The Boys in Blue look to make history when NYCFC II visits Fort Finley in a win-or-go-home clash.
History will be on the line on Sunday night when Chattanooga FC hosts NYCFC II in the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
After its most successful season since joining the league, the Boys in Blue will look to win the club's first playoff match since becoming professional in 2020.
CFC earned a home playoff match by finishing as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, and selected the No. 6 seed NYCFC II in the Pick Your Opponent Selection Show. The Boys in Blue closed out the regular season with a four-match winning streak and will look to bring that momentum to Fort Finley on Sunday evening.
Chattanooga FC and NYCFC II have met three times over the past three seasons, with all three matches being away from home for CFC. However, the Boys in Blue have never lost to the Pigeons and have the edge in the historic head-to-head (1W-2D-0L, 1SOW, 1SOL).
In this season's only meeting between the two teams, CFC drew 1-1 with NYCFC II and won the resulting shootout for the extra point 5-4.
In 2025, Chattanooga FC defeated the Pigeons 1-0 at Icahn Stadium on Randalls Island, New York.
The club's first-ever away match competing in MLS NEXT Pro was a 1-1 draw against NYCFC II at Belson Stadium in Queens, New York on March 27, 2024. The Pigeons edged the shootout 4-2 that evening.
What's at stake
Not only would a win represent a significant milestone for the club historically, a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals, and league's final eight, is on the line. Following the conference quarterfinals, the playoffs will continue the weekend of October 23, and if CFC advances, the club is guaranteed to host due to securing the No. 2 seed. The Pick-Your-Opponent process will also be utilized for the conference semifinals, with the highest remaining seed in each conference selecting and hosting an opponent from the two lowest seeded teams on October 20. The two remaining Clubs will face each other, with the higher of the two seeds hosting.
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 and forward Alex Krehl, who was selected to the league's Best XI, spoke with media this week to look ahead to Sunday's monumental clash.
“The goal was to come in and show progress, not just progress in the kind of football we play, but also progress in the end product as well. The end product is winning games and ultimately competing for a championship. Last year the team did very well and made playoffs for the first time since joining the league and unfortunately we got knocked out, so now for us the goal is to see if we can advance and advance again until ultimately we’re competing for a championship. That is the intent this season. We want to show progress there, and I’ve felt we have done that on the field with the records the guys have broken this year, but at the end of the day we want to be one of the last teams standing.”
Krehl also spoke to the mindset the team is in heading into Sunday.
“It’s something we’re all really looking forward to. It’s been a long month off. That’s going to play well for us because everyone’s just eager to get out there and compete and ready for this playoff game. It’s nice having that added pressure with our home fans there. That will give us an extra kick to really go out and put in a good performance for them and hopefully do something special here.”
Did you know?
- Chattanooga FC totaled 56 points through 28 matches this season, breaking a club record since joining the league
- CFC is the first independent club in MLS NEXT Pro to host a home playoff match in consecutive seasons
- Krehl was selected to the league's Best XI and finished runners-up in the league's Golden Boot race; Eldin Jakupović was named finalist for Goalkeeper of the Year; Jakupović and Robertson earned honorable mentions for Best XI
Know the opponent
NYCFC II is led by Head Coach Matt Pilkington, who has been with the club in various roles since 2016.
Cooper Flax, who earned an honorable mention for the league's Best XI, is the team's leading goalscorer with nine goals. Drew Kerr has provided the most assists for the Pigeons with five on the season.
This will be the Pigeons' second playoff appearance in MLS NEXT Pro and first since 2024, when Philadelphia Union II ousted them in the conference quarterfinals.
Chattanooga FC vs. NYCFC II | Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Sunday, October 18 | 5:00 p.m. ET
For groups and premium seating options, reach out to tickets@chattanoogafc.com.
Match information
Venue: Finley Stadium | Chattanooga, Tenn.
Kick-off: Sunday, October 18, 5:00 p.m. ET
Broadcast: MLSNEXTPro.com, OneFootball TV | Talent: Mark Schoenster
Tickets: Single-match tickets available here
Team kits for Sunday's match
Referees
Edson Carvajal
Head Referee
Zachary McWhorter
Assistant Referee 1
Justin Fillmore
Assistant Referee 2
Laadi Issaka
4th Official
