FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (August 15, 2026) – Fort Lauderdale United FC is set to open its 2026 Gainbridge Super League campaign on Saturday evening, hosting Sporting JAX at the newly named Amerant Bank Field at NSU. Both teams enter the season with a number of quality additions to their already elite cores, setting the stage for a marquee Sunshine State matchup on Opening Day. With just 14 matches on the schedule, every point could prove crucial in shaping the course of the season. As Fort Lauderdale looks to start the campaign on a high note, Saturday’s meeting promises to be a must-watch matchup.
For the second consecutive year, Fort Lauderdale United FC will open its season in South Florida. Following a 2025/26 campaign that saw the club miss the Gainbridge Super League Playoffs, Fort Lauderdale reloaded during the offseason while retaining a strong core headlined by All-League Second Team honoree Kelli Van Treeck, dynamic forward Kiara Locklear and veterans Sh’nia Gordon, Ella Simpson and Haley Craig. The additions of Haley Thomas and Kelsey Oyler bolster the back line, while Grace Cutler adds another attacking option to an already dangerous group. Nicole Vernis, the club’s lone loan acquisition and midfield addition for the 2026 campaign, brings additional creativity to the center of the park. With Fort Lauderdale eyeing three points to open the campaign, it will face a Sporting JAX side that returns much of its core from last season.
Sporting JAX enters 2026 with nearly all of its dominant core intact from a season ago. The club returns all six of its All-League honorees, headlined by Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Golden Playmaker Ashlyn Puerta. First Team selection Paige Kenton, along with Second Team honorees Georgia Brown, Sophie Jones, Baylee DeSmit and Kaitlin Parks, also return for the club’s second season in the Gainbridge Super League. The club made few but impactful additions during the offseason, bringing in Ginger Fontenot and Keeley Dockter to bolster its back line. With both sides aiming to open the 2026 campaign on a strong note, Saturday’s matchup sets the stage for an elite Opening Day battle.
Matchup History
The clubs met four times during the 2025/26 campaign, with the clubs drawing once while Sporting JAX earned wins in the other three meetings.
Where to Watch
The match is set to kick-off at 7:30 p.m. ET. It will be streamed on the Peacock app and locally broadcasted on WPLG Local 10. The direct link to watch the match can be found here.
Get Your Tickets
The 2026 Gainbridge Super League kicks off on Saturday night when Fort Lauderdale United FC hosts Sporting JAX. Click HERE to get your tickets! Stay tuned and follow us on social media to stay up-to-date with all things FTL UTD on Instagram, X(Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, and Facebook.
