New Mexico United Hosts Phoenix Rising FC in Western Conference Quarterfinals
It’s a derby game, you have to show up and you’re not only playing for yourself, you’re playing for the fans, you’re playing for the badge of the club,
Kah said, as reported by OurSports Central, capturing the intensity of a postseason clash that pits two longtime rivals against each other. No. 1 seed New Mexico United welcomes No. 8 seed Phoenix Rising FC to Isotopes Park in Albuquerque on Sunday evening for the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2026 USL Championship Playoffs, with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network, USLChampionship.com reported.
Pathways to the Postseason for the Top Seed and the Eighth Seed
New Mexico United secured the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with a 15-8-7 regular season record totaling 52 points, clinching the top spot on the final day of the regular season with a victory against El Paso Locomotive FC, USLChampionship.com reported. The team’s campaign featured a defensive anchor in goalkeeper Kris Shakes, who led the league with 117 saves, a 78.5% save percentage, and a -10.21 Goals Prevented mark while conceding just 34 regular season goals. Greg Hurst paced the New Mexico attack with 12 goals.
Phoenix Rising FC earned its playoff berth on the final day of the regular season after a late-season rally, finishing the campaign with a 10-10-10 record and 40 points, according to USLChampionship.com. Striker Ihsan Sacko powered the Phoenix attack by claiming the Championship’s Golden Boot with 17 goals and 22 total goal contributions, accounting for nearly half of the club’s 45 regular-season tallies. However, defensive vulnerabilities saw Phoenix concede 46 goals during the regular season, the most of any Western Conference playoff team.
All-Time Series History and Regular Season Meetings
Phoenix Rising FC holds a 7-6-2 record in the USL Championship against New Mexico United across the regular season and playoffs, as noted in source material, and the rivalry dates back to 2019. During the 2026 regular season and Prinx Tires USL Cup meetings, New Mexico claimed victories in two of three matchups. The rivals previously met at the exact same playoff stage two years ago, where New Mexico rallied for a memorable 2-1 victory.
Key Tactical Factors and Players to Watch
Tactical data highlights stark contrasts between the two squads entering Sunday’s knockout match. Opta metrics show New Mexico posted an Expected Goals Against mark of 51.96xGA, ranking 22nd in the league and resulting in a -13.43 Expected Goal Differential despite finishing with a +11 actual goal differential. Meanwhile, Phoenix utilized set pieces effectively, scoring 16 goals from dead-ball situations, including seven from penalty kicks—tied for the most in the Championship.
Individual playmakers are set to dictate the tempo on Sunday. New Mexico playmaker Valentin Noël recorded four goals and three assists in 21 appearances, with all four tallies coming from outside the penalty area as part of a league-leading 12 long-range strikes by United, USLChampionship.com reported. For Phoenix, Ihsan Sacko enters the postseason in stellar form with five goals in his past three outings, supported by a league-leading +10.75 Goals Added mark.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Western Conference Quarterfinal
Where is the 2026 USL Championship Western Conference Quarterfinal being played?
The match takes place at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico, hosted by top-seeded New Mexico United.
How can fans watch the match on television or streaming?
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, with national television coverage broadcast live on CBS Sports Network.
What happened when these two teams met in the 2023 postseason?
Rising produced an epic road run as the No. 6 seed in 2023 to claim its first Championship title.
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