A place in the Eastern Conference Final is at stake when the Boys in Blue host CT United FC at Fort Finley on Sunday.
Chattanooga FC will look to make more history on Sunday night when CT United FC visits Fort Finley for the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference Semifinals.
After its most successful regular season since joining the league, the Boys in Blue followed that up by winning the club's first playoff match since becoming professional in 2020.
CFC also brings a five-match winning streak heading into Sunday, with the club's last defeat coming all the way back on August 23 at Crown Legacy.
Chattanooga FC and CT United FC have met just once before, when Alex McGrath inspired the Boys in Blue to a 4-2 win back on March 8. Alex Krehl also scored a brace in that match for the first of many goals for the club this campaign (19).
What's at stake
The match will be an historic one for the league as it will be the first playoff game between two independent clubs.
Both clubs broke new ground for independent teams in the league's history by winning in the last round, and victory on Sunday would truly be a milestone.
A win for CFC and defeat for Crown Legacy, who kick off against Columbus Crew 2 at 7:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, would bring the Eastern Conference Final to the Scenic City.
Extra time
If the match is level at the end of regulation, two 15-minute halves of extra time will be played. If the match remains tied after extra time, it will then go to a penalty shootout.
What they said
Head Coach Richard Dixon, was was named finalist for the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Coach of the Year this week, previewed Sunday's monumental encounter with the media this week.
"Connecticut United has evolved a lot since we last played them on March 8th. That game has very little context. They brought in a few transfers and changed their approach a good bit as well. They've been learning as the season has gone on and made some changes to how they play. They have a lot of experience and quality, they know who they are and they're comfortable with their identity. We have to be mindful of that. It's a game we're going to need to manage well. They've very much like us in comparison with the rest of the league, so it will be a really good test to see how our experience and quality match up against theirs."
Know the opponent
CT United FC is led by Head Coach Shavar Thomas, who is the club's first-ever head coach. As a player, Thomas made nearly 200 appearances in Major League Soccer and made over 50 caps and captained the Jamaican national team. His prior coaching stops include Portmore United and FC Cincinnati 2.
Barnabás Tanyi led the Coywolves with 16 goals during the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro regular season. Tanyi scored the lone goal in CT United's victory at Atlanta United 2 in a 1-0 victory in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Alex Monis is team captain and registered eight goals and seven assists during the regular season.
News and notes
- CT United forward Cauã Paixão is suspended for this match
Match information
Venue: Finley Stadium | Chattanooga, Tenn.
Kick-off: Sunday, October 25, 5:00 p.m. ET
Broadcast: MLSNEXTPro.com, OneFootball TV | Talent: Jake Griffith
Tickets: Single-match tickets available here
Team kits for Sunday's match
Referees
Gerald Flores
Head Referee
Ben Rigel
Assistant Referee 1
Sarah Gaddes
Assistant Referee 2
Amin Hadzic
4th Official
