The first ticket to the 2026 Gainbridge Super League Playoffs has been booked by Sporting Club Jacksonville while Lexington SC could join them in earning a postseason berth as it visits Carolina Ascent FC on Saturday night.
Here’s where every team stands in its pursuit of the postseason entering Week 26’s action.
1. Sporting Club Jacksonville
Record: 13-4-5, 44pts
Maximum Points: 62
Magic Number: Clinched
Up Next: at FTL, 4/11
Sporting Club Jacksonville earned its place in the postseason through a combination of its victory against Brooklyn FC last Saturday afternoon and dropped points by Spokane Zephyr, DC Power FC and Tampa Bay Sun FC over the remainder of the weekend.
Jacksonville can’t quite lock up a top-two position this weekend, but a victory on the road against in-state foe Fort Lauderdale United FC would push the side closer to that goal and ultimately the Players’ Shield at the end of the regular season.
2. Lexington SC
Record: 10-2-10, 40pts
Maximum Points: 58
Magic Number: 2
Up Next: at CAR, 4/11
Lexington was the other beneficiary of both Spokane Zephyr FC and DC Power FC falling to defeats over the past weekend which put the side in range of clinching a playoff berth as it visits Carolina Ascent FC on Saturday night.
With Spokane on a bye this week and sitting on a maximum of 41 points, however, LSC would need to take victory against Ascent to clinch their spot with goal differential sitting as the first tiebreaker in the standings.
Lexington SC Clinches a Playoff Berth IF…
1. Lexington wins vs. Carolina Ascent FC, moves to 43 points
3. Carolina Ascent FC
Record: 10-7-6, 36pts
Maximum Points: 51
Magic Number: 6
Up Next: vs. LEX, 4/11
Carolina Ascent FC’s victory against Tampa Bay Sun FC not only maintained its current six-game undefeated streak but created separation from the teams below the playoff line. Ascent can’t clinch a playoff berth this weekend with Spokane Zephyr FC on a bye, but it has a big opportunity to gain ground on second-placed Lexington SC on Saturday night where a win would cut the margin between the two sides to a single point with four games to go in its regular season.
4. Dallas Trinity FC
Record: 9-8-5, 32pts
Maximum Points: 50
Magic Number: 10
Up Next: at BKN, 4/12
Dallas Trinity FC’s victory against Spokane Zephyr FC on Saturday evening combined with DC Power FC’s loss to Fort Lauderdale United FC on Monday gave it breathing room to the teams below the playoff line. A six-point advantage with both Spokane and DC having only five games remaining isn’t insurmountable, but Trinity is in the driver’s seat to earn a second consecutive trip to the postseason. A win in Brooklyn on Sunday would add to that.
5. DC Power FC
Record: 6-9-8, 26pts
Maximum Points: 41
Magic Number: N/A
Up Next: at TB, 4/11
DC Power FC’s three-game losing streak has taken a lot of wind out of the club’s sails when it comes to postseason chances. DC must reel in a six-point deficit to fourth-placed Dallas Trinity FC with five games remaining. That makes Saturday’s visit to face Tampa Bay Sun FC a must-win against a team the Power have yet to beat in their history and scored only once against in six meetings.
6. Spokane Zephyr FC
Record: 6-9-8, 26pts
Maximum Points: 41
Magic Number: N/A
Up Next: vs. JAX, 4/19
Spokane Zephyr FC’s loss against Dallas Trinity in last weekend’s key six-pointer dealt a serious blow to the side’s postseason chances. Zephyr plays its final five games of the regular season at home but could really use help from Brooklyn FC on Sunday afternoon to take points off Trinity to keep the cap between the sides manageable before the final stretch.
7. Fort Lauderdale United FC
Record: 5-9-8, 26pts
Maximum Points: 41
Magic Number: N/A
Up Next: vs. JAX, 4/11
Fort Lauderdale United FC finally ended its winless streak on Monday evening at home to DC Power FC, but the hill remains steep for the side to return to the postseason. With a nine-point gap to close to Dallas Trinity FC in fourth place and six games to play, every game is a must-win at this point with the visit of first-place Sporting Club Jacksonville on Saturday a huge challenge.
8. Brooklyn FC
Record: 5-11-7, 22pts
Maximum Points: 37
Magic Number: N/A
Up Next: vs. DAL, 4/12
It’s win or wait until next season time for Brooklyn FC on Sunday afternoon as the side hosts Dallas Trinity FC looking to end a three-game losing streak. A win or a draw for BKFC keeps the side mathematically alive going into the next round of games, but a defeat would move Dallas and Carolina Ascent FC out of reach in the top four.
Brooklyn FC is mathematically eliminated IF…
Brooklyn loses vs. Dallas Trinity FC, maximum available drops to 34 points
– Dallas moves to 35 points
9. Tampa Bay Sun FC
Record: 4-9-9, 21pts
Maximum Points: 39
Magic Number: N/A
Up Next: vs. DC, 4/11
Tampa Bay Sun FC’s slim hopes of returning to the postseason diminished with its defeat to Carolina Ascent FC on Sunday evening. The Sun can’t be mathematically eliminated this weekend with six games to play in the regular season, but anything but a win at home to DC Power FC on Saturday could move the defending champions to the brink.