The 2026 Indy Eleven season is the current season for Indy Eleven, a professional soccer club based in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is the club's thirteenth season of existence, their thirteenth consecutive season in the second tier of American soccer, and their ninth season in the USL Championship. The team is also participating in the U.S. Open Cup for the 11th time and the interleague USL Cup for the second time.
The 2025 season saw a regression by Indy Eleven compared to the historic highs of 2024. The second season under head coach Sean McAuley, the club finished in 9th place in the USL Championship Eastern Conference, failing to qualify for the playoffs.
Indy Eleven reached the Round of 32 of the 2025 U.S. Open Cup, losing in penalties against MLS side Philadelphia Union. Indy also reached the Quarterfinals of the USL Cup in their first tournament appearance, winning Group 3 and earning a spot in the knockout round, but were upset after penalties by League One side Greenville Triumph SC.
The USL Championship released its 2026 schedule on December 16, 2025. Indy's first home game was on March 21, 2026, against Detroit City FC. Indy first met expansion side Brooklyn FC on March 8 and will meet Sporting Club Jacksonville on May 9. The Eleven will face rivals Louisville City FC twice in the regular season, at home on August 22 and away on October 17.
The USL Championship released its 2026 schedule on December 16, 2025. Indy's first home game was on March 21, 2026, against Detroit City FC. Indy first met expansion side Brooklyn FC on March 8 and will meet Sporting Club Jacksonville on May 9. The Eleven will face rivals Louisville City FC twice in the regular season, at home on August 22 and away on October 17.
The regular season consists of 30 matches, with the Eleven playing home and away against each Eastern Conference opponent. They will also play 8 matches against Western conference opponents, 4 at home and 4 away.
As a member of the USL Championship, Indy Eleven is participating in the U.S. Open Cup tournament for the 11th time, following their quarter-final appearance in 2025. 16 other USL Championship teams are also participating, as well as 12 USL League One teams, 16 MLS teams, 2 MLS Next Pro teams, and 32 amateur teams from USL League Two, National Premier Soccer League, and open division qualifying. The format for the 2026 U.S. Open Cup was released on December 4, 2025, with Indy Eleven entering as hosts in the first round.
The 2026 edition of the USL Cup is a professional soccer tournament held between teams in USL Championship and USL League One. Teams are split into seven groups of six or seven teams; each team will play two teams in their group at home, and two others away. The teams winning their group, along with the two teams that scored the most goals among those that did not win their group, will move to a single-elimination knockout round.
The group stage of the USL cup is played from April 26 to the weekend of July 11. Teams are divided into six regional groups and play two regional opponents at home and the other two away. Indy Eleven was placed into Group 4, competing against fellow USL Championship sides Detroit City FC, Lexington SC, and Louisville City FC as well as USL League One clubs Fort Wayne FC, Forward Madison, and Union Omaha. The winner of the group stage in each group will advance to the knockout stage with two runners-up qualifying via a wild card.