Sacramento Republic Faces New Mexico in Western Final

Sacramento Republic FC travels to Albuquerque to play top seed New Mexico United in the USL Western Conference final on Sunday, Nov. 15.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Soccer

Sacramento Republic Faces New Mexico in Western Final

Sacramento Republic FC needs a win over New Mexico United in the USL Western Conference final on Sunday, Nov. 15, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The club advanced after two one-goal home playoff wins, including a 2-1 victory over El Paso Locomotive FC on Nov. 7.

Why it matters

A Sacramento win would send the club to the USL championship game for the first time since its 2014 title, a milestone for the local soccer community. The result also determines whether the final is hosted at Heart Health Park.

Sacramento is undefeated in its last 15 matches and last won the USL championship in 2014, 12 years ago. Its advancement rests on a Sunday road match against top seed New Mexico United, whose result is still unknown.

The players

Sacramento Republic FC

A professional soccer club based in Sacramento that plays in the USL Championship and has won the league title once, in 2014.

New Mexico United

A USL Championship club from Albuquerque that is the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

Blake Willey

A 19-year-old Sacramento Republic FC forward who scored the game-winning goal against FC Tulsa on Nov. 1.

The details

Sacramento Republic FC beat FC Tulsa on Nov. 1 with a game-winning goal in the 88th minute scored by 19-year-old Blake Willey, the youngest player in USL Championship history to record a playoff game-winner. Michel Benitez scored the go-ahead goal against El Paso Locomotive FC on Nov. 7, and Danny Vitiello made five saves in that match.

2014: Sacramento Republic FC wins its only USL championship.
Nov. 1: Sacramento beats FC Tulsa at Heart Health Park.
Nov. 7: Sacramento beats El Paso Locomotive FC 2-1 at home.
Nov. 14: Louisville City FC and Charleston Battery meet in the Eastern Conference final.
Nov. 15: Sacramento faces New Mexico United in the Western Conference final.

Season Trajectory

A Western Conference final win would return Sacramento Republic FC to the USL championship game for the first time since its 2014 title. The run comes as the club prepares for its new Railyards stadium, planned for 20,000 seats and scheduled to open in 2028.

A Sacramento win on Sunday would keep the club's championship hopes alive and set the title match for Heart Health Park on Nov. 21 if Louisville also advances. Local fans wanting to attend would need to plan around that date.

The takeaway

Sacramento's run shows how a single road match can decide whether a club hosts a championship at home. Readers following the club should watch Sunday's result, since it determines the venue for the title game.

What happens next

The Western Conference final is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 15, in Albuquerque. If Sacramento wins and Louisville City FC wins its Eastern Conference final on Nov. 14, the USL championship game would be played at Heart Health Park on Saturday, Nov. 21.