Exhibition against USL League One Team will be first against pro team
(MARCH 23, 2026 | PEORIA, IL) – Peoria City will achieve another club milestone on the nation’s 250th birthday when the USL League Two pre-professional franchise visits USL League One pro club Forward Madison FC, the first game announced in the Flying Carp’s 2026 CEFCU Friendlies Series.
With additional games to be announced in the coming days, including six home events, Peoria City’s 2026 CEFCU Friendlies Series will conclude with the club’s latest milestone event. The July 4 exhibition game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff at Breese Stevens Field, where Peoria City’s first-ever game against a professional franchise will be followed by a postgame fireworks show.
Tickets for the Fourth of July friendly at Forward Madison are available online HERE and for the next 48 hours fans may take advantage of $20 Family Special tickets, which include a July 4 match ticket, a meal voucher and a Forward Madison FC summer scarf.
The matchup was created after Forward Madison was left to fill the date previously occupied by former League One rival South Georgia Tormenta FC, which ceased operations this winter. Peoria City’s competitive success through its first four seasons, including a run to the 2024 League Two national final, opened the door for the premium exhibition opportunity.
“Peoria City is an excellent USL League Two club on and off the pitch and we’re excited to have the opportunity to host them on July 4th,” said Forward Madison FC General Manager Kyler Donovan. “We also can’t wait to bring a post-match firework show to Breese Stevens Field for the second year in a row. The mix of soccer and celebration is a perfect combination for fans and families to enjoy on the field.”
The eight games in the CEFCU Friendlies Series will expand Peoria City’s 2026 schedule to 20 total games, including 12 home events. All 12 home games are scheduled to be played at Bradley University’s Shea Stadium and will be included in 2026 season-ticket packages.
Peoria City’s 2026 season tickets are on sale now with several options available by clicking the “Tickets” link online at PeoriaCitySoccer.com:
- General Admission and Shea Brigade End Zone – $64
- GA and Shea Brigade End Zone Family and Friends 4-Pack – $56 each (min. 4 tickets)
- Field Side Grandstand – $120
- Field Side Grandstand Family and Friends 4-Pack – $105 each (min. 4 tickets)
- Reserved Tailgate Parking – $40
Peoria City season-ticket benefits include:
- Entry to all home regular-season and friendly matches for the 2026 season
- Invitation to a special Peoria City Season-Ticket Holder kickoff party prior to the start of the 2026 USL League Two season
- First opportunity to purchase tickets to 2026 USL League Two Playoff games in the event Peoria City hosts postseason games
- First opportunity to purchase tickets to 2027 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup games in the event Peoria City qualifies and hosts a game(s)
- Priority order to purchase season tickets for the 2027 Peoria City season
Season tickets will be delivered digitally through new ticketing partner, vivenu. In addition to managing digital tickets on a mobile device, fans also will have the ability to print a paper version of their ticket for presentation on game days. Season-ticket purchases also may be made in person at The Yard Peoria by emailing peoriacitysoccer@gmail.com to schedule an appointment. Single-game tickets are expected to go on sale Monday, March 30.
Peoria City is preparing for its fifth season of competition in USL League Two, the nation’s top pre-professional men’s soccer league, with 158 clubs in 2026 stretching from coast-to-coast. The club has qualified for the League Two Playoffs in three of its first four seasons, including a run to the 2024 national championship game while serving as a tournament host through all five postseason rounds.