A packed 2026 campaign
The Mountaineers will navigate a 17-game regular season that blends home fixtures at the newly upgraded Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium with a series of road tests across the East Coast and Midwest. Ten of those contests will be played on campus, giving fans ample opportunity to support the team in Morgantown.
Before the official schedule begins, West Virginia will take part in three exhibition matches, starting with a preseason encounter against Pitt on Aug. 7. The following week, the squad travels to face West Virginia Tech on Aug. 11, and caps the preseason with a showdown at Georgetown on Aug. 14.
Key early-season matchups
The regular season kicks off on the road at Charlotte on Aug. 20, followed by a home opener against St. Bonaventure on Aug. 24. A five-game stretch in Morgantown begins on Sept. 3 with a contest against Akron, setting the tone for a busy stretch that includes a clash with Denver on Sept. 5 and a meeting with West Virginia Tech on Sept. 9.
Conference play opens on Sept. 17 when the Mountaineers host Georgia State in their first Sun Belt matchup. The highly anticipated Mountain State Derby against Marshall is slated for Sept. 27 in Huntington, a game that traditionally draws a passionate crowd.
Mid-season road trips will take the team to venues such as James Madison, Old Dominion and Coastal Carolina, while non-conference opponents like Georgia Southern, South Carolina and Florida State pepper the schedule. The campaign concludes on Nov. 3 with a final away game at James Madison, rounding out a demanding but exciting schedule.
Looking ahead
With a blend of experienced seniors and promising newcomers, the coaching staff believes the 2026 slate offers ample opportunities to climb the conference rankings and secure a strong seed for the NCAA tournament. Fans can expect a competitive brand of soccer, especially when the team defends its home turf at Dick Dlesk Stadium.