The addition of four USL Championship clubs Thursday will make the 12th edition of the Desert Showcase presented by Visit Tucson the biggest and best event to date.
USL Championship clubs El Paso Locomotive FC, FC Tulsa, Louisville City FC and Oakland Roots were announced as part of the expanded event at Kino North Stadium.
“For more than a decade, FC Tucson has hosted top professional soccer teams across the country to train and play in Southern Arizona,” said FC Tucson President Amanda Powers. “The USL is one of the fastest growing leagues in the world and the talent level on the rosters has grown exponentially. We are proud to be part of the league and excited to have some of the top clubs in USL as part of the Desert Showcase presented by Visit Tucson. These are five premier clubs in the league, and this is a fantastic opportunity for soccer fans in the region.”
All four incoming clubs are coming off appearances in the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs, and will train and play preseason events in Tucson in February.
El Paso Locomotive FC won the Mountain Division this past season, going through its home slate undefeated at Southwest University Park in the regular season. FC Tulsa, Oklahoma’s premier pro soccer club, has advanced to the postseason in each of the past two seasons. Louisville City FC, the 2017 and ‘18 Championship title winners, won the Central Division and advanced to the Eastern Conference Final in the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season. And Oakland Roots SC qualified for the playoffs in its inaugural season in the USL Championship.
Three Desert Friendly matchups will be part of the showcase:
- Wednesday, Feb. 16: Louisville City FC vs. El Paso Locomotive FC, 2 p.m.
- Sunday, Feb. 20: Oakland Roots vs. FC Tulsa, 10 a.m.
- Saturday, Feb. 26: Oakland Roots vs. FC Tucson, TBD
The USL preseason matches will be held on the Kino Grandstand field and tickets will be available on a limited basis for $10.
The USL is North America’s largest professional soccer organization, and includes the USL Championship and USL League One at the professional level and pre-professional division USL League Two.
The Desert Showcase presented by Visit Tucson will bring some of the top professional soccer clubs throughout the United States to Southern Arizona as part of the 12th annual event. The preseason training and matches are part of an expanded celebration of soccer and Tucson.
FC Tucson, Tucson’s professional soccer club, is teaming with Visit Tucson and Official Community Partner, Rio Nuevo, to kick off a year-long celebration of soccer, starting with the Desert Showcase, which will bring MLS and USL teams to the region in January and February.
As part of the lead up to the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup in the Fall, FC Tucson will team with downtown Tucson establishments to host Watch Parties for the final six World Cup qualifying games for the U.S. Men’s National Team, including the match versus Mexico on March 24.
Already announced are three games among the five MLS teams training and playing in Tucson starting Jan. 26.
FC Tucson and its partners, along with Visit Tucson and Rio Nuevo will feature a number of activations during the games around the region’s gastronomy and highlight the chefs and restaurants that make Tucson home. The hospitality area is sponsored by Nova Home Loans Sunrise Branch, a long-time supporter and official sponsor of FC Tucson.
The addition of four USL Championship clubs Thursday will make the 12th edition of the Desert Showcase presented by Visit Tucson the biggest and best event to date.
USL Championship clubs El Paso Locomotive FC, FC Tulsa, Louisville City FC and Oakland Roots were announced as part of the expanded event at Kino North Stadium.
“For more than a decade, FC Tucson has hosted top professional soccer teams across the country to train and play in Southern Arizona,” said FC Tucson President Amanda Powers. “The USL is one of the fastest growing leagues in the world and the talent level on the rosters has grown exponentially. We are proud to be part of the league and excited to have some of the top clubs in USL as part of the Desert Showcase presented by Visit Tucson. These are five premier clubs in the league, and this is a fantastic opportunity for soccer fans in the region.”
All four incoming clubs are coming off appearances in the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs, and will train and play preseason events in Tucson in February.
El Paso Locomotive FC won the Mountain Division this past season, going through its home slate undefeated at Southwest University Park in the regular season. FC Tulsa, Oklahoma’s premier pro soccer club, has advanced to the postseason in each of the past two seasons. Louisville City FC, the 2017 and ‘18 Championship title winners, won the Central Division and advanced to the Eastern Conference Final in the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season. And Oakland Roots SC qualified for the playoffs in its inaugural season in the USL Championship.
Three Desert Friendly matchups will be part of the showcase:
- Wednesday, Feb. 16: Louisville City FC vs. El Paso Locomotive FC, 2 p.m.
- Sunday, Feb. 20: Oakland Roots vs. FC Tulsa, 10 a.m.
- Saturday, Feb. 26: Oakland Roots vs. FC Tucson, TBD
The USL preseason matches will be held on the Kino Grandstand field and tickets will be available on a limited basis for $10.
The USL is North America’s largest professional soccer organization, and includes the USL Championship and USL League One at the professional level and pre-professional division USL League Two.
The Desert Showcase presented by Visit Tucson will bring some of the top professional soccer clubs throughout the United States to Southern Arizona as part of the 12th annual event. The preseason training and matches are part of an expanded celebration of soccer and Tucson.
FC Tucson, Tucson’s professional soccer club, is teaming with Visit Tucson and Official Community Partner, Rio Nuevo, to kick off a year-long celebration of soccer, starting with the Desert Showcase, which will bring MLS and USL teams to the region in January and February.
As part of the lead up to the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup in the Fall, FC Tucson will team with downtown Tucson establishments to host Watch Parties for the final six World Cup qualifying games for the U.S. Men’s National Team, including the match versus Mexico on March 24.
Already announced are three games among the five MLS teams training and playing in Tucson starting Jan. 26.
FC Tucson and its partners, along with Visit Tucson and Rio Nuevo will feature a number of activations during the games around the region’s gastronomy and highlight the chefs and restaurants that make Tucson home. The hospitality area is sponsored by Nova Home Loans Sunrise Branch, a long-time supporter and official sponsor of FC Tucson.
