Kentucky Men’s Soccer Releases 2026 Fall Schedule

LEXINGTON, Ky. –  The Kentucky Wildcats men’s soccer team and head coach Johan Cedergren have officially announced the full 18-match schedule for the upcoming 2026 fall season, featuring two preseason exhibition fixtures and eight regular season home games at the Bell Soccer Complex.

The Wildcats will open their preseason slate on Saturday, Aug. 8 with the first of two home matches at The Bell against Northern Kentucky at 7:30 p.m., followed by an exhibition match against the UAB Blazers on Friday, Aug. 14 at 7:30 p.m.

The 2026 regular season is set to kick off against the same opponent as the 2025 season, against the Western Michigan Broncos, this time in Lexington on Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m.

This season’s edition of The Battle in the Bluegrass will be on home turf for the Cats, as they face arch-rival Louisville in the second match of the season on Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Following the opening two games of the season at home, the first road match of the season will feature a meeting with the Virginia Tech Hookies in Blacksburg, Virginia on Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. Prior to the start of SBC play, the Wildcats will face Evansville on Sept. 4 and the Ohio State Buckeyes on Sept. 8 at The Bell.

Sun Belt Conference play will begin on Friday, Sept. 18 at home against Marshall. Kentucky is 22-14-6 all-time against the Thundering Herd, as they look to avenge their loss last season in Huntington.

Following the conference opener, the Wildcats will head back out on the road for a pair of away matches against Lipscomb on Sept. 22 in Nashville and against UCF in Orlando on Sept. 27 before returning home to face Old Dominion to open the month of October.

The next string of opponents for the Wildcats will feature a three-match road trip, starting in Bloomington, Ind. against the Indiana Hoosiers in the non-conference finale on Oct. 6, followed by a meeting against South Carolina in Columbia on Oct. 10 and concluding in Morgantown against West Virginia on Oct. 16.

The penultimate home match of the season will come against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. Later that week, the Wildcats will travel to Harrisonburg, Virginia to face the James Madison Dukes on Oct. 25.

The final regular season home match of the season will feature a meeting against the Georgia Southern Eagles on Oct. 30 at 7 p.m.

The 2026 regular season will conclude for the Wildcats with a meeting against the Georgia State Panthers, a team the Wildcats defeated 1-0 last season to clinch the SBC Regular Season title, in Atlanta on Nov. 3 with kickoff slated for 7 p.m. ET.

Following the regular season finale, the Sun Belt Conference Tournament is set to begin on Sunday, Nov. 8. The conference quarterfinals are scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 11 and the final for Sunday, Nov. 15.

For the latest on the Kentucky men’s soccer team, follow the Cats on X, Facebook and Instagram, as well as on the web at UKAthletics.com.

2026 Kentucky Men’s Soccer Schedule