With three weeks and 17 matches remaining in the regular season, the pressure is rising with all 11 clubs remaining in contention for the 2022 USL League One Playoffs presented by Hisense. Detailed below are some high-stakes matches to keep an eye on along with current standings with playoff-clinching details
Despite the fact that no teams have clinched a playoff spot or been eliminated from postseason contention, the first domino may finally fall on Wednesday night as North Carolina FC hosts Central Valley Fuego FC to kick off Week 27. While not as pressing as Fuego FC, NCFC need to win to avoid elimination. In that scenario, if Central Valley drops points on Wednesday, Richmond will clinch a postseason spot. With that being said, though, history is on the side of the visitors as NCFC is the only League One team that Fuego FC has never lost to or drawn with.
The two sides right on the postseason bubble will battle at CHI Memorial Stadium as Chattanooga Red Wolves SC and the Charlotte Independence face off on Saturday. Both Chattanooga and Charlotte are tied on max points for the final playoff position, but that will obviously change pending the outcome of the pair’s third all-time meeting. While Chattanooga can neither clinch nor be eliminated this week, a surging Charlotte side does have a slim chance to sneak into the playoffs in its inaugural League One season as soon as Saturday.