Predictions: Who will make it out of each USL Championship group?
The USL Championship returns to action this weekend as group play kicks off in the adjusted format this season. The league has been on hiatus since mid-March and the league now feels comfortable in its protocols for matches to safely return to individual markets, potentially with fans (Wear your masks!).
As we’re eager to see the return of second-division soccer in the United States, our team at The Beautiful Game Network predicted which two clubs would advance from each group.
(The percentage next to each club is the % of voters that picked this club to finish in the top two spots in their group)
Group A
Sacramento Republic FC: 94%
Reno 1868 FC: 86%
Portland Timbers 2: 6%
Tacoma Defiance: 6%
Group B
Phoenix Rising FC: 87%
Orange County SC: 50%
San Diego Loyal FC: 50%
LA Galaxy II: 6%
Las Vegas Lights FC: 0%
Group C
New Mexico United: 81%
Real Monarchs SLC: 69%
El Paso Locomotive FC: 44%
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: 0%
Group D
FC Tulsa: 50%
San Antonio FC: 50%
Austin Bold FC: 44%
OKC Energy FC: 44%
RGVFC Toros: 6%
Group E
Louisville City FC: 100%
Indy Eleven: 81%
Saint Louis FC: 13%
Sporting KC II: 0%
Group F
New York Red Bulls 2: 88%
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: 88%
Philadelphia Union II: 12%
Hartford Athletic: 6%
Loudoun United FC: 0%
Group G
North Carolina FC: 81%
Birmingham Legion FC: 69%
Charlotte Independence: 25%
Memphis 901 FC: 19%
Group H
Tampa Bay Rowdies: 81%
Miami FC: 56%
Charleston Battery FC: 44%
Atlanta United 2: 13%
In addition to picking which two clubs they think will advance, our crew weighed in on the most competitive and least competitive groups in the USL Championship.
Most Competitive Group
Group B: 44%
Group E: 38%
Group C: 13%
Group D: 6%
Least Competitive Group
Group F: 53%
Group A: 24%
Group D: 12%
Group E: 6%
Group H: 6%
