USL2 Announces Divisional Lineups for 2026

The United Soccer League has announced the divisional lineups for 2026 League Two. Once again, Akron City will be playing in the Great Forest Division of the Central Conference.

This year ACFC will be seeing many of our past foes, plus a couple of new ones. Unfortunately, we’ll see Toledo Villa FC depart to the Valley Division. We enjoyed our matches last season and had a great mutual tailgate with their supporters group at their stadium in July. We are sorry to see them go. (We’ll miss the Underberg bandolier!)

The departure of Toledo brings us two new rivals – Lorain County Leviathan FC and Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2.

Lorain County embarks on its first season this year. Chaired by Andrew McDonnell, co-chair of Akron City FC, this new team seeks to grow the soccer landscape on the north coast. Based in Avon, the Leviathan will play their games at ForeFront Field, home of the Lake Erie Monsters baseball team. In spite of, or maybe intensified by, the connection, RCU will ramp up the friendly shenanigans directed at the team on game day. We won’t be pulling any punches! Sibling rivalry?

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2 enter the division with the most creative team name. A second team of the USL Championship 2025 Champions Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, the ‘2’ are set up to function as a development team for the parent club.

The full Great Forest lineup is:

• Akron City FC
• Cleveland Force SC
• Erie Sports Center
• FC Buffalo
• Lorain County Leviathan FC
• Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2
• Steel City FC

With two teams in the Cleveland area (Force and Leviathan), and two teams in Pittsburgh (2 and Steel City), there will be many opportunities for RCU members to travel to away games! It’s going to be a great season!!

#letsgo330