Men's Soccer Announces 2026 Schedule

ORLANDO – The UCF men’s soccer team has unveiled its complete schedule for the fall 2026 campaign, representing the program’s fourth as a member of the Sun Belt Conference.

The Knights enter the new season fresh off a strong finish to the 2025 season that saw the program capture its first Sun Belt Conference tournament championship, and will look to build off the momentum this fall with a handful of high-profile non-conference matchups on tap prior to the commencement of conference play.

UCF’s fall slate, consisting of 16 total matchups and seven-non-conference foes, features five games against programs that earned NCAA Tournament bids a season ago, 10 matchups against squads that finished within the top 100 of the NCAA’s final 2025 RPI rankings, and a pair of contests against 2025 conference champions.

EXHIBITION SCHEDULE

Before embarking on their regular-season opener Aug. 20, the Black and Gold will first play a pair of preseason exhibition contests Aug. 9 and Aug. 14. The Knights will play a round robin-style contest against both Daytona State and Jacksonville in Daytona Aug. 9 before returning home for their final preseason tuneup against North Florida Aug. 14.

NON-CONFERENCE MATCH ONE | AUG. 20 vs. BOSTON U.

After beginning its season with a pair of road contests a season ago, UCF will kick off the 2026 slate on its home pitch Aug. 20 against a somewhat unfamiliar foe in the Boston U. Terriers.

Boston U. in 2025 produced an overall 10-8 record, including a 5-4 mark in Patriot League play, and finished No. 67 overall in the NCAA’s final RPI rankings. Its season was highlighted by a ranked win over then-No. 24 Bucknell Sept. 27 before it again toppled the Bison in the first round of the conference tournament, 3-1, Nov. 8. The Terriers would then see their season come to a close days later in the second round with a 1-0 loss to second-seeded Lehigh.

Boston U’s lone previous meeting with UCF, meanwhile, came in Boston Sept. 17, 2007, a contest the Terriers won by a slim 3-2 margin.

NON-CONFERENCE MATCH TWO | AUG. 23 at FAU

A rematch of UCF’s first-round NCAA Tournament tilt in 2025, the Knights will make the trip south to Boca Raton to square off against the Florida Atlantic Owls after the conclusion of their Aug. 20 season-opener.

UCF earned hosting honors for its NCAA Tournament opener after clinching the Sun Belt Tournament title last fall and was given a home matchup against its in-state rival Nov. 20, a back-and-forth affair the Knights hung on to win by a 3-2 final score.

The contest, representing the first meeting between the two programs since 2022, lifted the Knights’ all-time record against the Owls to 24-9-3 in 36 total matchups.

In toppling the Owls, UCF earned a victory over an FAU squad that earned the American Athletic Conference Tournament title and a share of the AAC regular-season championship, having finished the season 12-4-2 overall, including 5-1-2 in AAC play.

NON-CONFERENCE MATCH THREE | AUG. 28 vs. SOUTH FLORIDA

The second of four non-conference tilts against in-state foes in 2026, the Knights will meet the South Florida Bulls at home Aug. 28.

The two squads played to a tightly-contested 1-1 draw in Tampa a season ago, a match that saw the Knights produce 19 total shot attempts and 10 on goal. The Bulls would then go on to finish with a 9-3-5 overall record and a 5-2-1 mark in AAC play before falling in the first round of the conference tournament to sixth-seeded Tulsa, 3-2, Nov. 7.

NON-CONFERENCE MATCH FOUR | SEPT. 1 vs. CLEMSON

In continuing a three-game homestand, the Knights will welcome the four-time National Champion Clemson Tigers to Orlando for the fourth all-time meeting between the two programs.

UCF last met Clemson on the road in kicking off its 2023 slate, a match that saw the Knights topple the then-No. 9 Tigers, 2-1, to kick off a dominant 10-4-2 season during which the Knights would eventually earn the first No. 1 national ranking in a regular-season poll in UCF Athletics history. The effort also marked the Knights’ first win over Clemson in program history.

The Tigers in 2025 produced an 8-6-3 overall record, accompanied by a 4-2-2 mark in ACC play that included a 3-0 shutout win over Duke and a 4-3 triumph over Wake Forest. Clemson did earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament but fell to Western Michigan, 1-0, in the first round on its home pitch Nov. 20.

NON-CONFERENCE MATCH FIVE | SEPT. 6 vs. FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC

In concluding a three-match homestand, the Knights will square off against in-state foe Florida Polytechnic in the program’s first year of competition.

Florida Polytechnic announced on March 10, 2026 a new athletics program at the school, one that includes men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and softball.

NON-CONFERENCE MATCH SIX | SEPT. 11 at VCU

Representing the penultimate match of the Knights’ non-conference slate, UCF will make the trip to Richmond, Virginia, for a tilt against the VCU Rams.

The Rams were a first-round Atlantic 10 tournament exit a season ago, concluding a 6-6-5 overall season with a 4-2 loss to third-seeded Dayton Nov. 7. The squad did author a 3-2-3 mark in conference play throughout the season, though, and went unbeaten against then-No. 1 Clemson (2-1 win Sept. 9), then-No. 2 Marshall (2-2 draw Sept. 24) and then-No. 24 George Mason (2-1 win Oct. 8).

UCF has faced the Rams just twice before, falling in the programs’ first meeting in 2003 before earning a 2-0 clean sheet victory in Orlando Sept. 13, 2019.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE MATCH ONE | SEPT. 18 at JAMES MADISON

In kicking off Sun Belt Conference play, the Knights will continue a three-game road trip in Harrisonburg, Virginia against the James Madison Dukes Sept. 18.

James Madison finished last in the Sun Belt table in 2025, finishing 1-10-5 overall and winless in league play, though the Dukes often rise to the occasion in their matchups against UCF.

The Knights last year snapped a three-game skid against the Dukes, earning a 3-2 victory in Orlando Oct. 22 on the strength of Lilian Ricol’s first career hat trick. The effort marked UCF’s first win over James Madison since joining the Sun Belt.

NON-CONFERENCE MATCH SEVEN | SEPT. 22 at STETSON

UCF will conclude its 2026 non-conference slate in DeLand against the Stetson Hatters Sept. 22, marking the Black and Gold’s fourth contest of the season against an in-state foe.

The Hatters went 6-8-3 overall in 2025, including a 2-3-1 mark in ASUN play, and advanced as far as the second round of the ASUN Conference tournament after producing a 2-1 victory over Central Arkansas in the quarterfinal round Nov. 8. The team then played to a scoreless draw with North Florida in the semifinal before falling 4-3 in penalties.

UCF has enjoyed great success against Stetson in the teams’ all-time series, having gone 35-10-3 in 48 previous matchups. The squads have not met in the regular season since the 2023 campaign, when the Knights extended their win streak against the Hatters to four straight with a 2-1 win in Orlando Aug. 27.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE MATCH TWO | SEPT. 27 vs. KENTUCKY

UCF will return home from its three-game trip to commence a big two-game conference home swing, starting with a Sept. 27 tilt against the reigning Sun Belt 2025 regular-season champion Kentucky Wildcats.

The Knights went 1-1 against Kentucky last year, first falling by a slim 3-2 final score in Lexington Sept. 19 before toppling the then-top-seeded Wildcats in the second round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament in Lexington, 1-0, Nov. 12. The effort helped pave way for the Black and Gold’s first Sun Belt tournament title.

Kentucky, finishing with an overall 10-4-5 record and 7-1-1 mark in Sun Belt Conference play, earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament but fell in the first round to Saint Louis in double overtime by a 2-1 final score.

Throughout the season, the Wildcats bested then-No. 20 Western Michigan, 2-1 Aug. 21, then-No. 20 Georgia Southern, 2-1 Oct. 22, and then-No. 10 West Virginia, 1-0 Oct. 26 prior to postseason play.

A win over Kentucky this fall would even the all-time series between the programs, as Kentucky currently holds a 6-7-2 edge in 15 previous meetings.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE MATCH THREE | OCT. 3 vs. MARSHALL

After playing host to the Wildcats, the Knights will then welcome the Marshall Thundering Herd to Orlando in a rematch of the 2025 Sun Belt Conference tournament championship game.

The Black and Gold bested the third-seeded Thundering Herd in Huntington, 3-1, Nov. 16, clinching the tournament title and completing a dominant run through the championship that saw UCF outscore Georgia Southern, Kentucky and Marshall by an aggregate 7-3 across the three games, all on the road.

The win represented UCF’s first against Marshall since joining the Sun Belt, snapping a three-game losing streak to the Thundering Herd that saw Marshall blank the Knights in all three matches.

Marshall authored a 12-4-5 record overall last season, including a 6-2-1 mark in Sun Belt play to clinch its third-place finish in the league table. The squad went unbeaten in three of its four regular-season matches against ranked opponents, drawing with then-No. 12 Virginia Tech, 2-2 Aug. 29, and then-No. 12 High Point, 2-2 Sept. 9, and besting then-No. 19 Kentucky, 4-1 Oct. 10.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE MATCH FOUR | OCT. 9 at COASTAL CAROLINA

UCF will return to the road following its two-game homestand to meet the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in Conway, South Carolina Oct. 9.

The Knights and Chanticleers met in Orlando on Halloween a season ago, a match that saw UCF extend its win streak over Coastal Carolina to four consecutive matches to move to 5-2-0 against the Chanticleers all time. Since joining the Sun Belt Conference, the Black and Gold have outscored the Chanticleers by an aggregate 10 goals to two in three meetings.

Coastal Carolina, meanwhile, finished the 2025 campaign 3-9-2 overall and 2-6-1 in Sun Belt Conference play. The Chants fell in the opening round of the conference tournament to top-seeded No. 18 Kentucky, but took the Wildcats to penalty kicks after playing to a 0-0 draw.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE MATCH FIVE | OCT. 17 vs. OLD DOMINION

The Knights will continue their conference slate back in Orlando against an Old Dominion Monarchs squad that went 5-5-8 overall in 2025.

Though the Monarchs’ season ended in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament, the team produced strong results against a handful of the top programs on its schedule, including scoreless draw against then-No. 12 Marshall Oct. 26, a 1-1 draw with then-No. 18 Kentucky Nov. 4, and a conference tournament meeting with second seeded West Virginia that saw Old Dominion take the Mountaineers to penalty kicks after playing to a 2-2 draw Nov. 9.

UCF and Old Dominion also played to a 1-1 draw in Norfolk Oct. 18, a result that ensured the Knights would remain unbeaten by the Monarchs in three matchups as Sun Belt Conference mates, going 2-0-1 in that span.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE MATCH SIX | OCT. 21 at WEST VIRGINIA

Representing the penultimate road match of the Black and Gold’s regular season, UCF will make the trip to Morgantown to clash with the West Virginia Mountaineers Oct. 21.

West Virginia produced another dominant campaign in 2025, going 13-5-3 overall accompanied by a 7-2-0 mark in Sun Belt play. The squad was edged in double overtime by third-seeded Marshall, 3-2, in the second round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament Nov. 12, but later advanced as far as the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The team’s best results throughout the year included a scoreless draw with then-No. 16 Akron, a 6-4 win over then-No. 22 George Mason, a 2-2 draw with then-No. 9 High Point, a 2-0 clean sheet win over then-No. 6 Georgia Southern, and a 3-0 regular-season victory over then-No. 11 Marshall.

After dropping a slim 1-0 match in Orlando to the Mountaineers, the Knights are still in search of their first win over West Virginia since joining the Sun Belt Conference. The Mountaineers represent the lone program UCF has yet to earn a win against since the 2023 season.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE MATCH SEVEN | OCT. 25 vs. SOUTH CAROLINA

After returning from Morgantown, UCF will begin its final home stretch of the regular season beginning with an Oct. 25 tilt against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

South Carolina produced a 7-9-2 overall record a season ago, including a 1-6-2 mark against Sun Belt foes. The Gamecocks kicked off their season with a 3-2 win over Charleston on the road and later earned a ranked win over then-No. 11 UNC Greensboro, but did not qualify for the Sun Belt Conference tournament.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE MATCH EIGHT | OCT. 29 vs. GEORGIA STATE

UCF will conclude its home schedule against the Georgia State Panthers Oct. 29. The teams most recently played to a 1-1 draw in their last meeting in Atlanta Oct. 26, 2025, extending UCF’s streak of unbeaten matchups against the Panthers to five straight.

Georgia State, meanwhile, went 4-8-6 overall last season, including a 2-4-3 mark in Sun Belt play.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE MATCH NINE | NOV. 3 at GEORGIA SOUTHERN

In concluding the 2026 regular season, UCF will square off against the Georgia Southern Eagles in Statesboro, Georgia Nov. 3.

The Eagles enjoyed a breakout season last fall, producing their first double-digit win season since 2006 with a 13-4-1 mark overall, and a 6-3-0 mark against league opponents.

Georgia Southern were ranked as high as No. 6 in the nation in the United Soccer Coaches’ week six top 25 poll, having started the season 8-0-1 through their first nine games, including a 2-1 win over then-No. 4 Marshall in Statesboro Sept. 28.

UCF earned a pair of triumphs over Georgia Southern last fall, first blanking the Eagles 3-0 in Orlando Oct. 10 before edging Georgia Southern 3-2 in overtime in the opening round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament in Lexington, Kentucky, Nov. 9.

ABOUT UCF ATHLETICS
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program, representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.