ST PETERSBURG, FL – The United Soccer League today announced its 2022 USL on ESPN national telecast schedule, with three Tampa Bay Rowdies games set to be featured in the national spotlight.
Tampa Bay’s season opener kicks off the league’s slate of nationally televised games on ESPN2, as the Rowdies travel to face Birmingham Legion FC in the club’s first league game at its new home, Protective Stadium on Sunday, March 13 at 5pm ET.
The Green and Gold will again feature on ESPN2 when they make their first trip out west to face Phoenix Rising FC at Wild Horse Pass Stadium. The two perennial USL Championship favorites met last year at Al Lang Stadium, with the Rowdies claiming a 2-1 victory. This year’s showdown will kickoff on Sunday, May 15 at 8 pm ET.
ESPN’s cameras will turn to Al Lang Stadium on Wednesday, September 28, as they square off against the Western Conference’s El Paso Locomotive FC. This will be the first meeting between the two sides, with kickoff in Downtown St. Petersburg set for 8pm ET.
The USL also confirmed a schedule change for the Rowdies’ game versus FC Tulsa, which will now take place on Saturday, April 16.
Combined with nearly 700 USL Championship and USL 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.”
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.
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 9pm 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 Broadcast Schedule
|
Date |
Time (ET) |
Network |
Home Club |
Away Club |
|
3/13 |
5 p.m. ET |
ESPN2 |
Birmingham Legion FC |
Tampa Bay Rowdies |
|
3/19 |
8 p.m. ET |
ESPN Deportes |
El Paso Locomotive FC |
New Mexico United |
|
4/3 |
5 p.m. ET |
ESPN Deportes |
San Diego Loyal SC |
El Paso Locomotive FC |
|
4/15 |
7 p.m. ET |
ESPN Deportes |
Detroit City FC |
Birmingham Legion FC |
|
4/24 |
5 p.m. ET |
ESPN Deportes |
Indy Eleven |
Orange County SC |
|
5/15 |
8 p.m. ET |
ESPN2 |
Phoenix Rising FC |
Tampa Bay Rowdies |
|
6/4 |
9 p.m. ET |
ESPN Deportes |
Orange County SC |
New Mexico United |
|
6/11 |
6 p.m. ET |
ESPN Deportes |
Monterey Bay F.C. |
San Antonio FC |
|
6/18 |
12 p.m. ET |
ESPN2 |
Detroit City FC |
El Paso Locomotive FC |
|
6/25 |
1 p.m. ET |
ESPN2 |
Hartford Athletic |
Louisville City FC |
|
6/28 |
9 p.m. ET |
ESPN2 |
San Antonio FC |
FC Tulsa |
|
7/4 |
9 p.m. ET |
ESPN2 |
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC |
San Diego Loyal SC |
|
7/17 |
7:30 p.m. ET |
ESPN Deportes |
Rio Grande Valley FC |
Las Vegas Lights FC |
|
7/20 |
7 p.m. ET |
ESPN2 |
Louisville City FC |
Phoenix Rising FC |
|
9/18 |
5 p.m. ET |
ESPN2 |
Sacramento Republic FC |
Orange County SC |
|
9/23 |
8 p.m. ET |
ESPN Deportes |
Louisville City FC |
Memphis 901 FC |
|
9/28 |
8 p.m. ET |
ESPN Deportes |
Tampa Bay Rowdies |
El Paso Locomotive FC |
|
11/6 |
7:30 p.m. ET |
ESPN2 |
USL League One Final |
Teams TBD |
|
11/13 |
9 p.m. ET |
ESPN / ESPN2, ESPN Deportes |
USL Championship Final |
Teams TBD |
