffs Overview
- Single-elimination, 2022 USL Championship Final to be played between November 10 and November 14
- Top 7 teams in each conference qualify for 2022 USL Championship Playoffs
- The top seed in each conference will receive a first-round bye. Following the first round, the bracket will be reseeded to ensure the top conference seeds play against the lowest-seeded remaining opponent in their respective conferences.
What Does This Mean for Republic FC?
The Indomitable Club will remain in the Western Conference, which includes six other teams from 2021’s Pacific Division and a few teams they haven’t seen since 2019. And don’t forget about league debutants Monterey Bay FC, who will surely add to a budding rivalry in Northern California.
Western Conference
- Sacramento Republic FC
- Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – In 2021, reached the playoffs for the first time in five years; have not played Sacramento since 2019
- El Paso Locomotive FC – Finished 1st in the Mountain Division in 2021 after posting the 3rd-most points across the league
- LA Galaxy II – A familiar opponent for Republic FC, they finished just outside the playoffs last season
- Las Vegas Lights FC – Another familiar foe for Sacramento, they will be looking to make improvements after finishing last in the Pacific Division
- Monterey Bay FC – One of two teams entering the league this year and the newest addition to the Western Conference
- New Mexico United – Finished one point out of the playoffs in 2021; have not played against Sacramento since 2019
- Oakland Roots SC – The Norcal rivalry continues into its second season
- Orange County SC – Took home its first-ever USL Championship title in 2021
- Phoenix Rising SC – Finished 2021 at the top of the Pacific Division and 2nd-best record across the league
- Rio Grande Valley FC Toros – Made it to the 2021 Western Conference Semifinals; have not played Republic FC since 2019
- San Antonio FC – Reached 2021 Western Conference Finals after finishing the regular season 2nd-best in the Mountain Division
- San Diego Loyal SC – Entering their 3rd season in the league; finished 2021 in 3rd place in the Pacific Division
Eastern Conference
- Atlanta United 2
- Birmingham Legion
- Charleston Battery
- Detroit City FC (first season)
- Hartford Athletic
- Indy Eleven
- Loudoun United FC
- Louisville City FC
- Memphis 901 FC
- The Miami FC
- New York Red Bulls II
- Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Tampa Bay Rowdies
- FC Tulsa
