Peoria City to Host Opening Postseason Weekend July 16 & 18
(JULY 9, 2026 | PEORIA, IL) – The USL League Two Playoffs Presented by VensureHR are returning to Shea Stadium as 2026 Great Plains Division Champion Peoria City (9-1-1) has been selected to host a 4-team pod for the Central Conference Quarterfinals July 16 and Semifinal July 18 at Bradley University’s Shea Stadium.
Having qualified for the League Two Playoffs for the fourth time in the club’s five-year history, Peoria City has been selected as a postseason host for the second time: during the 2024 season, the Carp became the first-ever League Two club to host all five rounds of the postseason, advancing to the national championship game at Shea Stadium.
Currently ranked #15 in the League Two Week 9 Power Rankings, Peoria City still has regular-season work to finish, however, before hosting the opening rounds of the playoffs next week. The Flying Carp will host Springfield FC in the regular-season finale Saturday (7:30 pm) at Shea Stadium. Looking to draw the largest regular-season crowd (2,053) in club history, Peoria City will celebrate a trio of championship teams, as well as its loyal fan base Saturday night. In honor of Fan Appreciation Night, Saturday’s finale tickets are half-priced (use promo code FANS2026 during checkout when purchasing tickets online at peoriacitysoccer.com/tickets) and the club will recognize its own Great Plains Division championship, as well as the Peoria Rivermen’s 2025-26 SPHL Presidents Cup regular-season title and the Morton High School girls soccer team historic run to the 2026 IHSA Class 2A state championship game. Remaining stock of official club merchandise (Aretyn jerseys, straw cowboy beach hats and foam fish hats) will be discounted 20 percent at the 1894 Sports Merchandise Stand and all fans may claim an official Panini 2026 FIFA World Cup Sticker Album upon entry.
About the Playoffs CEFCU Peoria Pod
The three teams that will join Peoria City for the CEFCU Peoria Pod in the 2026 Playoffs will be announced once all eight postseason spots in the Central Conference have been secured. Heading into the final round of League Two play this weekend, six spots have been claimed: Peoria City, Heartland Division champion Minneapolis City SC, Great Lakes Division champion Flint City Bucks, Valley Division champion West Virginia United and Great Forest Division co-leaders FC Buffalo and Steel City FC. Sueño FC and Chicago Dutch Lions are battling for the Heartland Division’s second playoffs entry, while Peoria City’s Great Plains Division rival Santafé Wanderers FC joins Valley Division members Northern Indiana FC and Louisville City FC in the fight for the final Central Conference postseason bid as a wildcard entry.
The CEFCU Peoria Pod will begin with the first quarterfinal game Thursday, July 16 at 3:00 pm with the Crusens Tailgate Zone opening at 1:30. Peoria City will play in the second quarterfinal game, set to kick off at 7:30 pm July 16. The two winners from July 16 will meet in the Central Conference Semifinal game Saturday, July 18 at 7:30 pm with the Crusens Tailgate Zone set to open at 4:30. Each of the three games will be operated as a stand-alone event.
CEFCU Peoria Pod postseason tickets are on sale now with options available for each of the three games individually or in a complete, 3-game weekend pass.
Single-game general admission tickets are $8 for each of Thursday’s two games and $10 for the Saturday semifinal, while Field Side Grandstand tickets are $15 for each of the two Thursday games and $20 for the Saturday semifinal. The popular Family & Friends 4-Pack also is available for each game: General Admission at $25 ($6.25 per ticket/minimum 4 tickets) for each of Thursday’s two games and $30 ($7.50 per ticket/minimum 4 tickets) for Saturday’s semifinal game. The Jeff Burtis Game Day Bundle (one parking space, four single-game GA tickets, four tennis balls for the Halftime Tennis Ball Toss, four Discover Peoria Play Zone activity tickets and four concessions vouchers) also will be available for single-game purchases both Thursday ($36) and Saturday ($40).
Individual and 4-Pack General Admission and Field Side Grandstand tickets also are available in the 3-game Weekend Pass options, offering an ever deeper discount. Peoria City corporate partners and members of the Peoria City Booster Club will be provided complimentary postseason tickets matching their regular-season quantities, while 2026 Peoria City Season-Ticket Holders will be provided a promo code, allowing them to purchase tickets and reserved tailgate parking at a 25 percent discount. Both groups should be on the lookout for emails from the club with more information on their special offers.
Peoria City season and single-game tickets, as well as information on summer camps, memberships in the Aqua-Tots Peoria School of Carp Kids Club and booster club, and sign ups for the Joey Olson COUNTRY Financial Ball Chasers all are available for visiting the club online at PeoriaCitySoccer.com. For all of the latest news about Peoria City, please visit the News link within the About menu and be sure to follow all of the Peoria City social media channels – Facebook, Instagram, X.
– #UpTheCarp –