Riverhounds host Loudoun United in USL Cup finale, seek unbeaten finish

Pittsburgh’s finale against Loudoun United FC at F.N.B. Stadium has been shifted to a 7 p.m. kickoff, and the Riverhounds will use the night to manage minutes as much as chase points. The match will air on KDKA+ and stream on ESPN+, with Pittsburgh already locked out of the knockout round but still in position to finish USL Cup play unbeaten in regulation.

Pittsburgh enters the last group match at 1-0-2, while Loudoun arrives at 1-2-0 and has already been eliminated after a 3-1 loss to Greenville Triumph SC that ended its path forward. The 2026 Prinx Tires USL Cup is in its third edition, and it has brought all 43 USL Championship and League One teams into the same interleague race, with seven group winners and one wild card advancing to the knockout stage.

Rob Vincent will sort through the roster, especially on the back line. Lasse Kelp is serving a one-match suspension after two cautionable offenses in the prior Cup match against Charleston Battery. Albert Dikwa’s league suspension will not hit until Wednesday, July 16, 2026, at Jacksonville, so this Cup match gives Pittsburgh one more look at how heavily it wants to lean on him before that ban arrives.

Goalkeeper usage is also part of the equation. Nico Campuzano will be rested, with Mitch Budler or Mike Sheridan to start. Budler signed with Pittsburgh on March 2 after earning Third Team All-American honors at Akron, while Sheridan joined the club on March 3 after two seasons with Philadelphia Union II, where he made 12 appearances and recorded two clean sheets.

Pittsburgh won 3-2 in Northern Virginia earlier this year after trailing early and then building a 3-1 lead. Thor Úlfarsson put Loudoun ahead, Dikwa answered from the penalty spot, and Bradley Sample and Sam Bassett pushed the Riverhounds in front before Sean Young pulled one back for Loudoun.

Pittsburgh’s preview put Loudoun in the 1-5-8 range.