The United Football League announced several changes for the upcoming 2026 season, including new cities, new venues, new logos, and a couple of current teams getting rebranded on Tuesday.
As part of the changes, seven of the eight teams will play in MLS and USL stadiums, except for the St. Louis Battlehawks, who play their games at The Dome at America’s Center. The D.C. Defenders will continue to play at Audi Field.
The new cities joining the UFL in 2026 are the Columbus Aviators, Louisville Kings, and the Orlando Storm. Re-adding Orlando gives the UFL a presence in the southeast market. These three teams are replacing the Michigan Panthers, San Antonio Brahmas, and the Memphis Showboats.
The Orlando Storm will play at Inter&Co Stadium, home of the MLS Orlando City SC and NWSL Orlando Pride. The Columbus Aviators will play at Historic Crew Stadium, and the Louisville Kings will play at Lynn Family Stadium, home of Louisville City FC.
“Today marks an important step forward for the United Football League,” said Mike Repole, co-owner of the United Football League, who leads league business operations through his private equity firm, Impact Capital. “Columbus, Louisville, and Orlando are true football cities with deep sports roots. We’re proud to bring professional football to these communities – in energetic, fan-driven stadiums built to create an authentic gameday experience and strengthen the foundation of this league for years to come.”
In other changes, the Arlington Renegades will go back to being known as the Dallas Renegades. They will now be playing at Toyota Stadium (Frisco, TX), home of MLS’s FC Dallas, and the Houston Roughnecks will revert back the Houston Gamblers. They will play at Shell Energy Stadium, home of the MLS’s Houston Dynamo and the NWSL’s Houston Dash.
“We’re heading into this season with new teams, new markets, new venues, and a renewed energy that reflects the momentum building around this league,” said Repole.
The last major change to the UFL is that the league will no longer be divided into two divisions. All eight teams will compete in the ten-week regular season, with the top four teams getting into the playoffs.
The UFL will announce the new head coaches for the three new teams, along with new uniforms in the near future. The 43-game season will kick off on March 27, 2026. The schedule will be revealed at a later date.
